Applied Chemistry

I know this might look silly to some people in here (as there are lots of more important subjects to discuss) what I'm gonna ask, but I really need to figure out how these things work! We've been dealing with some complicated (for me:doh: ) equations lately (like H2O2+KMnO4+H2SO4--> ...), and I just can't figure out how to equalize them using oxidation numbers (as our professor said it is easy to equalize by using oxidation number when the equations are tricky). Could anyone please use any examples of equalizing equations using oxidation numbers and explain them?! I really got to learn them!!! Ooooh, come guys, this thing is really important to me! Any hint wo…

Hey there, Under what conditions can 2Na + 4H2O bond as 2NaHO + 2H2O + O2?

I'm trying to get some rust for making thermite through electrolysis. I've got it set up and working with a screw on the bubbly wire and some stuff is building up at the bottom of the jar and on the screw. The only problem is that it's not red or orange like I expected; it's light blue! Does anyone know what this could be? I'd appreciate any information you have on this. Maybe I've got the wrong wire or my screw isn't iron. Also, is this stuff safe to handle? Thanks for your help, Sean

Can anyone help me with what I need to do to ph the aqua regia solution that I have, in order to be able to precipitate the gold out? Any help will be greatly apreciated!

Please help me to find Schultz-Flory distribution constant from GC data of oligomers obtained after ethylene polymerization/oligomerization using Zigler-Natta type catalysts. Main oligomers are C4 and C6. Thanks in advance pichu

Hi all. At a store, I found framed between two glasses, a bunch of tree leaves missing its 'green' tissue, and nicely dyed and impregnated in several colors, and gold? powder. Yes, bought it. Too nice (or unique) to pass. It may be a common practice among people that does manual art and that type of adorns, drying plants, etc. but I never saw such thing before. The question is; how is it done? What chemical can erode tree leaves, leaving only its fibrous skeleton, looking as a 'gauze', with only the natural pattern of the tiny leaf veins. Hope the image inserts. It may seem double exposure, but it actually is the fibers shadow on a blank paper placed behind t…

We were discussing about magnesium last class and its reactions with water. And what I found interesting is that when the water is cold, it forms magnesium oxide, but when the water is hot (near boiling temperature) then it forms magnesium hydroxide. These are the reactions: Mg + H20 --> MgO +H2 (cold water) Mg + 2H2O --> Mg(OH)2 + H2 (hot water) Interesting! WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN? WHAT CAUSES IT?

This company claims to have combined tritium gas with tiny spheres of a phosphor gas which can be mixed into paint-like coatings. They claim 12+ years of lighting at $0.35 for an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper's worth (or 0.25 Euros for an A4 sheet of paper's worth, to use more ecumenical units): http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:MPK_Co%27s_Litroenergy

Reports In Situ Determination of the Nanoscale Chemistry and Behavior of Solid-Liquid Systems Santhana K. Eswaramoorthy,1 James M. Howe,1* Govindarajan Muralidharan2 Many fundamental questions in crystal-growth behavior remain unanswered because of the difficulties encountered in simultaneously observing phases and determining elemental concentrations and redistributions while crystals nucleate and grow at the nanoscale. We show that these obstacles can be overcome by performing energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy on partially molten Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloy particles during in situ heating in a transmission electron microscope. Using this technique, we were able to (i) d…

Hi, I'm doing an experiment where I have to analyze and determine the concentration of H2O2 in creme hair bleach. Any suggestions on what to do??? I have to actually perform the experiment, so simple, inexpensive methods would be preferrable.

I'm working on designing a lab on how to determine the Mg 2+ content in a sample of rock. Does anyone have any ideas as to how this can be done?

Could a digital spectrometer be used to detect compounds in the local atmosphere? i'm not sure if the air is dense enough to work in such a small space or even the tiny amount of aroma chemicals in the air that make a smell. just wondering if it would be possible to use this to make a sort of universal machine nose. probably not, it popped into my head while writing stuff about heat exchangers and thought i'd throw it out there see if anything happens.

Hi. Too many years ago, a knowledgeable chemist engineer told me that an iron object would hardly rust ever again if treated with caustic soda. What is the treatment? dipping in a solution? media blasting? burying the metal in it? what concentration, or else ? Miguel

I was wondering why this fuel cell needs 3% methanol and if you gave it a higher percentage it make the output go up?

We've been having few lessons and experiments at school that have to do with alkali metals. Those HUGE explosions (especially K and Cs) in reacting with water make you think about them. But there are a few things I can't figure out, and I'd appreciate any help possible in my following questions? 1. Why are alkali metals so reactive? 2. Why can't you touch Na with uncovered hand? 3.Why metallic sodium (Na) is soft and malleable, while NaCl is strong and frail? I's REALLY appreciate some answers.

I am interested to find out about filters when carrying out colorimetry. From what I can look up, it says that filters are used to 'select the appropriate wavelength of light'. I would like to know: 1. How do you choose the right filter? 2. How does the filter select the appropriate wavelength of light? 3. Why is this particular wavelength most appropriate? Any help would be so much appreciated thank you.

I see a person print his circuit diagram to paper, than he stick tightly that paper in the copper board and iron it, after that, he soak the copper board (and paper on it) in water and rub away paper, than leave in the copper board the circuit diagram with printed lines, then he soak that board again into a solution (don't know what it is) for a while, and when get it out, you see the printed lines are replaced by copper lines ? Could you explain for me the chemistry events in this process ? Thanks !!!

I have two alcohols that have varying degress of volatility, I assume. I am using them as inhibitors of bacterial growth and in order to do a complete comparison, I need to determine what their actual concentrations are, i.e., what percent stays in solution and which is in gas phase. There are no published Henry's Law constants, thus I was hoping to determine this using only the boiling points. Any suggestions?

I am doing a small study for shrinkage reduction in Grout(mortars). A grout is used (for example) as a ‘concrete’ base floor for putting under heavy machinery. To keep the heavy equipment in contact with the grout after hardening of the material, the grout should show no shrinkage. You can read a very little more about the background of this at: http://stinet.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0806962 Normally a metal like Aluminum is added to the grout to compensate for shrinkage (Al produces gas that compensates for the shrinkage). This is a very old method. Later, epoxy grouts were developed. These are NOT the on…

hey, i was wondering would i be correct in saying that most sparklers are made out of: KNO3 A transition metal (such as Al) Either C or S

This is not my field of expertise, obviously... I believe boron phosphate dissolves in water ; would it cause the bubbles in soapy water to harden ? Or what would you do to harden bubbles ? Miguel feparetz

Hey so I'm trying to get an assignment done and I was wondering if anyone could send some suggestions my way on how to tackle #1 parts b and c, #5 and #6. Thanks! 1. a) Derive the expression for the most probable speed in a gas. b) Another way to characterize the width of a probability distribution is to compute the standard deviation, sigma. Calculate sigma for the speed distribution; i.e., sigma = sqrt( < (c- < c >)^2 >). (HINT: you may find the calculation easier if you first show that < (c- < c >)2 >=< c2 > - < c >2). c) In order to decide whether the speed distribution narrow or wide, consider sigma/ < c…

Checking prices of the stuff, they are absolutely absurd. If a couple of cubic metres are needed, it's bankruptcy, and its only about 30 Kg. of material Can something similar be made in a backyard ?, does not need to be a superb product, just similar to that extremely light white packing material we all know, polyestyrene foam. Miguel

Hi, i have a mixed acid sample of HF+HCl+H2SO4 and i need to find out the individual concentrations of the 3 acids. How can i do so? Urgent help needed. Thanks.

Hi, in my lab i have a procedure by which excess KNO3 is added to an unknown HF sample and then titrated with NaOH with phenolphthalein as indicator. After this first titration, the sample is then placed in an 80oC waterbath for 1 hour before conducting a 2nd titration with NaOH again with phenolphthalein as indicator. From my manual, it states that this procedure is to determine the HF and H2SiF6 concentration in the sample. So my question is what is the purpose of KNO3 in the procedure? Also can someone deduce the formula of the reaction(s) taking place with KNO3 in this procedure? Thanks