Electrolysis-related old news

Can news be old.... *pondering* Anyway, here's the news (that are old)...

Engineers Forge Greener Path To Iron Production

Basically, researchers at MIT are studying the viability of extracting iron through electrolysis.

Q1. Why do we not use electrolysis to extract iron at the present?
Q2. Why do the article say "Unlike aluminum smelting, however, MOE is carbon-free."? Is C used in aluminium extraction?
Q3. Do you think that electrolysis of iron oxide is really carbon-free?

Current Research Offers Hope For Liver Cancer Patients

If you think this article is out of place, then you are wrong. Researchers at Adelaide University are trying to kill tumor cells using electrolysis.

Two electrodes are used to treat a tumour in the left lobe of a patient's liver. Gas from the electrolysis forms a cluster of bubbles around one electrode. The yellow structure is the divided ligamentum teres.

Picture taken from http://www.adelaide.edu.au/news/image466/liver_segmt2.jpg.html

Q4. What gas do you think is formed at the electrode?
Q5. What are some problems you think we might face with this technology?

So here's the fifth application of electrolysis =P

Please submit your answer to the comments section and not the tag-board. Thanks.

Electrolysis

Yoz!

Here's the learning objectives for the topic on Electrolysis. Mug hard for the test next week. You will be rewarded for your hardwork.

When you are tired, you can try this interactive 'game'. Test you on the conceptual understanding. http://www.edukate.net/ed1_files/electrolysis.html

Chemistry is useless?

You must be kidding me. Check this out, chemists are the ones who make Real Transformers.

So is Chemistry still boring?

Picture taken from: http://www.transformersgame.com/

Research News related to Reversible Reaction and Equilibrium

Yoz,

Here's an article on the synthesis of ammonia:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/02/040219080154.htm

Basically, a research team in Cornell is able to add hydrogen atoms to the nitrogen molecule and convert it to ammonia, without the need for high temperatures or high pressure. (Remember our Haber Process?) They have done this by using a zirconium metal complex.

Picture: Dinitrogen complex of Zirconium
http://www.chem.cornell.edu/chirik/


Using the knowledge learnt at our level:

Q1. What is the term we use to describe the zirconium complex.
Q2. Explain, with the help of the Boltzmann Distribution Curve, why a high temperature is no longer necessary with the zirconium complex.
*You can share your answers to these questions in the comments.

We've also learnt about eutrophication in this chapter. The following article discusses eutrophication occuring in Lake Superior, USA.

Nitrate in Lake Superior: On the rise

Enjoy the read.

Save the World - Use energy saving bulbs

In conjunction with Live Earth, here's a cartoon for your viewing pleasure.

Picture taken from http://www.nearingzero.net/nz387.html

You can do your part to save the world. How? By remembering to switch off the aircon when no-one is using the classroom.

Equilibrium - Le Chatelier's Principle

Yoz, everyone.

This week, we learnt about the Le Chatelier's Principle.

The reason I gave for learning this principle is that understanding and applying Le Chatelier's principle is central to maximizing the yields of desired chemical products in the laboratory and in industry.

However, upon a search on the web, it appears that it is more useful than what we think. Read this:

LE CHATELIER OR BUST?—OR WHY DOOMSDAY SCENARIOS ARE ALWAYS WRONG

Enjoy.

p.s. that's Le Chatelier btw, NOT me ok...