Questions tagged [applied-chemistry]
Chemical processes and theories being used in practical and experimental applications.
82
questions
0
votes
1answer
63 views
How to oxidize tantalum? [closed]
I am interested in learning how to oxidize tantalum. I have seen some tantalum rings that the sellers say is a permanent smokey blackish color. But I've spoken to some people that say tantalum cannot ...
2
votes
1answer
40 views
Synthetic ruby - damaged by heat less than its melting point?
A bit of a jewellery question but chemistry related. I want to encase a synthetic ruby (corundum, Al2O3) in silver by melting the silver around it. Either in a furnace or by casting. The MP of silver ...
0
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0answers
33 views
Which is the more effective home insecticide? Boric acid or borax?
I recall my late father introducing me to one of either boric acid or borax... as a relatively low human toxicity very effective insecticide. The thing is, I cannot remember which chemical my father ...
2
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0answers
211 views
Carbon monoxide from activated charcoal filters
We use activated charcoal in air filters of the ventilation system to remove pollutant vapours from the exhaust air. Before the filters, the air is heated a bit to avoid condensation of water. ...
-1
votes
1answer
91 views
What substance consumes oxygen from atmospheric air [closed]
I'd like to find an economical substance that will consume oxygen from a container. Steel wool comes to mind but I don't have an intuition how feasible it would be.
The chamber is 5 gallons in size ...
1
vote
1answer
59 views
Artificial nose sensors
I'm am doing research in creating an artificial nose. I need to know how this process works by someone with domain expertise; essentially, what technologies are available currently to detect a broader ...
0
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0answers
89 views
distillation of aqueous CAN solution for the purpose of a reversible and strong endothermic reaction in cool packs
I know calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) is used for cold packs. By bending a small metal plate the salt gets dissolved in water (separated pack) and this process is endothermic.
I would like to heat ...
42
votes
1answer
6k views
Why can we still breathe in valleys? [duplicate]
Air is 1% argon. Argon is heavier than air.
Why doesn't the argon concentrate in low-lying areas, choking out life there?
2
votes
2answers
105 views
Good Alternative for Plasticized PVC [closed]
In my current job we use gloveboxes, but unlike most we use disposable PVC bags on the entry ports instead of fixed gloves. The bags have an O ring which is stretched onto a spigot proud of the ...
2
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0answers
159 views
Why was rhenium used as an igniter in flash bulbs?
It looks like it typically had a current passed though it to ignite zirconium threads.
What properties of rhenium made it the best metal to use for this?
4
votes
1answer
414 views
Why is antimony oxide used as a flame retardant?
What is the mechanism of action of antimony oxide as a flame retardant? Is this to do with radical absorption?
1
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1answer
512 views
Determination of hardness of water using EDTA
Finding hardness of water by using EDTA. For determining permanent hardness we take the sample of about $\pu{50 mL}$ and then add Eriochrome Black T (EBT) indicator that results in wine red color due ...
1
vote
0answers
95 views
Why is paper sometimes yellow?
Where I'm from, most paper you find/get at stores has this yellowish tinge. Why is it yellow and not white?
In my chemistry book it's mentioned that paper manufacturers "refine" paper from wood pulp, ...
2
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0answers
854 views
How to calculate resulting pH of mixing 2 fruit juices [closed]
I want to make jelly from a mixture of 50% fresh apple juice and 50% juice of another fruit. The resulting pH must be less than 4.6, otherwise the jelly will not be safe from C. botulinum.
Based on ...
0
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2answers
124 views
Using quantiative analysis to find empirical and molecular formula
A compound of Ca, C, N and S was subjected to quantitative analysis and formula mass determination, and the following data were recorded.
A $\pu{0.250 g}$ sample was mixed with $\ce{Na2CO3}$ to ...
6
votes
2answers
153 views
How can I make a better whiteboard cleaning solution?
I just started work as a lab assistant in a chem lab. The whiteboard the instructor uses for classes gets very dirty very quickly. The woman who started at the same time as I did spent over 3 hours ...
3
votes
1answer
291 views
How to determine fire hazard of heating ethylene glycol to dissolve borax and boric acid
I am looking to replicate instructions provided in the last paragrph of this article that requires dissolving borax (Sodium Tetraborate decahydrate ($\ce{Na2B4O7·10H2O}$)) and boric acid in ethylene ...
14
votes
1answer
865 views
Are there any significant uses of the compound formed by magnesium and anthracene?
In an unusual reaction, magnesium reacts with anthracene in THF to form a grignard-like compound called, prosaically, magnesium anthracene:
I remember using it briefly in the 1980s. At the time there ...
3
votes
1answer
550 views
Does selenium sulfate corrode or otherwise react with metals?
I was just watching a cartoon called Motorcity, and they featured a real compound called selenium sulfate.
While I'm sure that the compound blowing up a detached steel [car part] on contact is just ...
4
votes
0answers
620 views
Is it possible to make Spider-Man like web fluid? [closed]
Is it possible to make a substance which has similar properties to that of the web fluid e.g. High tensile strength, sticky (can attach to most of the surfaces), evaporates within few hours etc. If so ...
2
votes
0answers
31 views
Bonding Carbon Fiber to Metal
I have an application for a very thin, strong, electrical conductor that need to act as a (almost) frictionless support "rope". Typically materials like tungsten wire or platinum-iridium alloys have ...
1
vote
0answers
31 views
Boron nitride polymerization with silicon based molecules
Since boron nitride is similar to carbon hexagonal structures and silicon is a main component of inorganic polymers. Is it possible to make it from a polymer under certain conditions, if so what ...
1
vote
1answer
1k views
Baking soda + oil solubility
I have a question regarding the solubility of baking soda (bicarb soda) in oil. I am pretty sure that it has poor solubility, but I have a chemistry dilemma and cannot seem to solve it.
I make all-...
5
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0answers
129 views
Where is my antimony going?
I work in a trace metals laboratory operating an ICP-OES. I've been having some trouble with the recovery of antimony in a weak $\ce{HCl}$ solution post-digestion.
The antimony is part of a mix of ...
12
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2answers
345 views
Can olivine be used to make glass?
This concerns ongoing work to find a plausible approach to large-scale production of clear glass on the Moon. It's for an ultra-hard science fiction project and I really want to get it right.
Olivine ...
1
vote
0answers
27 views
Calculating amount of alkali additions to get desired pH in (hard) cider
This is linked to my question over on the HomeBrew SE site: https://homebrew.stackexchange.com/questions/18837/reduce-acidity-of-hard-cider
I haven't done chemistry since I was 17/18 but I remember ...
0
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1answer
178 views
What can be a harmless electrolytic additive for water for creating an oxy-hydrogen flame?
I was thinking of preparing a tiny oxy-hydrogen flame for soldering. I am going to use 6V DC and aluminum sheet as the electrode for this. Now, I have to add some electrolyte to water, that can be a ...
7
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1answer
159 views
Can glass be made with anorthite?
The lunar highlands are made mostly of anorthosite (90% anorthite, the rest oxides of magnesium, iron, a little titanium, and traces of others), and pretty pure anorthite ($\ce{CaAl2Si2O8}$) is common....
2
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2answers
2k views
experimentally determine oxidation state of Iron compound
I need to make several Iron compounds but I am having a bit of trouble finding a decent way to determine the oxidation state of Iron.
I'm starting with a Iron(II) compound that I try to oxidize using ...
0
votes
2answers
57 views
How to desalinate seawater at freezing temperature or high pressure?
The deep ocean depths have very high pressure and freezing temperatures. Could one or both of these characteristics be used to desalinate seawater?
Reverse osmosis uses high pressure to separate salt ...
2
votes
1answer
515 views
Working with stainless steel in 3 M HCl solution
We are trying to mix a material using 316 stainless steel blades in a $3~\mathrm{M}\ \ce{HCl}$ solution for 4 hours in a PE container? Will the blades stand for 4 hours or do they start to corrode in ...
3
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0answers
39 views
Particle size-energy distribution
I am not chemist, I am mathematician and interested in Population Balance Equations. I have a question about particle size-(breakage) energy distribution which mentioned in this article: http://www....
4
votes
2answers
4k views
Could a lead-acid battery electrolyte be replaced by hydrochloric or nitric acid?
Hydrochloric acid, as well as nitric acid, are also strong acids like sulfuric acid. So, why are not they used commercially in lead-acid batteries?
2
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1answer
92 views
Why do cookies prevent toothpaste from foaming?
If I eat cookies and subsequently brush my teeth such that there is still small amounts of cookie material stuck to my teeth, the toothpaste will not foam as well as usually, making the process less ...
1
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1answer
2k views
formaldehyde strong odor neutralization
One of our customers used a very high dose of formaldehyde 37% solution (60 liter formaldehyde in 40 liter water) for disinfection in his chicken farm (saloon). Now he says the odor of formaldehyde ...
3
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0answers
35 views
Coating applied to plastic (polymer suitable for straws) to repel carbon dioxide to prevent “floating”
We are four students currently finalizing our last exam-project before our bachelor.
We confirmed our hypothesis that straws floating to the top of your drink is a "problem" from our survey.
Our ...
1
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0answers
56 views
Manufacturing coloured crystal glass using gold nanoparticles
I came across this video which shows how a crystal chandelier is made. I recommend that anyone reading this post should watch it; it is quite fascinating.
Anyway, at about the 2:15 mark, the video ...
1
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1answer
52 views
Development of experiments to optimize HPLC-MS procedure using 2D central composite full factorial design [closed]
I have recently been studying development of experiments and how to statistically plan/optimize an experiment for x number of variables based on y number of responses.
To begin with, I am just going ...
15
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4answers
10k views
How could I cause metal to rust rapidly?
I'm writing a novel set in the mid-nineteenth century. One of my characters needs to cause an iron padlock to rust rapidly, ideally within a matter of hours.
The lock doesn't need to rust away ...
8
votes
3answers
224 views
Constructing a grenade (for a novel I'm writing.)
Ok, before any eyebrows get raised, this is for a novel that I'm writing and inspired by this answer from worldbuilding and this reference answer. I just want to make sure the device I'm trying to use ...
1
vote
2answers
73 views
Rotovapping Aqueous Solutions - Need a cold trap?
I am working on a large scale natural product Rotovapping project. There are two botanical extracts to evolve, combined in processing. The solvents are 50% EtOH and 50% glycerin. There is a large ...
1
vote
0answers
353 views
How do I create a transparent liquid for ferrofluid display?
Hello~ I am a media art artists working in Korea.
Recently, create a kinetic artwork using ferrofluid.
I need to create an artificial pond with a diameter of 3 meters. So I need a lot of suspension ...
4
votes
1answer
98 views
How may the water from rain be tested to determine it is natural, or from cloud seeding?
This article lists several mechanisms that may be used to control the weather and/or induce rainfall. Apparently many states, other than the one listed in the headline, have experimented with such ...
2
votes
0answers
75 views
Reactor mass balance with solid feed and overflow
I am modeling a lime slaker which is basically a stirred tank reactor with two separate feeds:
1. CaO feed screw (powder)
2. H2O binary valve (liquid)
These react according to the reaction:
$\ce{CaO(...
4
votes
0answers
69 views
ZnO spontaneous combustion during transport
I found your contact information researching $\ce{ZnO}$ reactions. I was hoping you could please help me or orient me in the right direction to find an answer to my problem.
The company I work for ...
1
vote
0answers
135 views
How can I get rid of 700 million tons of chlorine gas?
I am conducting a thought experiment in which 40 million tons of hydrogen are supplied through saltwater electrolysis each year, creating 700 million tons of chlorine gas (Cl2) and 800 million tons of ...
3
votes
1answer
106 views
Lubricants and rubber
I've been reading a lot of conflicting articles/threads pertaining to which lubricant is compatible with rubber/plastics and I'm stumped.
From what I've come across, the consensus is that silicone ...
1
vote
0answers
66 views
Hot-side and Cold-side rechargeable chemical compound
I am wondering if such a chemical/material exists which, upon triggering, becomes cold on one side and hot on the other in which after all the chemical bonds are broken/built (however it would work), ...
4
votes
0answers
105 views
Why is my rusting metal chainlink fence glowing bright orange and sparking?
This is a really practical question, but I can't find anything on Google.
My metal chainlink fence is rusting and I have noticed that where the metal from one wire makes contact with another wire ...
1
vote
0answers
39 views
Can there be gaps in autoignition temperatures?
I recently saw a request for solids that auto-ignite between 80C and 160C. I can't find any, and none have yet been suggested.
Which leads me to the theoretical question: Is it possible for there to ...
