OpenStax Chemistry 2e The minimum energy necessary to form a product during a collision between reactants is called the activation energy (Ea). How this energy compares to the kinetic energy provided by colliding reactant molecules is a primary factor affecting the rate of a chemical reaction. If the activation energy is much larger than the … Continue reading Activation Energy and the Arrhenius Equation
Month: January 2020
Summary of Kinematics in One Dimension
Kinematics deals with the description of how objects move. The description of the motion of any object must always be given relative to some particular reference frame . The displacement of an object is the change in position of the object. Average speed is the distance traveled divided by the elapsed time or time interval, … Continue reading Summary of Kinematics in One Dimension
Collision Theory in Chemistry
OpenStax Chemistry 2e We should not be surprised that atoms, molecules, or ions must collide before they can react with each other. Atoms must be close together to form chemical bonds. This simple premise is the basis for a very powerful theory that explains many observations regarding chemical kinetics, including factors affecting reaction rates. Collision … Continue reading Collision Theory in Chemistry
Summary of Integrated Rate Laws of Chemical Reactions
OpenStax Chemistry 2e The rate laws far relate the rate and the concentrations of reactants. We can also determine a second form of each rate law that relates the concentrations of reactants and time . These are called integrated rate laws. We can use an integrated rate law to determine the amount of reactant or … Continue reading Summary of Integrated Rate Laws of Chemical Reactions
Factors Affecting Chemical Reaction Rates
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com OpenStax Chemistry 2e The rates at which reactants are consumed and products are formed during chemical reactions vary greatly. Five factors typically affecting the rates of chemical reactions will be explored in this section: the chemical nature of the reacting substances, the state of subdivision (one large lump versus many … Continue reading Factors Affecting Chemical Reaction Rates
Reaction Rates in Analysis: Test Strips for Urinalysis
OpenStax Chemistry 2e Physicians often use disposable test strips to measure the amounts of various substances in a patient’s urine. These test strips contain various chemical reagents , embedded in small pads at various locations along the strip, which undergo changes in color upon exposure to sufficient concentrations of specific substances. The usage instructions for … Continue reading Reaction Rates in Analysis: Test Strips for Urinalysis
Physics Introduction, Measurements, and Estimating
Photo by JESHOOTS.com on Pexels.com Physics, like other sciences, is a creative endeavor. It is not simply a collection of facts. Important theories are created with the idea of explaining observations . To be accepted, theories are tested by comparing their predictions with the results of actual experiments. Note that, in general, a theory cannot … Continue reading Physics Introduction, Measurements, and Estimating
Models, Theories, and Laws
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com When scientists are trying to understand a particular set of phenomena, they often make use of a model . A model, in a scientist's sense, is a kind of analogy or mental image of the phenomena in terms of something we are familiar with. One example is the wave model … Continue reading Models, Theories, and Laws
The Nature of Science
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com The principal aim of all sciences, including physics, is generally considered to be the search for order in our observations of the world around us. Many people think that science is a mechanical process of collecting facts and devising theories. But it is not so simple. Science is a creative … Continue reading The Nature of Science
Respiratory and Metabolic Compensation
Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology Various compensatory mechanisms exist to maintain blood pH within a narrow range, including buffers, respiration, and renal mechanisms. Although compensatory mechanisms usually work very well, when one of these mechanisms is not working properly (like kidney failure or respiratory disease), they have their limits. If the … Continue reading Respiratory and Metabolic Compensation