SIMPLE APPLICATIONS OF REDOX REACTIONS

Batteries: providing electrical current using spontaneous chemical reactions. Redox reactions are needed based on common and inexpensive materials Zn (s) + 2MnO2 (s) + 2NH4Cl (s) ZnCl2 (aq) + Mn2O3 (s) + 2NH3 (aq) + H2O (l)

Combustion: burning of fuel by oxidation with oxygen in air. Fuel: gasoline, natural gas, fuel oil, wood, carbon CH4 (g) + 2O2 (g) CO2 (g) + 2H2O (l)

Bleaching: redox reactions to decolorize or lighten colored materials (hair, wood pulp, clothes) Bleaching agent = oxidizing agent usually H2O2, NaOCl, Cl2

Metallurgy: the science of extracting and purifying metals from their ores, always based on redox reactions ZnO (s) + C(s) Zn (s) + CO (g)

Corrosion: deterioration of a metal by oxidation, rusting, usually oxygen from air and moisture is needed 4Fe (s) + 3O2 (g) + 2H2O (l) 2Fe2O3H2O (s)
iron rust

CHEMISTRY OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Light sensitivity of silver salts Light exposure: formation of silver from silver bromide 2AgBr (s)
light

2Ag (s) + Br2 (l)

black

Respiration: the process of breathing and using oxygen for the many biological redox reactions that provide the energy needed by living organisms. C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 + 6H2O + biological energy
glucose (a sugar)

Developing: formation of much more silver a lot of AgBr + Ag + developer a lot of Ag Fixing: dissolution of excess silver bromide AgBr (s) + 2Na2S2O3 (aq) NaBr (aq) + Na3[Ag(S2O3)2] (aq)

THE KINETIC-MOLECULAR THEORY OF GASES

explanation of the ideal gas laws using statistical physics (and advanced mathematics). Basic assumptions: 1. A gas consists of tiny particles moving about at random. 2. The volume of the particles is negligible compared with the total volume of the gas. 3. The gas particles are independent. 4. Collisions of the gas particles are elastic. 5. The average kinetic energy of the gas particles is proportional to the absolute temperature.

THE KINETIC-MOLECULAR THEORY OF GASES

The gas particles move at different speeds in a given sample of gas. The average speed depends on the temperature and molar weight, but not on the pressure.

v average =

3RT M

Average speeds of some gas molecules at 25 C

2000

SPEED DISTRIBUTION OF GAS PARTICLES

1960
H2

Average speed (m/s)

1360
He

1. Different particles move with different speeds at any given instant in a gas. 2. The ratio of particles moving at a given speed is nearly constant (independent of time) and only depends on the temperature and identity of the gas. 3. The identity of the gas is only important through the molar weight. 4. Each direction of movement contributes about RT overall energy.

1000

520
O2
0 2.0 4.0 32.0

415
CO2
44.0

molar weight

SPEED DISTRIBUTION OF GAS PARTICLES

SPEED DISTRIBUTION OF GAS PARTICLES

Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution mass of one particle speed of one particle

Boltzmanns constant: k = R/NA

HELIUM
Room temperature, atmospheric pressure average speed: 1.36 103 ms1 collision frequency: 1010 s1 mean free path: 2 107 m average distance covered by one He atom between two collisions