Unanswered Questions
241 questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
6
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Why is supersaturated sodium acetate so (meta)stable?
Sodium acetate is a common example used in general chemistry lectures to illustrate the idea of supersaturation, and that precipitation of a supersaturated solution can be initiated by a seed crystal. ...
6
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0
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775
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How can copper(II) sulfate crystallize outside a glass vial?
I'm making copper sulfate crystals in glasses. Within a few weeks, the copper sulfate seems to crystallize both inside and outside the glass:
(A few weeks after making a new solution)
(Yet another ...
5
votes
0
answers
187
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What pH value of 1M sodium crotonate solution supposed to be?
I need to prepare the $\pu{1M}$ solution of sodium crotonate, however, I don't have one in lab, but I do have sodium hydroxide and crotonic acid.
Thus, I calculated that for $\pu{100 mL}$ of $\pu{1M}$ ...
5
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0
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793
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Solubility of PbSO4
The solubility of $\ce{PbSO4(s)}$ increase with the addition of $\ce{H2SO4}.$ Why?
I don't quite understand this. When dissolving $\ce{PbSO4(s)}$ we get the equilibrium equation:
$$\ce{PbSO4(s) <=...
5
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0
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159
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Where is my antimony going?
I work in a trace metals laboratory operating an ICP-OES. I've been having some trouble with the recovery of antimony in a weak $\ce{HCl}$ solution post-digestion.
The antimony is part of a mix of ...
4
votes
1
answer
234
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How does a silver chloride electrode (Ag/AgCl) convert the potential in aqueous solution to the wire?
I am aware of the redox chemistry that happens at the electrode surface, but I'm not sure how exactly a change in electrical potential in the solution would change the potential in the electrode?
4
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0
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86
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Notation for spectral density in experimental community
In an open quantum system setup where the system is coupled to infinite harmonic oscillators as bath (as in the Caldeira leggett model, for example), through the Hamiltonian,
$$H = \frac{\hat{p}^2}{2m}...
4
votes
1
answer
366
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Variation of conductance of saturated aqueous solution with temperature
The following question was asked in JEE Mains 2020:
Let $C_{\ce{NaCl}}$ and $C_{\ce{BaSO4}}$ be the conductances (in S) measured for saturated aqueous solutions of $\ce{NaCl}$ and $\ce{BaSO4}$, ...
4
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254
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Why does viscosity decrease when divalent cations are dissolved into aqueous solutions of sodium carboxymethylcellulose?
Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC/NaCMC/Aqualon) is a common product used in many instances for its unique properties, especially its ability to make solutions viscous. It is well known that the ...
4
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2k
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How to break down soap and detergents?
I am building a greywater harvesting system. It is a 3-stage system:
The 1st stage breaks down soap and detergents.
The 2nd stage filters the water.
The 3rd stage pumps water out of system.
What ...
3
votes
0
answers
27
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Non-binding buffer at pKa of roughly 6 that dissolves in ethanol?
I'm trying to find a proper buffer for my experiment, which I'd appreciate some suggestions on. I have a solution in which I want to measure the concentration of magnesium ions using a fluorescent ...
3
votes
1
answer
55
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Experiment on pH vs Rate of Electrolysis - what do the results actually say?
My experimental setup looks at using different pH solutions (of $\ce{H2SO4}$ and $\ce{NaOH}$) for electrolysis of water with a Hoffman setup and then measuring the rate of production of gas (note this ...
3
votes
0
answers
38
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Assessing stability of protein used for interaction experiments after changing buffer from tris to HEPES
I have a protein with a theoretical $\mathrm{pI}~9.0$ currently stored in $\pu{25 mM}$ tris and $\pu{250 mM}$ $\ce{NaCl}$ $(\mathrm{pH}~8)$ at $\pu{−80 °C}.$ I need to do experiments in HEPES at $\...
3
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0
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78
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Measuring [A-]/[HA-] with Buffer and Indicator
I'm very confused on how to calculate the [A-]/[HA] value, given the fact that my dilution series uses buffers at various pH values with the same indicator (supplied at the same concentration to each ...
3
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0
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39
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Maintaining our supersaturated oceans
Supersaturates solutions can be unstable and decay beautifully once a seed crystal is introduced.
Our oceans near the surface are supersaturated with respect to calcium carbonate. This map shows the ...
3
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0
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191
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Can there be an aqueous solution with a convex meniscus?
This question is motivated by a quote from a TV show:
A detective is looking at a small vial (really a glass tube) that supposedly contains poison. Then the detective says:
You don't have to take AP ...
3
votes
0
answers
1k
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Number of moles of acidified potassium dichromate required to liberate 6 moles of iodine from an aqueous solution of iodate ions
I came across this question in a recent exam I had taken:
How many moles of acidified $\ce{K2Cr2O7}$ is required to liberate 6 moles of $\ce{I2}$ from an aqueous solution of $\ce{I-}$ ?
So this is ...
3
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0
answers
497
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The most convenient process to purify Oxalic Acid up to a high level of purity
I am set out to purify a batch of commercial oxalic acid with the aim in mind to end up with a highly pure product (starting from $\pu{4,000 ppm}$ total impurities and doing so with basic lab ...
3
votes
0
answers
116
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Molar ratios not leading to complete reaction in Schweizer's reagent production
In my home lab, I've reacted $\ce{Cu(OH)2}$ with aqueous ammonia to produce Schweizer's reagent. However, I'm surprised by the amount of ammonia required to react with this amount of $\ce{Cu(OH)2}$. ...
3
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0
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157
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Removing Tungsten Trioxide from Tungsten Electrode
I need a very sharp tungsten electrode, and I think radial electrochemical etching with sodium hydroxide is the way to go. The problem therein (I think) is that the etching will cause an oxide layer ...
3
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0
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1k
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Calculating total volume mixing NaCl and water
I'm (as a non chemist) trying to calculate the the volume of a NaCl solution. The problem is that I know the volume of water prior to mixing in NaCl, but I want to know the volume of the solution ...
3
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0
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160
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Chemistry Behind TMOS Aerogel
I have found out how to make silica aerogel.
Currently, the solution that I need to create to make the gel requires tetramethyl orthosilicate or TMOS. Furthermore, the procedure requires me to make ...
3
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0
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342
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Hydrogen Peroxide Heat of Dilution
Based on some data here, I am getting the heat of dilution of 100% $\ce{H2O2}$ as approx. 1100 cal/mole.
That's about 4.6 kJ/mol if I did my math right.
Is this a correct value? Seems too low to ...
3
votes
0
answers
110
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Poor aqueous solubility of chloroazodin
Below is the structure of chloroazodin:
Why is chloroazodin poorly soluble in water? It has multiple amine and imine nitrogens, all of which appear to be available for hydrogen bonding, and thus it ...
3
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0
answers
80
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Can a brine water electrolysis be looped?
Electrolysis of brine yields hydrogen and chlorine gases and aqueous $\ce{NaOH}$. So is it possible to combine the gases to form $\ce{HCl}$ gas, and mix it back with the aqueous $\ce{NaOH}$, so it ...
3
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0
answers
290
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If both nitric acid and nitrate ion are stabilised through resonance, what makes the nitrate ion more stable in aqueous medium?
If both nitric acid and nitrate ion are stabilised through resonance, what makes the nitrate ion more stable in aqueous medium?
Can the same argument be applied to nitrous acid and nitrite ion in ...
3
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0
answers
633
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The Health Effects of Alkaline Ionized Water?
I came across alkaline ionized water as my aunts bought a system called Kangen Water from Enagic Inc. The water produced by this system is claimed to contain smaller water clusters (4-6 molecules) ...
2
votes
0
answers
38
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Salts solubility and speciation calculations using PHREEQC
I am collecting data from literature for CO2 solubility in aqueous solutions. These are usually synthetic brines and are reported as molalities or wt% of salts or salt mixtures (I have NaCl, KCl, ...
2
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0
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69
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Stability of n-Dodecyl-beta-D-maltoside in buffer solutions for assay experiments
I have a buffer system which contains multiple salts and in addition DTT and n-Dodecyl-beta-D-maltoside.
I understand that DTT is hydrolysing quite fast and this component must be used always fresh ...
2
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0
answers
88
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Why do buffer solution only maintain pH to a certain limit?
I know that buffers have a capacity after which they are not able to maintain a relatively stable pH. This capacity is exceeded when we add too much acid or base but I was wondering why does this ...