Unanswered Questions
211 questions with no answers
6
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0
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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. ...
- 71.6k
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 ...
- 17.5k
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 $\pu{1M}$ ...
- 151
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:
$$\ce{PbSO4(s) <=...
- 38.4k
5
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0
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159
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Where is my antimony going?
I work in a trace metals laboratory operating an ICP-OES. I've been having some trouble with the recovery of antimony in a weak $\ce{HCl}$ solution post-digestion.
The antimony is part of a mix of ...
- 17.6k
4
votes
0
answers
86
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Notation for spectral density in experimental community
In an open quantum system setup where the system is coupled to infinite harmonic oscillators as bath (as in the Caldeira leggett model, for example), through the Hamiltonian,
$$H = \frac{\hat{p}^2}{2m}...
- 91
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 ...
- 1
4
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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 ...
- 38.4k
3
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0
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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 $\...
- 38.4k
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
votes
0
answers
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 ...
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3
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0
answers
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 ...
- 131
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 ...
- 426
3
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0
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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 ...
