Discussion: Equilibrium

Instructions

Find an application of equilibrium and Le Chatelier’s principle. Make a discussion post to inform your fellow students what you discovered. As always, you are welcome to search the internet for a topic, but here are some ideas that you can use.

• Alcohols have many important uses, including being the active ingredient in hand sanitizers and other antimicrobial products. How is equilibrium important for production of alcohols?
  • https://www.chemguide.co.uk/organicprops/alcohols/manufacture.html (Links to an external site.)
• Look into how equilibrium is important in the transport of oxygen and other gases through the body. During the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals would be placed on ventilators where high concentrations of oxygen can be pumped into the lungs. How does this process employ the use of equlibrium?
  • http://www.scienceclarified.com/everyday/Real-Life-Chemistry-Vol-2/Chemical-Equilibrium-Real-life-applications.html (Links to an external site.)
• What is ocean acidification and what are some important consequences? How does equilibrium play a role in acidification of the ocean?
• Chlorinated water can be inconvenient, causing water to taste bad. People who make homebrew often remove chlorine to prevent their product from having an unwanted flavors. The chlorine can also kill the microbes necessary for the fermentation process. Chlorinated water can also be a concern form aquarium owners. Watch the first video about the equilibrium reaction for chlorinating water. Then research one of the chlorine-specific topics for your discussion.
  • Chlorine-specific topics
    • Homebrewing (maybe only if your over 21): (Links to an external site.)
      • https://www.morebeer.com/articles/removing_chloramines_from_water (Links to an external site.)
      • If you’re interested, this resource (Links to an external site.) shows the reactions for chlorinating water and how it can be removed by sodium metabisulfite.
    • How to remove chlorine from tap water using chemical equilibrium (no fancy equipment needed). You can use this if you go somewhere where they put a lot of chlorine in the water. Note: the video mentions fluoride in tap water. Fluoride is used to help prevent tooth decay. Also, chloramines can be removed using sodium metabisulfite (Campden tablets). More information is in the homebrewing topic above.
    • Chlorine concerns for aquarium owners. This video doesn’t focus on equilibrium. It does mention the same method as described in the tap water video. You might want to watch that video as well.

In your post, include the following:

• The topic you chose
• The topic’s relationship with chemical equilibrium, especially Le Chatelier’s Principle.
• What you found interesting or what was unexpected or why you chose the topic
• At least 2 references from which you obtained your information (You can use one from the list above. Provide another one that you found on your own).

Grading

• Clearly indicates the topic
• Explains how the topic is related to chemical equilibrium and Le Chatelier’s Principle
• Provides something interesting or unexpected or explains why the topic was chosen
• Provides 2 references (one unique, but one can be from the given references)