CHEM 241 Video Questions

what acid is the primary catalyst in the making of most explosives in North America

nitric acid

what is ANFO

ammonium nitrate fuel oil

what type of explosive is used mainly for military purposes

RDX

what is most nitric acid used to produce

fertilizer

where was the catastrophic nitric acid explosion of 1947

Texas City, Texas

what chemical is produced in the largest amount in the U.S. (annually)

sulfuric acid

how many times more acidic is a solution of pH 1 acid than a solution of pH 3

100x

what happens if you put a piece of aluminum in concentrated sulfuric acid

the aluminum foil dissolves

how does sulfuric acid (and most other acids) burn your skin

it dehydrates it, leaving only carbon

list 3 applications of sulfuric acid

1. petroleum industry

2. pulp and paper industries

3. leaching industry

SO3 + H2O

H2SO4

why does a cut onion often make your eyes burn

the gas released forms sulfuric acid with your eyes

what acid is found in your stomach and used to dissolve food

hydrochloric acid

what acid is used to make gelatin for food and other substances

HCL

what is the acid reacted with when making gelatin

bones

what does HCL do to bone

breaks it down (demineralized) (only protein is left)

list 3 things gelatin is used for

1. film emulsions

2. pharmaceuticals

3. golf balls

4. foods

what type of acid is often found in cola

phosphoric acid

what is the bulk starting material used for making vinegar

alcohol

what process is used to make stainless steel clean (sterile)

passivation —> permanently sterile

what is an application for passivated steel

tattoo tips

what is a mixture of hydrochloric and nitric acids used to dissolve precious metals called

aqua regia

what is acid rain

rain/fog with high levels of sulfuric/nitric acid

what acids are the main components of acid rain

sulfuric acid and nitric acid

what are today’s pennies composed of

zinc

what sinister way were acids used on the battlefield in World War I

mustard and phosgene

what is one of the oldest known historical uses of acid (etching)

decoration of weapons and armor

at what national park are the most open acid pools located

Yellowstone

what word is used to describe microorganisms that can live in low pH/high temperature environments

thermoacidophiles

why are thermoacidophiles important

they develop enzymes that protect cells in these environments, these enzymes might be harnessed for industrial processes