Archive for June, 2011
What are advantages of chemical energy?
Our world is powered by the chemical energy released through various reactions. Our bodies use chemical energy released through conversion of ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) into ADP (Adenosine Diphosphate), our vehicles are powered by fuels which derive chemical energy released through combustion reactions and our power plants are kept running by the burning of coal like fuels, leading to generation of electricity. Since ages, every source of energy used by man has had a chemical energy origin. In this Buzzle article, I list the advantages of chemical energy which have contributed to make it the most preferred source of energy, all over the world.
What is Chemical Energy?
The energy stored in chemical bonds, which can be released through exothermic reactions is called chemical energy. Earth abounding with various types of chemicals, the sources of chemical energy are many, ranging from wood, coal, crude oil to just about any combustible organic material. Depending on the nature of chemical bonds that are broken by a combustion reaction, the amount of chemical energy released through a reaction may vary. Crude oil being made up of a mixture of hydrocarbon compounds, with multiple bonds, is one of the richest sources of chemical energy. The food we consume contains chemical energy that is derived through the process of cellular respiration.
Advantages of Chemical Energy
Chemical energy powers pretty much everything on Earth. Here are the prime advantages of using this form of energy.
It’s the Most Copious Energy Source Available
Quite easily, chemical energy sources are the most copiously available sources in the world. Crude oil which is extracted from underlying sedimentary layers of the Earth’s crust is currently the most abundant chemical energy source used in the world. Crude oil is created from the chemical conversion of fossilized remains of dead plants and animals under high pressure exerted by layers of the Earth. The dependency of human kind on crude oil is so much, that condition of all world economies is directly affected by fluctuations in crude oil prices. Other abundant chemical energy sources are coal, wood and organic materials like wax. Read the rest of this entry »
Difference Between Organic Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry
When taking up your first advanced courses in high school level science, you will find two separate courses named organic and inorganic chemistry listed in the course schedule. Till date, you might have taken up only a single course in basic chemistry and the bifurcation of this subject into two separate parts might baffle you. As a subject advances in its scope of applicability and complexity, it tends to get divided into sub-fields and chemistry is no exception to this. According to the kind of chemical reactions studied and the materials investigated, chemistry is divided into organic and inorganic chemistry. In this Buzzle article, I have elucidated the difference between organic and inorganic chemistry, for beginner students taking up advanced chemistry courses.
What is Organic Chemistry?
Organic chemistry, as the name itself suggests, deals with the study of all kinds of organic compounds. Earlier, the term – ‘Organic’ addressed compounds of biological origin but now it is broadly defined to apply to all carbon compounds and hydrocarbons (C-H compounds) in particular. These includes alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, aromatic compounds, aliphatic compounds, polymers and biomolecules. It involves the study of structure, properties, synthesis, reactions and applications of organic compounds. Like any other field of chemistry, there is considerable lab work involved in a typical organic chemistry course which focuses on studying characterization, identification and analysis of organic reactions. Advanced courses in organic chemistry study biological reaction mechanisms like cellular respiration, protein synthesis, DNA replication and other such phenomena in substantial detail.
What is Inorganic Chemistry?
Inorganic chemistry focuses on studying the realm of non-organic compounds, which includes all naturally occurring and artificially synthesized metallic and non-metallic compounds. It involves the study of structure, properties and synthesis of these compounds. Advanced inorganic chemistry involves molecular quantum mechanics which provides an accurate description of the molecular structure of inorganic compounds. Reaction mechanisms involving inorganic compounds are studied in detail. Lab work in primary inorganic chemistry courses involves ‘Inorganic Qualitative Analysis’ aimed at training students in identifying the salts of various types through a series of investigative experiments. It also involves several quantitative analysis methods, like titration and actual synthesis of inorganic compounds. Read the rest of this entry »
Beginners guide to astronomy
The detailed study of the stars, planets, galaxies and comets are is applied in the understanding of the cosmic background radiation that takes place consistently beyond the atmosphere of the Earth. The revelations have largely affected and influenced man’s understanding of evolution, meteorology and the laws of physics. The movements observed have enabled scientists to gain a deeper understanding of the celestial objects as part of and the origin of the development of the universe. In fact, astronomy is one of the oldest sciences applied! Earlier, astronomers were very methodical in approach of their observations of the night sky. This observation-based science was only able to develop into the modern science it is today, after the invention of the telescope.
Astronomy includes the combination of other disciplines such as celestial navigation, astrometry and observational astronomy and astrology. However, recent research declares the science of professional astronomy to be synonymous with that of astro-physics. Professional astronomy is studied under the theoretical and observational branches. While the observational branch of astronomy focuses on the collection and analysis of data, the theoretical branch of astronomy involves the development of analytical models, to better describe the various astronomical objects and phenomena sighted. The two branches of astronomy are used in combination to explain the observations and confirm theoretical results.
Astronomy for beginners is an amazing sphere to explore, especially considering the fact that a number of amateurs have contributed squarely to many astronomical discoveries. Astronomy is also believed to be one of the few sciences where amateurs play an active role! This springs from the fact that their recorded data helps a lot in the discovery and observation of transient celestial phenomena. Astronomy and astrology have two commonalities; both observe the positions of celestial objects and share a common origin. Besides this, the use of ephemerides in either is distinct. Read the rest of this entry »