Web Activities
UNIT 3: ENERGY CHANGES AND RATES OF REACTION
Chapter 6 – Chemical Kinetics
Practice
p. 371
Question 7
Many boxed, dry cereals contain BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene,
also named 2, 6-di-tert-butyl-p-cresol) in the packaging material. Use
the Internet or other resources to discover and report on the effect
of BHT on reaction rates.
What
are BHA and BHT?
This About.com website contains a very comprehensive resource for information
about BHA and BHT, with everything from molecular structures, to links
to other websites with further information.
Section 6.2 Questions
p. 371
Question 4
Heterogeneous catalysts are generally preferred in industrial
reactions. Explain why this is so, with reference to several industrial
examples not mentioned in the text.
Catalysts
for Change
The Royal Society of Chemistry sponsors a group of web pages called
the "Chemical Science Network." This web page contains an
article about work being done by researchers on designing a certain
type of catalyst that will create chiral-specific drugs, among other
things.
p. 371
Question 5
How do catalytic converters work? Research and write a brief
report on the materials and design of these devices.
How
Catalytic Converters Work
This How Stuff Works Web site contains a five-page article on catalytic
converters, including their role in reducing pollution, along with a
mention of alternative means of reducing pollution. A useful list of
additional web resources is also provided.
Section 6.3 Questions
p. 382
Question 7
Radiocarbon dating is a common way of determining the age of
archaeological specimens, but the carbon-14 isotope is only one of a
number of radioisotopes used. Research and report on the applications
of carbon-14 and other isotopes to such dating techniques.
How
Carbon-14 Dating Works
This How Stuff Works website contains a three-page article explaining
how carbon-14 dating is used to determine the age of fossils. A page
containing links to other web resources is also found at the end of
the article.
p. 382
Question 8
Nuclear waste storage is a controversial issue. Research the
Internet to answer the following questions:
a. What kinds of nuclear wastes are produced by CANDU reactors,
what are their half-lives, and what are the products if their radioactive
decay?
b. Where are the wastes currently stored?
c. What are some of the proposed long-term solutions to the problem
of nuclear waste?
d. Imagine that you are a member of a mining community. A local abandoned
mine has been proposed as a site for storage of nuclear waste. Write
a letter to your MP supporting or opposing the proposal. Back up your
opinion with arguments based on specific information.
The
Nuclear Tourist: Table of Contents
This website abounds with information about nuclear power plants around
the world--locations, pictures, research data, and much more.
Nuclear
Waste Management
This "Canadian Nuclear FAQ" provides answers to questions
about Canada's approach towards nuclear waste management. The information
is quite detailed, and yet very easy to read.
CANDU
6 Fuel
This New Brunswick Power website explains the process that is undergone
in order to get electricity from the CANDU Nuclear Power Plant.
Canadian
Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility
The Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility (CCNR) is a non-profit
organization that researches and teaches about nuclear energy. This
page contains hundreds of links to resources from around the world that
have to do with nuclear energy.
Section 6.4 Questions
p. 391
Question 5
Ozone is a molecule that is helpful in the upper atmosphere
but harmful at ground level. Research the Internet to answer the following
questions:
a. Why is ground-level ozone a problem?
b. What are the mechanisms of the reactions that lead to its production?
c. What is the connection between the production of ozone and kinetics?
Ground-level
Ozone (Smog) Information
This website of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides air
quality information for the New England region in the north-eastern
United States. It provides many useful links to other resource websites.
Reducing
Smog
This informative website is provided by the Environmental Protection
Branch of Environment Canada. It explains what smog is, how it originates,
and what we can do to reduce smog.
p. 391
Question 6
John Polanyi, a scientist at the University of Toronto, won
the 1986 Nobel prize for his work in chemical kinetics. Imagine that
you are a newspaper reported describing Polanyi’s work in an article
written the day after he received the prize. Include in your article
a description of his area of research and the experiments he performed.
Polanyi
for Youth
This University of Toronto website is devoted to one of its most distinguished
alumni, John Polanyi. It provides information about his life, the topics
he studied, the Nobel prize, and much more.
The
Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1986
This Nobel site provides information about the prize that Polanyi shared
with two U.S. researchers, their biographies, and the lectures that
they presented in 1986.
Practice
p. 397
Question 6
“Platinum should be described
as a precious metal, not because of its use in jewellery but because
of its use as a catalyst. “ Do you agree or disagree with this
statement? Back up your opinion with references to specific applications
of platinum.
Platinum
- Applications
Read about the different applications of platinum
in the automotive, jewellery, chemistry, and petroleum industries.
Platinum
- Uses
This Webelements.com website provides an exhaustive list of uses for
platinum, an element that is used in things as diverse as pacemakers,
cigarette lighters and therapeutic agents for cancer.
p. 397
Explore an Issue – Debate: Food Preservation
Methods of food preservation in different communities - traditional
and modern techniques.
Which of these many ways of preserving food is best for our
health? For our planet? For out wallets? For our community?
Food
Preservation Methods
This university website describes government guidelines for various
methods of food preservation, including canning, drying and freezing.
It contains links to several websites for each of these, and other,
methods for keeping food safely.
Food
Preservation Information and Documents
This website belongs to the University of Wisconsin - Extension program,
which provides many online educational resources. This page contains
links to resources regarding canning, freezing, and pickling--all very
important methods for food preservation.
Practice Careers
p. 398
Question 8
Choose a career that interests you, either one of those featured
or another that involves rates of reactions, and report on the following:
(a) training required;
(b) working conditions; and
(c) current employment opportunities.
Chemistry
Careers
This Ball State University Department of Chemistry website provides
a lengthy list of careers available to those that study chemistry in
university.
Careers
This American Chemical Society website contains links to information
about careers and salaries of chemists. To see how much chemists earn,
follow the link entitled, "Career Services Publications,"
and look at the results of their most recent salary survey.
Section 6.5 Questions
p. 400
Question 5
Enzymes have application in both body chemistry and industrial
reactions. Write a brief report describing the function of an enzyme
(not yet mentioned in this chapter) in the human body or in industry.
Enzymes
and Enzyme Activity
This private website is managed by Ralph Logan. It explains enzymes
and their relevance by first explaining proteins and catalysts.
Enzymes:
Classification, Structure, Mechanism
This website from Washington State University explains how enzymes work,
with easy-read text and diagrams.
Activity 6.5.1 – Catalysts in Industry and Biochemical Systems
p. 405
Using the Internet, find at least 10 examples of enzymes and
industrial catalysts.
a. For each of the enzymes or catalysts, record the reaction that
is catalyzed; how the catalyst was discovered; where and how the catalyst
or enzyme acts for an enzyme, physiological implications of its presence
or deficiency, whether such a condition exists, and, if so, how it
is currently treated for an industrial catalyst, economic implications
of its use.
b. Which of the industrial catalysts has the greatest effect on you
life? Explain.
c. Summarize your research.
Enzymes
and Enzyme Activity
This private website is managed by Ralph Logan. It explains enzymes
and their relevance by first explaining proteins and catalysts.
Enzymes:
Classification, Structure, Mechanism
This website from Washington State University explains how enzymes work,
with easy-read text and diagrams.
