Classification and Properties of Non-Ferrous Metals
Classification of Non-Ferrous Metals
Non-ferrous metals are essential and are increasingly used in industry to manufacture many products. They are classified as follows:
- Heavy: Density greater than 5 kg/dm3. Examples include tin, copper, zinc, and lead.
- Light: Density between 2 and 5 kg/dm3. Examples include aluminum and titanium.
- Ultralight: Density less than 2 kg/dm3. Examples include magnesium and beryllium.
Non-ferrous metals are generally soft and have low mechanical strength. Therefore, they are
Read MoreAtomic Theory: From Ancient Greece to Modern Physics
First Discussions on the Subject
It was the Greek philosophers who began to question rationally, trying to find explanations or principles to explain the nature of things. For example, Thales of Miletus, who lived between the 5th and 6th centuries BC, postulated that the fundamental substance of the universe was water, from which it was possible to explain the constitution of all things.
A different view was that of Empedocles (5th century BC), who, by adding different traditions, argued that there
Read MoreWastewater Characteristics and Treatment Considerations
Key Components in Wastewater
Sulfur
The sulfate ion is found naturally in most water supplies and in wastewater. Sulfur is required for the synthesis of protein and will be released later in the process of protein degradation. Sulfates are chemically reduced to sulfides and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) under anaerobic bacterial action. H2S released into the atmosphere in sewage systems that do not circulate under pressure tends to accumulate in the key of the pipes. The H2S can suffer cumulative biological
Read MoreLiquor and Whiskey Production: From Fermentation to Bottling
The liquor industry, considered from a global point of view, appears very fragmented. This is evident from the large number of manufacturers and the variety of packaging methods, production processes, and finished products.
What is Liquor?
Flavored-alcohol beverages are obtained by maceration, infusion, or distillation of various natural plant substances, flavored with distilled spirits, or by the addition of extracts, essences, and aromas allowed, or a combination of both, colored or not, with a
Read MoreUnderstanding Metal Corrosion: Types, Causes, and Control
Corrosion is the destructive attack of a material by chemical or electrochemical reaction with its environment. When etching is accompanied by physical damage, then there is corrosion-erosion, or corrosive wear by friction.
- It is a natural process; there is a transformation of the material to a more stable compound, which is an oxide.
- Plastic or wood do not corrode; they can crack or break down.
- Corrosion of iron leads to oxidation.
Two Kinds of Corrosion
- Dry: When an attack occurs via a chemical reaction,
Acid-Base Reactions and pH Calculations: Solved Problems
1. Identifying Conjugate Acid-Base Pairs
Identify the conjugate acid-base pairs in the following reaction:
CH3COO– + HCN ⇄ CH3COOH + CN–
Solution:
According to the Bronsted-Lowry theory, an acid is a chemical species that can donate an H+ ion. A base is a species that can accept an H+ ion. Therefore, by reacting an acid with a base, a new acid and a new base will always be formed.
Looking at the acid-base reaction of this problem:
CH3COO– + HCN ⇄ CH3COOH + CN–
You can see that the species CH3COO– (
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