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1500 questions
14
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2 answers
Toxicity of metallic lead (Pb)
I have some pieces of lead ($\ce{Pb}$) at home. I keep them in a box in the closet and never touch them.
Can it be harmful?
Should I throw them away?
I would like to keep them, but I am not certain about their toxicity.
BugHunter
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Serious introduction to the chemistry of explosives recommendation
I'm looking for a serious introduction to the chemistry (and perhaps to a lesser extend the physics) of explosives. Presupposition of basic university courses in Organic Chemistry and Thermodynamics is no problem, though it would be helpful if some…
Jori
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14
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4 answers
Why are sigma bonds stronger than pi bonds?
Why are sigma bonds stronger than pi bonds?
maths lover
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14
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Does fluorine in FNO3 have +1 oxidation number?
According to my textbook and also Wikipedia, fluorine nitrate is a compound which can be created (though it is unstable). Also my textbook says that fluorine has a $+1$ oxidation state. But how is $+1$ state of fluorine possible?
I read in another…
Learm
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14
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How does the choice of metal (oxide) catalyst affect the range of unsaturated compounds that can be hydrogenated?
In the hydrogenation of unsaturated compounds with hydrogen gas and a catalyst, the choice of palladium on carbon is able to hydrogenate alkenes and alkynes, but is unable to hydrogenate aromatic compounds. Using rhodium or Raney nickel, however,…
user95
14
votes
3 answers
Transition state and free energy
We have products $\ce{A + B}$ combining to form $\ce{C + D}$ through the transition state $\ce{X}$.
Are all reactions at least virtually reversible? Is the difference between a reversible reaction and an irreversible reaction simply that for the…
Brian
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14
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Ceramics in "bullet proof" vests?
Kevlar is an aramid fiber that is used in ballistics protection vests. From the structure (structure shown from Wikipedia article), you can see why it would work to dissipate the energy from a bullet since there is an extensive network of…
Janice DelMar
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14
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3 answers
Does a double bond or a triple bond have a higher priority in nomenclature?
I have this structural formula:
Should it be named pent-1-en-4-yne or pent-1-yn-4-ene?
Tilak Madichetti
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14
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4 answers
Why can't alcohols form hydrogen-bonded dimers like carboxylic acids?
Carboxylic acids such as acetic acid are capable of forming dimers:
I'm wondering why alcohols like ethanol don't generally form dimers. In the diagram below, the oxygen atom on the left ethanol molecule should be capable of accepting a hydrogen…
PoH
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14
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1 answer
Activated Carbon - Desorption in sunlight?
I have some activated charcoal pads or small "pillows" that can be used to adsorb odors and chemical fumes from different materials.
The instructions say to put them out in sunlight to reactivate them once they have been used for a while.
What is…
Casper
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14
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2 answers
What are the products of the reaction between methanamine and nitrous acid?
What are the products of the reaction between methanamine and nitrous acid?
I'm finding this particular reaction very problematic. Here's why:
My teacher tells me that methanamine, when treated with nitrous acid (created by reacting sodium nitrite…
paracetamol
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14
votes
1 answer
How can solids undergo combustion if it only occurs in the gas phase?
According to the smoldering Wikipedia article, flaming combustion occurs in the gaseous phase. I know butane undergoes flaming combustion in a Bunsen burner because it's a gas, but how can wood undergo flaming combustion at all instead of just…
Timothy
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14
votes
1 answer
Why a higher s character increases a carbon atom's electronegativity?
To make us understand certain phenomenon like the higher acidity of alkynes than alkanes and alkenes, our teacher told us to learn this as a general rule:
Higher s character leads to a more electronegative carbon atom.
Note: By s character I mean…
Amritansh Singhal
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14
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3 answers
Can Fe(CO)5 adopt both square pyramidal and trigonal bipyramidal geometries?
I know the hybridization of $\ce{Fe(CO)5}$ is $\mathrm{dsp^3}$. According to my book, coordination compounds with coordination number 5 can interchange between square pyramidal and trigonal bipyramidal geometries. Is it true for this compound?…
user33702
14
votes
2 answers
What is active mass?
I'm aware of the fact that active mass is defined as the molarity of a substance, but my textbook states that
"Active masses are dimensionless quantities but for our purposes we generally take them with dimensions of molarity, partial pressures…
user33789