Emergency Oxygen

Have you ever sat on a plane listening to the flight attendants give the safety demonstration,

"In case of cabin depressurization, oxygen masks will drop automatically..."

and wondered about where, and how, this emergency oxygen is stored?

 Read this edition of AUS-e-NEWS to find out! 

You can subscribe to AUS-e-NEWS at https://www.ausetute.com.au/ausenews.html

Weak Acid - Strong Base Titration Curves

A titration of a weak acid with a strong base results in a titration curve with some notable features, including:

• buffer zone (weak acid in equilibrium with its conjugate base)
• point where pH = PK_a which can be used to determine pK_a, and hence K_a, for the weak acid
• equivalence point where pH > 7 due to the hydrolysis of the anion

Find out more at https://www.ausetute.com.au/titrcurvwasb.html

AUS-e-TUTE Members should log-in to use the new tutorial, game and test.

"Summer Science" 2020

The Royal Society (UK) has moved its "Summer Science" program online for 2020.

Good news for everyone ... especially those of us who are not in the UK!

Visit their website for information about the program: https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2020/summer-science-online/

pH of Aqueous Salt Solutions

If you titrate acetic acid with sodium hydroxide, what is the pH at the equivalence point?

If you dissolve ammonium chloride in water, what is the pH of the solution?

To answer these questions you will have to calculate the pH of an aqueous salt solution!

AUS-e-TUTE has just added new resources to help you do just that!

Members should log-in to use the new tutorial, game, test, drill, worksheet wizard, and problem solving template.

If you are not an AUS-e-TUTE Member, you can access the "free-to-view" tutorial at https://www.ausetute.com.au/phsaltcalcs.html

pH of a Solution When Weak Acid and Strong Base are Mixed

What happens to the pH of a weak acid as you add strong base to it?

For example, aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH_(aq)) is a strong base and acetic acid (CH₃COOH_(aq)) is a weak acid.

If you add 10 mL of 0.20 mol/L NaOH_(aq) to 25 mL of 0.10 mol/L CH₃COOH_(aq), what is the pH of the resultant solution?

Find out how to work this out, and work through other examples with worked solutions at AUS-e-TUTE.

A "free-to-view" tutorial is available at https://www.ausetute.com.au/phmixwasb.html

AUS-e-TUTE Members should log-in to play the new game, do the test and get repetitive endless practice with the new drill.

IUPAC Periodic Table Challenge 2020

The IUPAC Periodic Table Challenge is back in 2020!

Select a level:

• Beginner
• Intermediate
• Advanced

Enter your details (your name will go on the certificate). If you enter the name of your school/institution, your school/institution will be in the running for an IUPAC Periodic Table poster signed by a chemistry Nobel Laureate.

Choose an element to be your avatar.

Answer 10 multiple choice questions about elements.

Score 60% or more and get a certificate.

So what are you waiting for?

Go to https://iupac.org/periodic-table-challenge/ now!

Elimination of HX from Haloalkanes

One way to synthesize alkenes is to remove hydrogen halide (HX) from a haloalkane (alkyl halide) in an elimination reaction.

Learn how in AUS-e-TUTE's new tutorial Dehydrohalogenation of Haloalkanes

AUS-e-TUTE Members should log-in to play the game and take the test (with immediate feedback and worked solutions).