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Aspects of Physical Chemistry in Industrial Processes (AS 3)

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

What makes a substance acidic or basic, and how is acidity measured and controlled?

The Bronsted-Lowry definitions of acids and bases, strong and weak acids, the pH scale and its relationship to hydrogen ion concentration, neutralisation reactions, and the use of titration to find an unknown concentration.
A CCEA Life and Health Sciences answer on acids, bases and pH: the Bronsted-Lowry definitions, strong and weak acids, the pH scale and hydrogen ion concentration, neutralisation reactions, and using titration to find an unknown concentration.
13 min answer →

What is a dynamic equilibrium, and how do changing conditions shift it?

Reversible reactions and dynamic equilibrium, Le Chatelier's principle and the effects of changing concentration, pressure and temperature, the effect of a catalyst on equilibrium, and the equilibrium constant Kc.
A CCEA Life and Health Sciences answer on chemical equilibria: reversible reactions and dynamic equilibrium, Le Chatelier's principle for changes in concentration, pressure and temperature, the effect of a catalyst, and the equilibrium constant Kc.
12 min answer →

How do industries choose conditions that balance yield, rate and cost in large-scale reactions?

The Haber process and the Contact process as industrial applications of rate and equilibrium, the choice of compromise conditions of temperature, pressure and catalyst, and the economic and environmental factors in industrial chemistry.
A CCEA Life and Health Sciences answer on industrial processes: the Haber and Contact processes as applications of rate and equilibrium, the choice of compromise conditions of temperature, pressure and catalyst, and the economic and environmental factors involved.
12 min answer →

What controls how fast a reaction goes and whether it releases or absorbs energy?

Collision theory and the factors affecting the rate of reaction, the action of catalysts, exothermic and endothermic reactions, enthalpy changes and energy profile diagrams, and the calculation of enthalpy changes.
A CCEA Life and Health Sciences answer on rates and energetics: collision theory and the factors affecting rate, the action of catalysts, exothermic and endothermic reactions, energy profile diagrams, and calculating enthalpy changes.
13 min answer →

What are oxidation and reduction, and how is electrolysis used in industry?

Oxidation and reduction in terms of electron transfer and oxidation numbers, redox reactions, the principles of electrolysis, and the industrial use of electrolysis to extract and purify metals.
A CCEA Life and Health Sciences answer on redox and electrochemistry: oxidation and reduction as electron transfer, oxidation numbers, redox reactions, the principles of electrolysis, and its industrial use to extract and purify metals.
12 min answer →