Greater Minds Tutors

In our previous post, we looked at the overview of the rates of chemical reactions, where we studied the concepts and factors that affect the rates of reactions. In this post, we will be studying the rate law and the different orders of reaction, and how to determine them. Rate Law Consider the reaction:             mA + nB ----> Products The rate law states that the rate of a reaction is directly proportional to the active masses of the reactants. This implies that the concentration of the reacting species will determine how fast and how far a reaction can go. Using the above equation, the rate law can be expressed as:             rate & [A]^m[B]^n ..........(i)             rate = k[A]^m[B]^n ..........(ii) where, [A] = concentration of reactant A [B] = concentration of reactant B    & = sign ...

By Charles Offiong A few days ago, I was discussing with a childhood friend of mine, who also doubled as my classmate. Our subject of discussion was the state and quality of our education vis-a-vis what was obtained in our days. We were lucky to attend one of the foremost secondary schools in Nigeria, the Hope Waddell Training Institution, Calabar, founded in 1895, which prided itself as the oldest in South-Eastern Nigeria and one of the best in West Africa. Apart from her, our first generation universities were ranked among the best in Africa. However, considering the current circumstances, it will be foolhardy of me to presume that my alma mater and those other institutions still maintain these bragging rights... The importance of education to our national development and its need to occupy the pole position of any government cannot be overemphasized. The talk about the declining standards of the Nigerian education is what the blind had seen the dumb told the deaf, so it is no long...

In our last post, we looked at the overview of electrode potentials, where we discussed metal ions/metal systems or half-cells, standard electrode potential and electrochemical cells in depth. Here, we will focus on the calculations involving electrode potentials, which include calculations of  the electromotive force (e.m.f) of electrochemical cells ,  the relationship between e .m.f & free energy and the relationship between e .m.f & equilibrium constant. Half-Cell Reactions                      Std Reduction Potential , E° (V) K+(aq) + e- <----> K(s)                              -2.92 Ca2+(aq) + 2e- <----> Ca(s)               ...

Metal Ions / Metal Systems If a metal plate or rod is placed in a solution of its own salt, two processes - oxidation and reduction, take place simultaneously. The atoms from the metal's surface, lose electrons and go into solution as ions, as the electrons lost are left on the surface of the metal plate, thereby making it electrons surplus and negatively charged.                    M(s) ----> M+(aq) + e- Conversely, the metallic ions in the salt solution gain electrons from the surface of the metal plate and get deposited as metallic atoms. The electrons gained from the surface of the electrode renders it electron deficient and positively charged.                     M+(aq) + e- ----> M(s) Depending on the nature of the metal, a particular process will predominate. Hence, a potential differe...

By Charles Offiong These are two words, whose meanings are usually literally misconstrued. In as much as they sound similar, there is a need to put them in the right perspective, so as to erase any form of ambiguity and avoid the trap of mediocrity. While listening to a programme on a primetime radio station, an analogy was made between two professions, which perfectly describe these words. Using this analogy and other examples, I will endeavour to shed some light on the similarities, differences, and importance of sight and vision. What you will be reading are as seen from my own point of view, and you may not agree with them. However, your contention does not change the fact that there is a need to clearly define or separate these two terms. According to the dictionary, sight is the ability to see or the perception or view of objects by the eyes. It can be said to be something seen or worth seeing, i.e., a spectacle. It also means having a mental view, opinion or judgment about so...