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Example research essay topic: Life On Earth B And C - 1,459 words

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Carbon dioxide is a colorless, odorless, non-toxic, and slightly acid-tasting gas. Sometimes referred to as a carbonic acid gas, the molecule consists of one atom of carbon joined to two atoms of oxygen. It occurs naturally in the atmospheres of many planets, including that of earth. Carbon dioxide is uniformly distributed over the earths surface at a concentration of about 0. 033 %, or 330 parts per million. It was called fixed air by the Scottish chemist and physician Joseph Black in the 1750 s, who obtained it through the decomposition of chalk and limestone. He recognized that it entered into the chemical composition of these substances.

The French chemist Antoine Lavoisier proved that it is an oxide of carbon by showing that the gas obtained by the combustion of charcoal is identical in its properties with the fixed air obtained by Black. Carbon dioxide is about one and one half times as dense as air. It is soluble in water, 0. 9 volume of the gas dissolving in one volume of water at twenty degrees Celsius (sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit). Carbon dioxide becomes a solid at negative seventy-eight and one half degrees Celsius. Commonly called dry ice, solid carbon dioxide at normal pressures will not become a liquid as its temperature rises. Instead, it sublimes- that is, it changes from a solid directly into a gas.

Carbon dioxide is produced when any substance containing carbon is burned. It is also a product of breathing and fermentation. Plants absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, and plants and soil return some carbon dioxide to the atmosphere through respiration. Carbon dioxide is also produced in other ways, such as the fermentation of sugars and the decomposition of carbonates under the influence of heat or acids. Commercially, carbon dioxide is recovered from furnace or kiln gases, fermentation processes, reactions of carbonates with acids, and from reactions of steam with natural gas. Because the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is low, it is not practical to obtain the gas by extracting it from the air.

The carbon dioxide is purified by dissolving it in a concentrated solution of alkali carbonate or ethanol amine, and then heating the solution with steam. The gas is evolved and compressed into steel cylinders. In addition to being a component of the atmosphere, carbon dioxide also dissolves in the water of the oceans. In aqueous solution, carbon dioxide exists in many forms. First, it simply dissolves.

Then, an equilibrium is established between the dissolved carbon dioxide and carbonic acid. Only about one percent of the dissolved carbon dioxide exists as carbonic acid. As the carbon dioxide dissolves in seawater, an equilibrium is established involving the carbonate ion, CO 32 -. The carbonate anion interacts with cations in seawater.

According to the solubility rules, all carbonates are insoluble except those of ammonium and Group IA elements. Therefore, the carbonate ions cause the precipitation of certain ions. For example, Ca 2 + and Mg 2 + ions precipitate from large bodies of water as carbonates. Extensive deposits of limestone (CaCO 3) and dolomite (mixed CaCO 3 and Mg CO 3) have been found this way. Calcium carbonate is also the main constituent of marble, chalk, pearls, coral reefs, and clamshells. Although insoluble in water, calcium carbonate dissolves in acidic solutions.

The carbonate ion behaves as a Bronsted base. The aqueous carbonic acid dissociates, producing carbon dioxide gas. In nature, surface water often becomes acidic because atmospheric carbon dioxide dissolves in it. This acidic water can dissolve limestone. This reaction often occurs underground, when rainwater saturated with carbon dioxide seeps through a layer of limestone.

As the water dissolves calcium carbonate, it forms openings in the limestone. Caves from which the limestone has been dissolved are often prevalent in areas where there are large deposits of calcium carbonate. If the water containing dissolved Ca (HCO 3) 2 reaches the ceiling of a cavern, the water will evaporate. As it evaporates, carbon dioxide escapes, and calcium carbonate deposits on the ceiling. Similar chemical reactions are also responsible for the erosion of marble and limestone monuments of historical and cultural importance. Such as the Taj Mahal in India, the Mayan temples in Mexico and Guatemala, and the Rock Churches of Ethiopia.

Carbon dioxide has important uses in the home and in industry. For example, carbon dioxide released by baking powder or yeast makes cake batter rise. Dissolved under a pressure of two to five atmospheres, carbon dioxide causes the effervescence in carbonated beverages, such as soft drinks, beer and sparkling wines. Solid carbon dioxide, known as dry ice, is widely used as a refrigerant. Its cooling effect is almost twice that of water ice. Its special advantages are that it does not melt as a liquid, but turns into gas, and that it produces an inert atmosphere that reduces bacterial growth.

Also, the presence of carbon dioxide in the blood stimulates breathing. For this reason, carbon dioxide is added to oxygen or ordinary air in artificial respiration and to the gases used in anesthesia. Since carbon dioxide does not burn and does not support ordinary combustion, it is also used for extinguishing fires. The CO 2 extinguisher is a steel cylinder filled with liquid carbon dioxide, which when released expands suddenly and causes so great a lowering of temperature that it solidifies into powdery snow.

This snow vaporizes on contact with the burning substance, producing a blanket of gas that cools and smothers the flame. However, today most CO 2 extinguishers are being replaced with dry chemical extinguishers containing ammonium phosphate. There are four classes of fires: class A, B, C and D. Class A fires involve ordinary materials like paper, lumber, cardboard, etc. Class B fires involve flammable or combustible liquids like gasoline, kerosene and organic solvents. Class C fires involve energized electrical equipment like appliances, panel boxes, power tools, hot plates, etc.

And class D fires involve combustible metals like magnesium, titanium, potassium, sodium, etc. CO 2 extinguishers are for class B and C fires. They do not work very well on class A fires because the material usually reignites. Dry chemical extinguishers are approved for class A, B and C fires. CO 2 extinguishers have an advantage over dry chemical extinguishers in that they leave behind no harmful residue, which is a good choice for an electrical fire on a computer or other delicate instruments. However, carbon dioxide is a bad choice for flammable metal fires, such as Grignard reagents, alkyllithiums and sodium metal because it reacts with these materials.

Carbon dioxide extinguishers are also not recommended for class D fires. A new use for liquid carbon dioxide currently under development is as a dry-cleaning solvent. Currently, most laundries use chlorinated hydrocarbons as dry-cleaning solvents. These chlorinated hydrocarbons are probable human carcinogens, or cancer-causing substances. So now there is a search for replacements. Carbon dioxide does not exist in liquid form at atmospheric pressure at any temperature.

Liquid carbon dioxide at twenty degrees Celsius requires a pressure of thirty atmospheres. The lowest pressure at which liquid carbon dioxide exists is at 5. 11 atmospheres at - 56. 6 degrees Celsius. The high pressures needed for liquid carbon dioxide require specialized washing machines. Like chlorinated hydrocarbons, liquid carbon dioxide is an effective solvent for grease and oils.

Liquid CO 2 has some advantages over chlorinated hydrocarbons- items that cannot be dry cleaned with chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as leather, fur and some synthetics, can be safely cleaned with liquid carbon dioxide. Life on earth is possible because the sun provides energy and warmth. The suns rays pass through the atmosphere and are absorbed by the earths surface, which heats up and radiates energy back into space. Some of the gases in the atmosphere capture and hold radiated energy, keeping the surface of the earth warm, much like the glass of a greenhouse keeps the plants inside warm. Without these greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, all radiated heat would be lost into space and the surface of the earth would be cold and barren.

This natural phenomenon acts like a blanket around the earth, and is referred to as the greenhouse effect. It is essential for life. However, man-made emissions are leading to increased amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The increases in greenhouse gases are trapping more of the energy radiated from earth and are likely to lead to global warming and weather extremes.

Carbon dioxide has many roles on our planet today, from keeping the surface of earth warm to cleaning clothes. It exists naturally as a gas, but displays odd behaviors as a solid. It is around us at all times, and used in many products that we see daily. Carbon dioxide is essential for life on earth.


Free research essays on topics related to: surface of the earth, calcium carbonate, b and c, carbon dioxide, life on earth

Research essay sample on Life On Earth B And C

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