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9.4 Chemical monitoring and management: 1. Monitoring and managing reaction

Extract from Chemistry Stage 6 Syllabus (Amended October 2002). © Board of Studies, NSW.
[Edit: 7 Jul09]

Prior learning: Preliminary modules 8.2 (8.2.1, 8.2.2) 8.3 (8.3.3, 8.3.5), 8.4 (8.4.1, 8.4.3, 8.4.4), 8.5 (8.5.1, 8.5.3, 8.5.4, 8.5.5); HSC modules 9.2 (9.2.2, 9.2.3), 9.3 (9.3.4, 9.3.5).

Background: In this module you may encounter new technical language that is necessary in chemistry.

Therefore it is a useful learning technique to build a personal glossary of the terminology encountered.

gather, process, and present information from secondary sources about the work of practising scientists identifying:

• the variety of chemical occupations
• a specific chemical occupation for more detailed study

• This syllabus point provides an opportunity to identify and gather information about practising male and female Australian scientists currently working as chemists. The Internet provides easy access to information on the work of individuals and teams of chemists. Gather information about the variety of chemical occupations and then, more specifically, the role of a chemist employed in a named industry or enterprise and the branch of chemistry undertaken by the chemist.

  These scientists are from NSW and have been identified as "Tall Poppies" Rediscovering Science with NSW scientists NSW Department of Education and Training. Scroll down to Dr Peter Rutledge from University of Sydney and Dr Pall Thordarson from the University of NSW.

  Most universities provide information about the research activities of their academic staff.  A suggested starting point for identifying some current research scientists all over Australia is Chemistry at Australian Universities Uniserve

  Another source of information is to identify award winners. For example Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) has National Awards . You may be able to then use an Internet search engine to find more information about an individual. One example would be Professor Mark von Itzstein, who designed and developed the anti influenza virus drug, Relenza. Professor von Itzstein won the Adrien Albert Award in 2005.
   

  Range of occupations in chemistry

  The Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) has thirteen national divisions for membership: 

  • Analytical
  • Biomolecular
  • Cereal
  • Chemical education
  • Colloid and surface science
  • Environment
  • Industrial
  • Inorganic
  • Electrochemistry
  • Organic
  • Physical
  • Polymer
  • Solid state

• Process information that you gather to identify a variety of chemical occupations. You can assess the reliability of the information by considering information from various sources.

  NewScientistJobs.com is a web site that you can use to identify the skills that are commonly required in a variety of advertisements; review the Chemistry section.
   

• Present your findings as a short summary. In presenting your findings, ensure that you select and use an appropriate method to acknowledge sources of information. For web site accessed, it is appropriate to provide acknowledgement in the following form:

  Web reference(s):
  Author (if relevant), Title of item, web site owner, online (date last modified)
  Available at (provide URL)

identify the need for collaboration between chemists as they collect and analyse data

• Chemists, like scientists generally, work in teams. Some will have particular expertise and roles in the task at hand.  Some may have expertise in special technology, others in understanding previous work, others in analysis of new data and so forth.

  This means that collaboration is a vital aspect of the collection and analysis of data.

  [As you investigate the work of a special chemical occupation make note of how that occupation depends on and effects others.]

outline the role of a chemist employed in a named industry or enterprise, identifying the branch of chemistry undertaken by the chemist and explaining a chemical principle that the chemist uses

• A chemist working in the plastics industry may spend time as laboratory manager in a plastics factory, such as one that produces polyethylene. A chemist working in a plant that produces low density polyethylene (LDPE) needs to:
  • use computers to predict properties of the polymers based on different co-polymers, temperatures and catalysts.
  • constantly monitor the equipment to ensure that the required conditions and purity of reactants are maintained. An impurity can poison the catalyst, slowing a reactor, or stopping the reaction. A change in conditions can also seriously affect the properties of the product.
  • carry out quality control at the end of the product line to ensure that the product meets customer requirements. A quick test of viscosity would indicate if the polyethylene is suitable to blow into a thin-layer film. A quick test of density could indicate the amount of branching in the polyethylene molecules.
  • evaluate processes proposed by the product development section of the company including problems of contamination, bagging the product, the flow rate through the extruder, slippage and economy of production. This requires coordination with chemical engineers and technicians.
     
• The chemist undertaking the role described above could have studied a university course in applied chemistry or engineering or a TAFE chemical technician course.

Two scientists working in industry are Dr Alison Edwards at ANSTO, who specialises in Neutron Scattering and Dr Geraldine Jacobsen at ANSTO whop works with Carbon Dating. Find out more about them. Rediscovering Science with NSW scientists NSW Department of Education and Training. Scroll down to their names and click on the presentation and/or any of the support resources.

describe an example of a chemical reaction such as combustion, where reactants form different products under different conditions and thus would need monitoring

• Combustion of a gas, such as methane (CH₄), from natural gas, or propane, from liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), in a Bunsen burner needs monitoring.
  • If you need a high temperature flame, the air hole is fully open so that sufficient oxygen reaches the gas for complete combustion.

    For methane:
    

    For propane:
    
     

  • If the air hole is partly open, incomplete combustion occurs, producing some carbon monoxide.

    For methane:
    

    For propane:
    
     

  • If the air hole is not open at all, carbon is produced. The heated carbon partly produced gives the low temperature flame its yellow colour.

  • For methane:
    

    For propane:
    

  
   
• Adjusting the fuel-to-air ratio is important in internal combustion engines and in industrial combustion of fuels. The more complete the combustion, the greater the amount of energy released. Incomplete combustion produces poisonous carbon monoxide.

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