Basic Chemistry question (Page 3): Lest anyone of you think that there is no effort at conservation, here is an excerpt from a recent article in the Las Vegas Review Journal: " Under...

azted Loc: Las Vegas, NV.

Lest anyone of you think that there is no effort at conservation, here is an excerpt from a recent article in the Las Vegas Review Journal: " Under the 1922 Colorado River Compact, by which water is divided, California gets 4.4 million acre feet of water per year. Arizona's allotment is 2.8 million acre feet, and Nevada normally gets 300,000 acre feet. The Las Vegas Valley consumed roughly 242,000 acre-feet of water last year, according to the authority. That's more than 80,000 acre-feet, or about 27 billion gallons, less than the valley consumed in 2002 when there were 800,000 fewer residents." Lets remember that this 1922 compact was made prior to anyone knowing how to desalinate water from the ocean. Lets also remember that several months ago, the city of Long Beach CA. voted against a desalination plant that would have provided 50 million gallons of desalinated water a day! So why should CA. still get its allotment when it is all "NIMBY" about life giving water?

therwol Loc: USA

whatdat wrote:

I think of it as climate change not climate warming. Throughout history we have climate change (example: ice age). We go through cycles throughout history.

What you're saying is true, but humans can influence the climate as well. You can't cut down the Amazon forests and spew massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the air and not expect to see consequences. Whatever happens, natural or man made, future generations will have to live with it, and it isn't looking good at this point.

SteveHmeyer Loc: Cincinnati OH USA

Adding salt to water reduces the evaporation rate for two reasons:

1. Evaporation is a surface phenomenon -
Water molecules evaporate only from the very thin one or two molecule thick layer of the water we call the surface - when some surface sites are occupied by sodium and chlorine ions there are fewer water molecules at the surface to evaporate.

2. Water is a dipolar molecule looking like Mickey Mouse’s head - the ears are the hydrogen atoms. Because hydrogen shares its single negatively charged electron with the oxygen there is a weak positive charge at the hydrogen side and a weak negative side at the oxygen side of the water molecule.

When salt dissolves in the water NA+ and CL- ions interact electrically - form ionic bonds - with the water molecules and the energy needed to vaporize a water molecule - literally launching a water molecule into the space above the water surface - increases because the weak bonds between the NA and CL ions and water molecules must be broken.

Process #2 has a greater effect on evaporation rate.

Evaporation is simple- it is only giving a water molecule enough kinetic energy to escape the attractive forces of the surrounding molecules and be launched into the air above the surface.

polonois Loc: Lancaster County,PA.

I agree, however we are in the warming period from the last ice age. It happened 5 times before and it will happen again. Even if everyone would leave the earth it will still happen. It may happen a few hundred years sooner because of the people and their influence. We may even find some way to slow it but it will still happen.

polonois Loc: Lancaster County,PA.

therwol wrote:

What you're saying is true, but humans can influence the climate as well. You can't cut down the Amazon forests and spew massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the air and not expect to see consequences. Whatever happens, natural or man made, future generations will have to live with it, and it isn't looking good at this point.

I agree, however we are in the warming period from the last ice age. It happened 5 times before and it will happen again. Even if everyone would leave the earth it will still happen. It may happen a few hundred years sooner because of the people and their influence. We may even find some way to slow it but it will still happen.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

whatdat wrote:

I think of it as climate change not climate warming. Throughout history we have climate change (example: ice age). We go through cycles throughout history.

In which previous cycle of history were there 7+ billion humans?

azted Loc: Las Vegas, NV.

Linda From Maine wrote:

In which previous cycle of history were there 7+ billion humans?

I hate to deviate from my intended search for knowledge, but has it ever occurred to you that there would not be billions of people, animals. insects, viruses, etc. here unless the earth wanted us here? Maybe it will help you to think of the earth desiring plastic, and it said "I know, I will invent humans and they will give me plastic!" There is nothing but a void out in space....what the earth has developed is unique, and natural to this planet!

polonois Loc: Lancaster County,PA.

azted wrote:

I hate to deviate from my intended search for knowledge, but has it ever occurred to you that there would not be billions of people, animals. insects, viruses, etc. here unless the earth wanted us here? Maybe it will help you to think of the earth desiring plastic, and it said "I know, I will invent humans and they will give me plastic!" There is nothing but a void out in space....what the earth has developed is unique, and natural to this planet!

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

In simple terms, adding salt does not lower the boiling point of water. Actually, the opposite is true. Adding salt to water results in a phenomenon called boiling point elevation. The boiling point of water is increased slightly, but not enough that you would notice the temperature difference.

Evaporation of water is a "change of state". The evaporation of water is caused by the pressure differential between the pressure of the surface of the water and the water vapor in the atmosphere. The greater the pressure differential, the greater the rate of evaporation.

The pressure exerted by the water vapor in the atmosphere depends only upon the dew point temperature. The vapor pressure of the water is higher than the pressure of the vapor in the air. This difference in vapor pressure causes the evaporation of water into the air above it. Thus, it is all about pressure.

Water placed in a sealed jar outside on the hottest and dryest day of the summer will only evaporate until the surface pressure of the water and the vapor pressure of the air equalize and then no more water will evaporate for there will be no differential to drive it compared to the bird bath in the yard.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

azted wrote:

I hate to deviate from my intended search for knowledge, but has it ever occurred to you that there would not be billions of people, animals. insects, viruses, etc. here unless the earth wanted us here? Maybe it will help you to think of the earth desiring plastic, and it said "I know, I will invent humans and they will give me plastic!" There is nothing but a void out in space....what the earth has developed is unique, and natural to this planet!

Sorry, we are far apart on those beliefs.

All the best with your water issues; it's only going to get worse. Willful ignorance and greed are what rules 21st century earthlings.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

therwol wrote:

What you're saying is true, but humans can influence the climate as well. You can't cut down the Amazon forests and spew massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the air and not expect to see consequences. Whatever happens, natural or man made, future generations will have to live with it, and it isn't looking good at this point.

👍👍 indeed. We have become such poor stewards of this planet that it’s a constant source of amazement to me that the Deity (or nature if you prefer) allows us to continue to inhabit and destroy it. To quote Jane Goodall: “The most intellectual creature to ever walk the earth is intent on destroying its only home”.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

therwol wrote:

...Whatever happens, natural or man made, future generations will have to live with it, and it isn't looking good at this point.

We've evolved to a species dominated by willful ignorance and greed. Major reboot on the way.

polonois Loc: Lancaster County,PA.

Linda From Maine wrote:

We've evolved to a species dominated by willful ignorance and greed. Major reboot on the way.

Yes but by who and why?

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

polonois wrote:

Yes but by who and why?

Who and why what? My first sentence, or second?

Stephan G

azted wrote:

I hate to deviate from my intended search for knowledge, but has it ever occurred to you that there would not be billions of people, animals. insects, viruses, etc. here unless the earth wanted us here? Maybe it will help you to think of the earth desiring plastic, and it said "I know, I will invent humans and they will give me plastic!" There is nothing but a void out in space....what the earth has developed is unique, and natural to this planet!

"Equilibrium". Used in Chemistry and Physics. An interesting concept.