Category: Chemistry

Air-Fuel Ratio

Air-Fuel Ratio

Air-Fuel Ratio

03/18/26

“What’s so special about the mass of air to fuel in a combustion process?”

Combustion reactions require air and fuel to operate. The quality of the reaction is determined by the ratio of air to fuel mass present, also called the Air-Fuel Ratio. The air-fuel ratio is usually represented by the amount of air compared to fuel. For example, an air-fuel ratio of 8:1 means that for every 8 kg of air, there is 1 kg of fuel.If there is too little air in the ratio, some fuel will not burn. If there’s too much air, then there will not be enough fuel present to burn effectively.

Weight-By-Weight

Weight-By-Weight

Weight-By-Weight

03/17/26

“How can we quantify the percentage of weight that a certain substance takes up in a solution?”

Solutions are made up of more than one substance. Sometimes we want to quantify the mass percentage that one of the substances makes up in the solution. The Weight-By-Weight variable represents this. For example, say a solution is made up of 20 grams of potassium chloride and 80 grams of water for a total 100 g of a substance. The weight-by-weight for potassium chloride is 20%.

Hydroxyl Radicals

Hydroxyl Radicals

Hydroxyl Radicals

03/15/2026

“Why is there a molecule called “the detergent of the atmosphere”?“

Hydroxide ions (OH-), also called Hydroxyl Radicals, are molecules made up of one oxygen atom, one hydrogen atom, and a single unpaired valence electron. This valence electron makes hydroxyl radicals very reactive and potent in neutralizing stable organic chemicals like toxic pollutants. Hydroxyl radicals also readily oxidize troposphere pollutants like methane, carbon dioxide, and VOCs, earning hydroxyl radicals the nickname as “the detergent of the atmosphere”.

Fugacity

Fugacity

Fugacity

03/14/2026

“How can we quantify how much a substance wants to escape from its mixture?”

Different substances have different levels of internal stability. Some very much want to escape their mixture, while others are happy where they are. So how can we quantify this? Well, scientists developed Fugacity theory to explain this phenomenon. Fugacity is defined as the empirically measured vapor pressure rather than the ideal vapor pressure. Chemicals will move between substances like air and water until their fugacity potentials are equal.

Radicals (Chemistry)

Radicals (Chemistry)

Radicals (Chemistry)

03/13/26

“What do we call an atom with at least one unpaired valence electron?”

Chemistry is all about bonds formed between substances. Substances with atoms that have at least one unpaired valence electron are much more reactive. These atoms, called Radicals, are a fundamental part of understanding many parts of chemistry.

RCRA Listed Waste

RCRA Listed Waste

RCRA Listed Waste

03/02/26

“Is there a US EPA list that tells us if a particular waste is hazardous?”

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) classifies how the US EPA handles waste. Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) in part 261 has four lists, the F, K, P, and U lists, that delineates if a particular type of waste is hazardous. It’s important for American waste producers to check if they’re creating RCRA Listed Waste.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Sampling

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Sampling

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Sampling

02/28/26

“How do we sample waste to make sure it isn’t hazardous?”

Proper waste disposal is important for keeping the local environment clean. Under the US Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), waste generators must determine if their waste is hazardous. If there’s uncertainty about the waste composition, then waste generators must take samples to labs to determine if the waste is ignitable, corrosive, reactive, and/or toxic. Because waste samples can vary widely in contaminants, the waste generator must apply statistical sampling procedures. This means determining the mean, standard deviation, probability of detecting contamination if it truly exists, confidence that our conclusion is correct, the smallest difference from the regulatory standard that we want to detect, and the number of samples needed. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Sampling is a vital part of determining waste hazards in the U.S.

Suspended Growth Wastewater Treatment

Suspended Growth Wastewater Treatment

Suspended Growth Wastewater Treatment

02/27/26

“How can we treat wastewater with free-floating microorganisms?”

There are many ways to go about wastewater treatment. One of the most common categories is for microorganisms to float freely in wastewater and consume pollutants. This Suspended Growth Wastewater Treatment is an effective way to treat wastewater through mixing the right microorganisms. Activated sludge treatment and aeration lagoons are examples of suspended growth wastewater treatment.

Image credit: https://www.waterandwastewater.com/