Science

Refine Search

What is a base in chemistry?

Bases are substances that act as the opposite of acids; if acids are proton donors, bases are proton acceptors; if acids are electron pair acceptors, then bases are electron pair donors, etcetera. A reaction between a base and an acid is called neutralization, in which two liquid solutions (one base and one acid) combine and react to create a solution of salt and water.\n\nProperties of bases include:\n\nBitter taste\nSlippery to the touch\nChange the color of indicators\nConduct electric current in liquid solution form\n\n\nCommon bases include detergents, soap, lye and household ammonia.

Continue Reading

Will we ever run out of crude oil?

The amount of oil left to be extracted is measured in different ways. The total amount of oil buried in the Earth's crust is not known with certainty, but as of 2013, proven reserves stood at around 1.646 trillion barrels of crude oil, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. This figure is somewhat higher than 2012's 1.526 trillion barrels, which is itself higher than 2011's total figure. The reason proven oil reserves seem to be increasing each year is that aggressive exploration is turning up new pockets of oil faster than the oil is being consumed.\nRegardless of current ..

Continue Reading

What is the half-life of tritium?

The atoms do not simply disappear. In the case of tritium, the atoms release a beta particle and an anti-neutrino as they decay. Beta particles are equivalent to electrons, and after losing one, the tritium atom becomes a helium atom. Thus, after 12 years and four months, half of all the atoms in the tritium have become helium. Tritium itself is considered a radioactive form of hydrogen and has similar properties to the usual form of hydrogen.

Continue Reading

What is the free-fall equation?

Take for example an object falls for 120 seconds. Multiplying the time by the constant gravitational acceleration of the Earth, measured at 9.81 meters per second squared, the final velocity is 1,177.2 meters per second.\nFactors like initial velocity and air resistance, respectively, increase and decrease the final velocity. Drag increases with the square of the final velocity and can eventually cancel out the weight of the object, creating a terminal velocity. This is the absolute fastest speed an object drops given these conditions.

Continue Reading

What is calcium carbonate made of?

Calcium carbonate is widely used in calcium supplements or antacids; over consumption in these forms can cause illness. It is also found in rocks and is not geographically restricted to certain areas: calcium carbonate can be found all over the world. If you tested eggshells, you would also find a high concentration of the compound. One of the most common ways to find calcium carbonate is in the pearl jewelry that many people wear. Pearls and many other marine organisms have the compound as part of their makeup. Most marine organisms have calcium carbonate in their shells.

Continue Reading

Why is nuclear fusion important?

Scientists have been able to produce nuclear fusion reactions for about 60 years. Nuclear reactors that can produce energy by fusion, instead of by the current fission-based method, represent a peaceful use of nuclear fusion. The challenge posed is the large amount of energy that is required to overcome the repelling forces between positively-charged nuclei. The particles must be brought close enough together to enable the attracting nucleic force, called the strong nuclear force, to overcome the electrostatic repulsion.A huge amount of energy is released from a fusion reaction because the mas..

Continue Reading

Where can you find information about the sun?

The section of the website about the sun delivers insightful information on the star's size, age and history. The first section gives general information on Earth's sun and a brief overview of its history. A more detailed depiction of the sun's origins, formation and composition are located throughout the page. The information on this website is extremely detailed and scientifically driven.\nThe page also includes videos and links to other scientific resources, such as NASA. Some of the more detailed topics that the site provides on the sun are its chemical composition, magnetic..

Continue Reading

What are some pros and cons of selective breeding?

Breeders have been engaging in selective breeding for hundreds of years. The practice is common in agriculture, animal husbandry and even in dog breeding. Dogs have been bred for specific traits for generations. The reason that there are so many distinct breeds of dogs is that they have been selectively bred for certain characteristics. For example the German Shepherd was bred for service as a military and police dog. The breeder selected dogs based on their physical characteristics and personality. Things that were deemed desirable were bravery, size, speed and endurance. This breed of dog is..

Continue Reading

What is a high-mass protostar?

A protostar is not yet hot enough for fusion to take place in order to become a star. When the protostar's temperature exceeds 10 million degrees Kelvin, it is then hot enough to become a main sequence star. High-mass protostars become larger stars as they pass through the nursery stage. Then they become a main sequence star, a red giant and finally a supernova.

Continue Reading

What is the most polluted country in the world?

Pakistan's pollution results in approximately 80,000 hospital admissions in addition to five million lower respiratory cases among children under five. Pollution in Pakistan also results in thousands of adult deaths annually and is the cause for approximately 8,000 cases of chronic bronchitis. Pollutants that make up Pakistan's pollution include particles such as smoke, pollen, mold and dirt.

Continue Reading
Showing 721 to 730 of 10000 (1000 Pages)