LawLord

Thank you, I have got hold of a standard reduction potential table, but cannot find a valence table... but if it was just going to tell me how many valence electrons an atom has, I won't need it as I know how to use the periodic table to do this. With the standard reduction potential table, is it that the element that's E - naught value closest to zero will be the one that joins? H2Cl is a typo, I meant HCl, sorry.

That is very helpful, thank you! I see where I went wrong, I forgot water is covalent! I learn't along time ago something along the lines of: The cation of an acid and the anion of a base combine to make (salt?). or The anion of an acid and the cation of a base combine to make salt (or something else). Does this look familier? I'm trying to work out what it is, but I only remember part of the rule...

How do you determine which chemicals are dominant in chemical reactions? For example: HCl + Na = NaCl + H2 But why does it not go this way: HCl + Na = H2Cl + Na Is there a list that I can learn that tell me which chemical take priority? Another example would be: Na + Cl + HCO3 what would it make and how do we know? NaCl + HCO3 or NaHCO3 + Cl? One of them must have priority over the other.

Metal + water = metal hydroxide + Hydrogen ie: Sodium + water = Sodium Hydroxide + Hydrogen Copper + water = Copper Hydroxide + Hydrogen. You see? Sodium and copper are metals and they react with water to form a their respective hydroxides. What I want to know, is what metals DON'T react this way. I'm pretty sure iron doesn't. I believe the reaction would be: 2Fe + 2H2O = 2FeO + 2H2 Sodium: 2Na + 2H2O = 2NaOH + H2

ok, I understand what hydronium is now, it is just a hydrogen ion in aquerius solution. But still don't understand what an "electropositive radical" is, and therefore am still confused about what a salt is. Another question. I read in my chemistry textbook that a metal and water combine to make a metal hydroxide and Hydrogen. However, I know that adding iron to water makes iron oxide, how does this work? Does anyone know the exceptions to the above rule?

I was wondering what metals won't react with an acid to form hydrogen gas and came across a web site mentioning "activity series". I looked this up and found several sites, but they all list the metals in a different order. Does anyone know where I will find an accurate list of activity series? I don't know which site to trust (wikipedia has another different list as well). I would really love a complete list (in order) of all the metals that don't react with acid to form Hydrogen gas. Also, now i'm interested, I would love an accurate activity series list if anyone know's if there is a universally recognised one... How can there be so many variations? Some say copper, platinum, silver, gold and paladium won't react to form hydrogen. Others mention mercury but not copper and all of them have them in different arrangements.... Any help would be appreciated.

What is an electropositive radical? [quote name="In chemistry' date=' hydronium is the common name for the aqueous cation H3O+ derived from protonation of water. It is the simplest type of an oxonium ion." (1) [/quote] I did see that, but why doesn't the O and H combine to make another OH? Giving us 2H+? What i am trying to figure out, is why do acidic salts produce hydronium instead of Hydrogen ions (acids are proton donators after all). Why is the definition of an acidic salt not "a salt that donates protons"? In second paragraph: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_%28chemistry%29

The cation of an acid and the anion of a base combine to make salt. H+ + OH- ==> H2O. Does this mean water is classed as a salt? I have been trying to find a good definition of salt (clear), does anyone have one? Also can someone clarify what Hydronium is for me? Is it another name for H+ or H3O+? Wiki is confusing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydronium

Let us assume your family are horrible abusive low lifes who would only critise you, in this case, I think a Psychologist would be beneficial, there alot of people out there who do not have the type of support from friends and family that you clearly do. How about if your family happily tell others about sensitive issues regarding yourself? I know at least 5 people with mental illness who are fine while on medication, but when they stop taking it... they lose it. Psychology students and psychologists that I have met seem to genuinely care about others and are very passionate about their field. To sum up, I think psychology is of great value to our society. PS I would consider some parts of psychology science, and some parts of it art.

Been reading that forum. Unbelievable! People are actually suggesting atmospheric sciences be kept under "Biology". This is obsurd. Why don't we all just post all the subjects under the heading "Mathematics". To begin with, "Medical Science" is part of Biology/chemistry. Why should Medical Science have its own forum, when Earth Science is considered insignificant enough to be spread out across subjects it isn't really a part of... Where do I go if if I have a question about hail storms? Can we really expect people to "know" that under these forums, hail storms are considered part of the life sciences but medicine is not? Where do people go if they have a question about igneous intrusive rocks? An earth science forums should be created with subforums: Geology Oceanography Astronomy Soil Science General Earth Science (Glaciers, rivers, deserts) I would view having a separate forum for Earth Science far more important than having one for medical science or amateur science...

What sort of research is being done on water?

Just wondering, why is there no Earth Science forum here? I would have thought it was a big enough science to have its own forum... Perhaps a nano science one as well. Does anyone know of any online nano texts? I would like to study it. I live in a small town with no access to Nanoscience textbooks or resources. In the meantime, perhaps someone could answer a question that has been bothering me for a while: Can Nanoscience/technology be developed in the home? Or does it require large/expensive machines. How exactly are nano things made? I would love to be able to make my own nano things... is this realistic (assuming a learn a little more about it)?

I suppose unusual is a rather subjective word. Water is also the closest thing we have to a universal solvent... and the closest thing we have to an 'elixer of life'. But that does not, in my view make it unusual. If we were to step out of our own reality and look at water, it would be very interesting and unusual. But as it stands, water is everywhere... far too common (and readily available) to qualify in my mind.

Haha, I have never actually played around with mercury, too dangerous I reckon. Have seen it on yutube though, looks pretty cool. I suppose cornflower and water added together make for some interesting attributes, not sure if it is usefull for anything though. I'm starting a collection of what I consider to be chemicals with "unusual attributes". A unique alternative to collecting all the elements. So far i've got sodium acetate... so pretty disappointing so far.

Do people know of any chemicals that have unusual and interesting attributes? eg: Sodium Acetate: Can make hot ice. That is really the only one I know that does something out of the ordinary. Please note, I am not a chemist. Looking forward to hearing the replies.