CM8001: AE7 Answers

1) The styrofoam holding the peanuts have a lot of air spaces between the groups of polymers as the polymer is made as a foam. Acetone dissolves the Styrofoam, removing the air spaces and thus making the styrofoam much denser.

2a) LDPE cannot be used in this application because it does not have the required strength as compared to HDPE.

2b) The molecules of HDPE must line up in a way that produces the required strength. Thus, using a thin liner of HDPE allows sufficient flexibility.

3) When stretched, the molecules align parallel to each other in the direction of the fool. This change in the structure in not reversible and if it continues, the plastic breaks. The same does not apply to paper since the molecules in paper are held more rigidly thus preventing it from aligning with each other.

4a) Not soluble in body fluids, easy to implant it in the human body, stable over time of use and non toxic.

4b) Contact lens are made from poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA). The materials should be permeable to oxygen, comfortable to wear, nontoxic and inexpensive.

4c) Hard contact lenses are usually made of PMMA while soft contact lenses are made of silicone. Soft contact lenses are more comfortable as PMMA is more rigid and does not allow gas to permete while silicone are more flexible and allows for oxygen to reach the eye.

CM8001: AE 6 Answers

1a) Coal plants release huge amounts of water vapor during the combustion process of the coal. Water vapour when cooled becomes visible as fog.

1b) pH of rainfall in the park is pH 6 as the pH scale is logarithmic.

3a)

Acids Bases
HCL (Hydrochloric acid) NaOH (Sodium Hydroxide)
H2SO4 (Sulfuric Acid) Ca(OH)2 (Calcium Hydroxide)
HNO3 (Nitric Acid) NH4OH (Ammonium Hydroxide)
H2CO3 (Carbonic Acid) Mg(OH)2 (Magnesium Hydroxide)
HBr (Hyrdrobromic Acid) CsOH (Cesium hydroxide)

3b)

Acids
Turns blue litmus paper red.
Reacts with carbonates to form CO2.
pH<7
Bases
Soapy Feel
Turns red litmus paper blue.
pH>7

4) Acid deposition is problematic especially in the region of eastern Canada because waters and soils in those region lacks natural alkalinity and therefore cannot neutralize  acid naturally. Canada has since cap Sulfur Dioxide to 2.3 million tonnes in the seven eastern most provinces and has also negotiated with the United States to cut sulfur and  and nitrogen oxides emission. In Singapore, acid rain is generally not a concern due to the good air quality that Singapore enjoys. However, acid rain may be more of a concern during the hazy seasons. The haze problem in Singapore normally originates from Indonesia as the government are incapable of monitoring their own citizens to prevent them from illegally adopting the slash and burn practices thereby causing air problems to countries all around them. Therefore we can say that the acid deposition originate, if any, originates from outside of Singapore.