Chem321:Discussion 4

THE SUSTAINABLE WORLD (Chemistry 321)
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This discussion is based on discussing three questions, and it is set to take place on the wiki, over the next few days. You have until midnight on Wednesday, 15th July to post your initial direct answer to each of the questions. Then, by Friday, 17th July, you should post at least two comments in response to (and under) the comments by other students. Be sure to start your text with a *, and sign your responses with four tilde marks at the end.

Laws of conservation of matter and energy

Classical laws of chemistry and thermodynamics tell us that neither mass and energy cannot be destroyed; both are conserved during any physical or chemical process. (Strictly speaking we should use a combination of mass-energy when talking about nuclear reactions, but these are rare on Earth.)

What can we learn from the conservation of mass and conservation of energy when considering global resources of mass and energy?

From the Law of Conservation of mass and energy, we must consider several things when discussing global resources. In order to conserve mass and energy on a global scale, we must implement and use renewable resources that we have on hand. For example, we have seen that wind mills and wind turbines are a great source for creating energy at low cost. It may be costly to make a wind turbine and implement this into a certain location, but it will undoubtedly save money in the long term. Additionally, we must not use more energy than we have have and what we can make. We are expending our resources at a rapid rate, and it is necessary to scale back on a global scale, in order for our resources, land, and capital to last decades and centuries into the future.

LeannaCollard (talk) 20:17, 13 July 2015 (EDT)

Although energy and matter can neither be created nor destroyed, it is imperative that we rationally and respectfully manage global energy and material resources. This is due to the fact that there are many irreversible reactions, such as the combustion of gasoline in an automobile. The combustion of the chemical energy from the hydrocarbon is converted into mechanical energy (moving the car), and consequently produces water and carbon dioxide (as the mass of the reactants must equal that of the products). However, going from the products (CO2 and H2O) back to the reactants (hydrocarbon and oxygen) is not feasible. Thus, this example highlights the dire need to appropriately conserve global resources, and to adequately focus on the effectuation and development of more renewable and sustainable technologies (and behaviors conducive to the success of future generations). Alexanderlevitz (talk) 17:03, 15 July 2015 (EDT)

Limitations

Science is clearly valuable when studying the environment. What do you perceive as the limitations of science in this context?

Science is what we believe to be true here and now. We have learned over decades and centuries that was once believed as true, certainly may not be. The limitation to science in this context is that what we believe to be accurate and true today, may not be accurate and true fifty years from now. There will be great advancements in technology that may enhance our belief or prove it to be false all together. It is naive of us to say that what we believe is 100% true and always will be. The great thing about science is that it is a process and it is always evolving.

LeannaCollard (talk) 20:17, 13 July 2015 (EDT)

Wonder tech

If you had $50 billion to spend on developing some new technology, what would you choose, and how would you spend the money?

If I have $50 billion to spend on developing some new technology, I would allocate the money in many different areas. Of course I would spend a great deal of this money on research. This research would be new technologies and advancements that kept people living longer lives. Although this proposes the issue of people living longer and depleting more resources on this Earth, I would still choose to allocate my money to healthcare and technological advancements in this sector of science. This could be in heart transplants and better working devices of the heart, such as advancements to pacemakers and other cardiovascular technologies. I would also allocate some of this money to neurological technological devices to improve the lives of those who have brain abnormalities and neurological disorders. Overall, I would want to invest my money that will improve the quality of life to those with health care issues.

LeannaCollard (talk) 20:22, 13 July 2015 (EDT)