Pi Bonds

Pi Bonds (p-Bonds) between atoms are formed by the side-on overlap of the atomic orbitals on the different atoms.


Pig Iron

Pig iron is the impure form of iron produced in a blast furnace, which is then cast into pigs (i.e. blocks) for converting at a later date into cast iron, steel, etc.


Pipette

A pipette is a graduated glass volumetric apparatus used to deliver a stated quantity of liquid in volumetric analysis by titration.


Planck's Constant

Planck's constant, h, is the proportionality constant defining the relationship between the energy, E, associated with a photon and the frequency, v, of that photon.


			E   =   h   x   v       

In 1900AD, Plank made the assumption that the energy of light, and of radiation in general, may be absorbed and emitted in only in quanta (i.e. discrete packets of energy).


	h   =   6.6   (   10 ^ -27 erg seconds


Polar Covalent Bond

When the atoms that are linked by a covalent bond have significantly different electronegativities, the electron is likely to spend a greater time near the atom of higher negativity, giving to an unequal distribution of charge between the atoms. Thus, a dipole (i.e. a separation of charge along the length of the bond) is formed and the resulting bond is a polar covalent bond between the atoms.

In general, the polar bond is stronger than the covalent bond from which it derives. Polar compounds (i.e. compounds containing polar bonds) tend to have hydrogen bonding between different molecules, and to have higher boiling points and higher melting points than would be the case in the absence of such hydrogen bonding.


Polar Molecule

A polar molecule is one that has a dipole moment (i.e. one in which there is some separation of charge in the chemical bonds), so that one end of the molecule has a positive charge and the other a negative charge.


Pollution

Pollution is an undesirable change in the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of the natural environment, brought about by man's activities. There are two main classes of pollutants Air Pollution
Water Pollution


Polyhydric Alcohol

Polyhydric alcohols contain several hydroxyl groups in the molecule and are normally obtained by the reduction of sugars. For example, sorbital is obtained by the reduction of glucose.


		 CHO                     CH2OH  
		(CHOH)4 ==>             (CHOH)4 
		 CH2OH                   CH2OH  
		Glucose                 SorbitolTopicAlcohols


Polymer

Polymers are the long chain molecules obtained when a large number of small molecules combine together to form a smaller number of large molecules. Polymers are long chain molecules which have physical properties which are significantly different from the monomers (i.e. the short chain molecules) from which they are made. Polymers are the basis for a wide range of materials which have become indispensable in modern society, including synthetic fibers (rayon, nylon, terelene, etc), rubbers and plastics (polystyrene, polythene, PVC, etc.), and the structural polymers (carbon fiber, etc).

Polymerization is the process by which many small molecules join together to form large molecules. The reactants (i.e. the small molecules) are called monomers and long chain products of the polymerisation process are called polymers. Many of useful materials are natural polymers (e.g. wool, cotton, linen, etc) or synthetic polymers (e.g. nylon, terelyene, rayon, etc).

There are two general methods for preparing polymers, which involves the linking of small molecules together to form long chain molecules. The term "addition polymerisation" is used where small molecules are added directly to each other and the term "condensation polymerisation" is used where a molecule of water (or other small molecule) is released during the assembly process.

In general, addition polymerisations tend to proceed by a Free Radical Mechanism , while condensation polymerisation tends to proceed by an ionic mechanism.

The high pressure gas phase polymerisation of ethene to form Polythene involves a free radical mechanism. Thus, when ethylene is heated under great pressure in the presence of a suitable catalyst a large number of molecules of ethene combine together to form a much smaller number of molecules of Polythene, (C2H4)n, (i.e. Polyethylene).


Positive Ion

Positive ions (i.e. cations) are atoms or group of atoms that has either lost one or more electrons, making them positively charged.


Potential Energy

The potential energy is the energy possessed by a body due to its position. The potential energy varies when a body moves from one position to another.

Potential Energy = Weight x Distance moved vertically against gravity.


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