The following Ted Ed video takes a look at an analogy of the equilibrium process.
If molecules were people... - George Zaidan and ... - TED-Ed
View the video and then think of an example of an equilibrium process in real life (does not have to be a chemical process).
For example, when people who are unaccustomed to high altitudes move to a city at a higher altitude, they experience difficulty obtaining enough oxygen. There is less oxygen in the atmosphere and the equilibrium between oxygenated hemoglobin and unoxygenated hemoglobin shifts towards the unoxygenated hemoglobin resulting in less oxygen being delivered to the muscles and brain. Natives to the city do not have the same problem as their bodies have adapted (as will the newcomers over time) and produce more hemoglobin to carry more oxygen.
An example of an equilibrium process in real life is CO2 inhalation. Hemoglobin needs to be oxygenated but CO2 can fool it to think that is oxygen. This is why when it build up the body shows little signs of a problem such as a headache. The release of it occurs when breathing out however, the body eventually will not be breathing out fast enough or taking in enough oxygen so damage can occur. Theoretically this this causes a shift from oxygenated hemoglobin towards the CO2 hemoglobin.
ReplyDeleteAnd how does carbon monoxide, CO, work into this equilibrium?
DeleteAn example of an equilibrium process in life would be exercising on a treadmill. You are running forward on the treadmill, but the treadmill's conveyor belt is going the opposite direction of you. The treadmill is moving you backwards while you are still in constant motion forward. Therefore, you are not going anywhere and thus, you are at equilibrium with the treadmill.
ReplyDeleteAn example could be inflating a tire that has a hole in it. At a certain point the amount of incoming air equals the amount of air flowing out. There would be no macroscopic changes to the tire pressure.
ReplyDeleteAn example could be inflating a tire that has a hole in it. At a certain point the amount of incoming air equals the amount of air flowing out. There would be no macroscopic changes to the tire pressure.
ReplyDeleteAn example of real life process of equilibrium could be when someone loses blood for donation or so, then the body will try to recovery what was lost and stops when the body has reached what it needs of blood.
ReplyDeleteAn example of an equilibrium process in real life is seen when you balance a notebook on your finger. To do this, you put it at it's center of mass. Initially, this object may sway, but once it becomes perfectly balanced the object doesn't move anymore, as in reaching an equilibrium state.
ReplyDeletean example of an equilibrium process could be our bodies bicarbonate buffering system that helps to maintain the normal ph of blood.
ReplyDeleteA real life equilibrium process example: Riding a bicycle, you must have some amount of speed to keep the bike upright as you ride it. If the bike it's not going fast enough the bike will fall over or if the bike is going too fast the rider may lose control and crash. Thus the bike must go at a rate where the bike can keep upright but not too fast where the rider wrecks.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your responses!
ReplyDelete