Items of "Basic" Utility Trivia Quiz

Answer: Sodium hydroxide

"Lye" and "caustic soda" are simply two of the common names that refer to sodium hydroxide. German lye rolls, named after this strong base, are given a glazing of sodium hydroxide to impart to the rolls a very characteristic crispness. The aluminium industry uses sodium hydroxide as a reagent for purifying impure bauxite.

It is highly reactive and is involved in vigorous reactions. Sodium hydroxide and water form an explosive reaction mixture - which is why the former is always preserved under kerosene. A paper manufacturing unit, apart from the use mentioned, may also use it to bleach the brown paper pulp produced later in the process.

In general, because of its strongly basic nature, it acts as an acid regulator to neutralise conditions of excessively acidic environments. This, however, also makes it dangerously corrosive - severe chemical burns may ensue if due care is not taken while handling the base.

NOTE: The word "amphoteric," wherever used, would refer to a substance that can exhibit either acidic or basic properties during chemical interactions.

Answer: Lithium hydroxide

The parent metal of lithium hydroxide is lithium, the lightest metal naturally available. The process whereby air purification systems use lithium hydroxide is dubbed "carbon dioxide scrubbing." Even a small amount of the alkali (i.e., a water soluble base) can absorb a large volume of carbon dioxide.

Many widely useful greases, for example lithium stearate, can be prepared with its help. Since it is strongly alkaline, it is used in the coolant mixtures of some water reactors. This is done so that the coolant is rendered less acidic and corrosion in the reactor can be more effectively curbed.

NOTE: With reference to the question text, a "crystalline" substance may be defined as one in which the molecules constituting the substance display a definite geometric arrangement. Further, a "hygroscopic" substance is one which does absorb moisture from the atmosphere, but as opposed to a deliquescent substance, does not dissolve in the absorbed moisture.

Answer: Sodium hydrogencarbonate

Besides "bread soda", sodium hydrogencarbonate (more familiarly sodium bicarbonate) attaches to itself names such as "baking soda" (of course) and "bicarbonate of soda." As is characteristic of the bicarbonate family, sodium bicarbonate is a very mild base. It is generally manufactured via the Solvay process, from sodium chloride and calcium carbonate.

Of all the sodium bicarbonate produced worldwide, the major share is used in the form of animal feed additive and human food additive. Among other major applications, sodium bicarbonate is channelised for pharmaceutical use and a small amount is used in cosmetics. It shows an important presence in detergents, toothpaste and domestic cleaning agents.

Since it is so highly soluble in water, it is found in wide abundance in living beings as sodium and bicarbonate ions. Besides being a widely used additive, it is also to be found naturally in food.

Answer: Vanadium pentoxide

Vanadium pentoxide generally shows yellow colouration in the solid form, though it is deep orange when freshly extracted as a precipitate. It has a large range of oxidation states, making it amphoteric in nature as well as a powerful oxidising agent. It is these numerous oxidation states that lend striking colours to its ionic compounds in acidic solutions.

The naming of its parent metal vanadium is thus very apt - vanadium is named after the Norse goddess Vanadis, a symbol of beauty and fertility. The larger chunk of vanadium pentoxide produced goes into the production of ferrovanadium - a universal hardener and strengthener besides being a corrosion resistant additive for steel.

NOTE: With reference to the question text, a "catalyst" is any chemical that enhances the speed of a reaction without participating in the reaction in any manner.

Answer: Ammonium hydroxide

Ammonium hydroxide may also be "aqueous ammonia", "ammonia water" or "ammoniacal liquor." Sometimes, popular parlance even uses ammonium hydroxide synonymously with "ammonia." The solution has a characteristically strong odour. Ammonium hydroxide, when concentrated, is hazardous to health and is capable of causing major burns.

In dilute solution form, however, it is used as a cleanser in domestic households, occurring in many product varieties. Though called ammonium hydroxide, there are actually very few molecules of the same present in the solution. The solution here consists mainly of ammonia and water molecules, along with smaller amounts of ammonium (NH4+) and hydroxyl (OH-) ions.

Identifying cations in qualitative analysis of compounds is another use that is especially suited to "liquor ammonia fortis."

Answer: Magnesium hydroxide

Magnesium hydroxide is commonly used in medicine together with aluminium hydroxide to relieve heartburn and to cure acid indigestion through neutralisation. This suspension form of magnesium hydroxide is known in the common world as "Milk of Magnesia."

Magnesium hydroxide may be acquired as a precipitate by reacting a magnesium salt and any suitable hydroxide. Almost all of the compound prepared industrially, however, is prepared from sea water. Magnesium chloride occurs naturally in seawater and is reacted with lime. Magnesium hydroxide is hence precipitated out.

In view of the rapidly shrinking coral reef ecosystems, companies such as "Biorock" have formulated engineering materials that can build artificial reefs to help preserve these aquatic habitats. Magnesium hydroxide is a fundamental part of such products. Since solid brucite decomposes endothermically (i.e., by absorbing heat), it is helpful as a fire retardant.

NOTE: A precipitate is a solid formed when two chemical solutions interact through a reaction. The precipitate is characteristically insoluble in the given solution.

Answer: Baeyer's reagent

Baeyer's reagent - named after the German chemist, Adolf von Baeyer - is used in organic chemistry to qualitatively check for unsaturation in a compound, for instance the presence of double or triple bonds. If reacted with a compound having unsaturated bonds, the reagent fades in colour from purplish pink to brown - as the brown solid manganese (IV) oxide precipitates out after the reaction.

The Baeyer's reagent test is also answered by aldehydes, formic acid and formic acid esters. Equivalently, bromine water may also check for unsaturated organic compounds. It is the especially high oxidising power of Baeyer's reagent that brings about the mentioned redox reaction - a reaction where reduction and oxidation occur in tandem.

Answer: Potassium carbonate

If sodium carbonate is to "soda ash", potassium carbonate is to "potash." The chief component of potash, it has, since historic times, been used to produce soap and glass products. Potassium fertilisers, used to enhance the growth of agricultural crops, are also obtained from the compound. It has a wide industrial scope beyond these as well.

It helps in reducing the acidity of the production environment when producing mead or wine. Since it can absorb moisture from the atmosphere, it is commonly used as a drying agent. Glass which is made using potash is particularly suited for glass colouring.

On a biological level, potassium carbonate helps regulate the level of potassium ions in the body, which aid in the conduction of nerve impulses. Besides, of course, it provides for a safe source of potassium, a nutrient which all living beings need, at least in trace amounts.

Answer: Thymine

DNA and RNA stand for deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid respectively. These fall under a category of bio compounds called nucleic acids, which help in transmitting genetic characteristics from one generation to the next. Structure wise, these two compounds are double helixes, like a long coiled ladder. At each rung of the ladder, there is a pair of matching nucleobases.

There are overall five nucleobases - adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine and uracil. Of these, cytosine always pairs with guanine. Adenine, however, may pair with thymine (in DNA) or with uracil (in RNA). Bases in every pair are glued together using hydrogen bonds.

Each nucleobase may be derived either from a pyrimidine molecule or a purine molecule. Cytosine, thymine and uracil are grouped as pyrimidines; while adenine and guanine are purines. Each nucleobase may have one or more side groups in its structure.

Answer: Calcium oxide

"Quicklime" is how you're supposed to address calcium oxide informally. "Lime" is, in essence, a broad name for an inorganic compound containing calcium. It is of such utility because of its low cost. It is produced in significantly large quantities per annum. A property which is widely exploited is quicklime's energetic reaction with water.

When quicklime reacts with water, enough energy is generated to set flammable materials on fire. It is hence a useful portable source of heat. This use had presumably extended into ancient warfare science too. A theory suggests that the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire used quicklime as part of its incendiary weapon, the "Greek fire." Greek fire is supposed to have continued burning even when floating on water. It is believed to have majorly contributed to many Byzantine military successes.

The petroleum industry uses the said reaction and the basic nature of quicklime to detect water in fuel storage containers. Heat calcium oxide to just over 2400 degrees Celsius, and you have "limelight" as you know it !