Interatomic potential describes the interaction between atoms and molecules. It has attractive and repulsive components that determine chemical stability. Hydrocarbons like alkanes, alkenes and alkynes are stable when stored at conditions that place interacting atoms and molecules at the minimum of the potential well, such as high pressure and low temperature. Refineries maintain stability through tank shape and storage conditions to prevent explosions, though accidents still occur due to complexities of maintaining strict temperature and pressure controls.
Interatomic potential describes the interaction between atoms and molecules. It has attractive and repulsive components that determine chemical stability. Hydrocarbons like alkanes, alkenes and alkynes are stable when stored at conditions that place interacting atoms and molecules at the minimum of the potential well, such as high pressure and low temperature. Refineries maintain stability through tank shape and storage conditions to prevent explosions, though accidents still occur due to complexities of maintaining strict temperature and pressure controls.
Interatomic potential describes the interaction between atoms and molecules. It has attractive and repulsive components that determine chemical stability. Hydrocarbons like alkanes, alkenes and alkynes are stable when stored at conditions that place interacting atoms and molecules at the minimum of the potential well, such as high pressure and low temperature. Refineries maintain stability through tank shape and storage conditions to prevent explosions, though accidents still occur due to complexities of maintaining strict temperature and pressure controls.
Interatomic Potential and Chemical Stability In Hydrocarbons
Luke Nguyen, Dr. Cristian Bahrim
1 Department of Physics, Lamar University, P.O. Box 10022, Beaumont, Texas 77710
Introduction Chemical Plant Accidents and Destruction Hydrocarbon Characteristics
Interatomic potential by definition describes the Hydrocarbons, by definition, are molecules that consist of interaction between a pair of atoms, as well as the purely carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) atoms. They can be interaction between an atom and a mole. There are two divided into three main groups according to the types of parts of any potential: an attractive and a repulsive bonds they contain: alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes. They counterpart. The binding of the two molecules requires can also be straight-chain, branched chain, or cyclic the two components of the potential to converge towards molecules. They serve a wide variety of purposes that a deep potential well that is shown below. many people do not realize. For instance, they can be used for creating heating and cooking fuel, gasoline, plastics, petroleum, solvents, detergent, anti-freeze, PEPCON Fuel Plant explosion in Organic Chemical Plant fire in polystyrene and carbon fiber. Although many of these are Henderson, Nevada (May 1988) Crosby, Texas (August 2017) manufactured, complex hydrocarbons and their derivatives can be found throughout nature.
Methane Ethane Propane
BP Chemical Plant explosion in Irving oil refinery in Saint John,
The location of the minimum determines the equilibrium Polyethylene Texas City, Texas (March 2005) New Brunswick (October 2018) separation whereas the depth of this well indicates the stability of the system. Within each potential well exists vibrational and rotational levels that are dependent on Molecular Spectra Conclusion temperature and kinetic energy. So the higher the Refineries typically keep hydrocarbons stable in many temperature, the higher the mode of vibration a pair of different ways but these two factors contribute the molecules or atoms can reach. An analogy to understand most. First, the shape of the storage tank matters this potential well and levels is to imagine a ball sitting at because the more corners a thank has, the more the bottom of a valley and energy is required for the ball tension can build in each of the corners so a spherical to escape the valley. Once the pair reaches a level that tank is idea. Second, the gas is typically stored at high exceeds the maximum state, the molecules or atoms will pressures and low temperatures so that these begin separating conditions allows an interaction zone to the minimum of Importance of Achieving Stability the potential wells, and thus, having more molecular stability. Especially in the southeasst Texas area, refineries are extremly widespread and influences a lot of people to migrate from other areas or states to work in chemical References plants. The refineries are located close to highly dense populated towns such as Beaumont and Port Neches 1. Atkins, Peter and de Paula, Julio. Physical Chemistry for the Life and will always pose a threat. A possible threat could be Sciences. New York, N.Y. W. H. Freeman Company, 2006. the highly pressurized tanks being overheated and could (469-472) 2. Royer, Donald J. Bonding Theory. New York, NY.:McGraw-Hill, eventually lead to explosions. The explosions are . 1968. Inc., uncommon due to many people being tasked with maintaining the strict temperatures and pressures that 3. Chang, Raymond. Physical Chemistry for the Biosciences. are calculated by safety and chemical engineers. Sausalito, CA. University Science Books, 2005. (498-500) Although there are people working on the clock to maintain the safety, there is always a risk.