ATSI Flashcards
How did the ATSI use the principles behind acid and base reactions
The use of plants to neutralise ant stings.
Ants stings produce methanoic acid (formic acid) and they use the sap of pigface which contains a basic chemical
Methanoic acid + basic chemical in plant sap -> methanoate ion + conjugate acid of the basic chemical in the plant
or
They ate the dirt from termite mounds to treat supset stomachs
carbonates in termite earth can ceutralise stomach acid
HCl + CO3 2- -> CO2 + H2O + 2Cl-
How did the ATSI use the principles of solubility/ chemical equilibrium
Through the process of leaching the poisonous chemicals in the cycasin fruit
Cycasin(s) <-> Cycasin (aq)
the seeds are grounded (to increase the surface area of the material and thus increase the rate of the dissolution reaction) and then placed into an open system - a permeable bag in running water. thus the equilibrium is continually disturbed by removing the toxin promoting the complete reaction to occur.
