Year Of The Cat by Al Stewart free essay sample

Al Stewart Year Of The Cat Al Stewart was born September 5, 1945 in Scotland, UK. He is a Scottish Folk-rock singer-songwriter and guitarist. Year Of The Cat is his best known album and was released in 1976. It is a very beautiful and melodic pop movement with many instruments to accompany Al Stewart’s singing. Pop (the musical genre this is classified as) in the 1970’s means something very different than what pop means today. This release is very refreshing because of its classical instruments and melodies instead of the usual bass blasting from the pop blend with dubstep today. The first track â€Å"Lord Grenville† is a great way to introduce this amazing album with its happy and sad vibe blend. His singing in this song tells a story (about going to Lord Grenville) like many other songs on this release. His voice is very distinct because of his accent he has with his high pitched notes. We will write a custom essay sample on Year Of The Cat by Al Stewart or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It is a nice change to hear a singer like this rather than hearing a lot of voices that sound the same like a couple these days. The instrumentals sound crisp, clarified and fluid. The guitars are voiced with melodic sounding acoustic/classical and the electric guitars with a blues tone. The lead guitar in some tracks have a very sweet happy blues vibe. The drums are very groovy and flourish with the singing and guitar nicely with the style of each song. According to each tracks mood, he has a tight or loose hi-hat. The keyboards sound very powerful and go with the singer nicely because they are hitting similar notes a lot. He has many diverse sounds including a classical piano which he mostly uses. There are many other instruments on Year Of The Cat including shakers, mandolin, saxophone, and bass guitar (of course). There are very notable characteristics on this release like the singing and saxophone of the album title track (Year Of The Cat). Another is the crazy tremolo (fast) p icking of the mandolin on the track â€Å"Broadway Hotel†. Year Of The Cat is an amazing release with a very beautiful sound of the many characteristics it has.

10 Neon Facts †Chemical Element

10 Neon Facts - Chemical Element Neon is element number 10 on the periodic table, with the element symbol Ne. While you might think of neon lights when you hear this element name, there are many other interesting properties and uses for this gas. Here are 10 neon facts: Each neon atom has 10 protons. There are three stable isotopes of the element, with atoms having 10 neutrons (neon-20), 11 neutrons (neon-21), and 12 neutrons (neon-22). Because it has a stable octet for its outer electron shell, neon atoms have 10 electrons and no net electrical charge. The first two valence electrons are in the s shell, while the other eight electrons are in the p shell. The element is in group 18 of the periodic table, making it the first noble gas with a full octet (helium is lighter and stable with only 2 electrons). Its the second lightest noble gas.At room temperature and pressure, neon is an odorless, colorless, diamagnetic gas. It belongs to the noble gas element group and shares the property with other elements of that group of being nearly inert (not very reactive). In fact, there are no known stable  neon compounds, even though some other noble gases have been found to form chemical bonds. A possible exception is solid neon clathrate hydrate, which may be formed from neon gas and water ice at pressure of 0.35-0.48 GPa. The name of the element comes from the Greek word novum or neos, which means new. British chemists Sir William  Ramsay and Morris W. Travers discovered the element in 1898. Neon was discovered in a sample of liquid air. The gases that escaped were identified as nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and krypton. When the krypton was gone, the remaining gas was found to emit a bright red light when ionized. Ramsays son suggested the name for the new element, neon.Neon is both rare and abundant, depending where youre looking for it. Although neon is a rare gas in the Earths atmosphere (about 0.0018% by mass), it is the 5th most abundant element in the universe  (1 part per 750), where it is produced during the alpha process in stars. The sole source of neon is from extraction from liquefied air. Neon is also found in diamonds and some volcanic vents. Because neon is rare in air, its an expensive gas to produce, about 55 times more expensive than liquid helium.Even though its rare and expensive o n Earth, there is a fair amount of neon in the average home. If you could extract all the neon from a new home in the United States, you have about 10 liters of the gas! Neon is a monatomic gas, so it is lighter (less dense) than air, which consists mostly of nitrogen (N2). If a balloon is filled with neon, it will rise. However, this will occur at a much slower rate than you would see with a helium balloon. As with helium, inhaling neon gas poses an asphyxiation risk if not enough oxygen is available to breathe.Neon has many uses besides lighted signs. It is also used in helium-neon lasers, masers,  vacuum tubes, lightning arresters, and high-voltage indicators. The liquid form of the element is a cryogenic refrigerant. Neon is 40 times more effective as a refrigerant than liquid helium and 3 times better than liquid hydrogen. Because of its high refrigeration capacity, liquid neon is used in cryonics, to freeze corpses for preservation or for potential revival in the future. The liquid can cause immediate frostbite to exposed skin or mucous membranes.When low pressure neon gas is electrified, it glows reddish orange. This is the true color of neo n lights. Other colors of lights are produced by coating the interior of the glass with phosphors. Other gases glow when excited. These are not neon signs even though many people commonly assume they are. One of the more interesting facts about neon is the light emitted from ionized neon can pass through water fog. This is why neon lighting is used in cold regions and for aircraft and airports.Neon has a melting point of  Ã¢â‚¬â€˜248.59  Ã‚ °C (‑415.46  Ã‚ °F) and boiling point of  Ã¢â‚¬â€˜246.08  Ã‚ °C (‑410.94  Ã‚ °F). Solid neon forms a crystal with a close-packed cubic structure. Because of its stable octet, the electronegativity and electron affinity of neon approaches zero.

The Influence of Ralph Waldo Emerson Essays

The Influence of Ralph Waldo Emerson Essays The Influence of Ralph Waldo Emerson Essay The Influence of Ralph Waldo Emerson Essay Essay Topic: Self Reliance Ralph Waldo Emerson is considered by many as one of the most respected and widely known authors in the history of American literature. From his famous book â€Å"Nature†, to his various essays, poems and lectures, Emerson’s collection of works maintain an authentic diverse style that separated him from other authors. The confidence and optimism he portrayed thru his work helped to spawn an assembly of followers from not only America, but Europe as well. Many historians believe that Emerson may be the most inspirational figure in American thought since the colonial period, and In my opinion without Emerson’s influences on American Literature and Transcendentalism the new thought movement, and conception of individualism during the 19th century may have never taken place. Emerson’s 1836 essay â€Å"Nature† is considered by many to be the foundation of Transcendentalism, and the â€Å"New Thought† movement that followed. Both terms were considered anomalies at the time since they protested against the â€Å"normal† cultural, and social trains of thought during the 19th century. In Samuel Osgood ‘s 1837 publication â€Å"The Western Messenger† Osgood reviews â€Å"Nature† and is quoted as saying the following, â€Å"whatever may be thought of the merits, or of the extravagances of the book, no one, we are sure can read it without feeling himself more wide awake to the beauty and meaning of creation. † It was the core belief of transcendentalists that individual intuitions should be at the forefront of their being, and not be limited to established forms of culture. This conviction was right on with Emerson’s philosophy, which encouraged people to think for themselves, and follow their hearts. It was Emerson’s own nature in fact that touched so many peoples mind and soul, generating a group of admirers that held him in their highest regards. In analyzing numerous historical New York Times clippings I encountered several articles that spoke volumes of Emerson and his influence on people. One I enjoyed in particular was an article depicting various commemorative addresses’ entitled â€Å" Emerson’s Many Friends. † In this piece Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes speaks vibrantly of Emerson in saying â€Å" He enriched the treasure-house of literature, but, what was far more, he enlarged the boundaries of thought for the few that followed him and the many that never knew, and do not know today what hand it was that took down their prison wall. † Dr Holmes reference to his late friend shows not only his respect for Emerson, but also how significant a role he played in supplying his followers with optimism and confidence in being themselves. Two American authors whose literary careers were inspired significantly by Mr. Emerson were Henry David Thoreau and Margaret Fuller. Both Thoreau and Fuller played an equally important role in the development of the transcendental movement, but their careers as writers may have taken a different path were it not for Emerson’s Influence on them. Emerson’s interaction with Fuller was well documented as the two were known to indulge in verbal intercourse regularly, eventually working together in creating â€Å"The Dial†, a publication dedicated to new ideas relating to the reformation of society. Thoreau on the other hand was a pupil of Emerson using many of his Philosophical beliefs in his literature and lifestyle. One of Thoreau’s greatest works was a book titled â€Å"Walden or Life in the Woods† detailing Thoreau’s construction of a cabin and isolation from society on a plot of land owned by Emerson at Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. It is my belief that it was Thoreau’s aspiration to live the simple life Emerson spoke of so frequently in his writing relying only on himself instead of the influences of society. Although both Fuller and Thoreau were exceptional authors, and thinkers in their own right, there connection with Emerson is undeniable in relation to their life and works of literature. Furthermore the impact of Emerson’s work was not only realized in the United States, but across the Atlantic in Europe as well. Many Europeans found enjoyment in Emerson’s literature, and in an 1882 clipping from the New York Times I found an interesting editorial entitled â€Å" British Views of Emerson. † This article confirmed the Europeans respect for Mr. Emerson including excerpts from various newspapers across Europe. The text within the article appreciates Emerson and his works referring to his unique style as â€Å"sometimes obscure, and yet apparently so simple. There was also admiration for his humble demeanor citing that despite all his success he remained grounded, â€Å"in a tranquil seclusion, seeking none of the rewards that the world had to bestow, yet earnest in his efforts for the elevation of mankind. Before taking American Literature, I am disappointed to say that had never read nor heard of Ralph Waldo Emerson or his works. During an assign ment requiring me to read and analyze Emerson’s essay â€Å"Self Reliance† I realized how appealing this mans work was to me. His outgoing, and original approach to writing really captured my attention and gave me a piece of mind that before then I had never been subjected to. As I began to research Emerson and his legacy, I realized I was not alone in this thinking, and that Emerson’s literature had indeed influenced an entire movement based around his teachings and philosophies of individualism. In conclusion it is my opinion that Emerson’s character and ability to communicate his beliefs thru lectures essays and books helped the transcendental literary movement gain an incredible following and achieve a great degree of success during the 19th century. I believe Emerson was a remarkably deep individual who used his knowledge thru literature to achieve a mindset that made him and his admirers comfortable with themselves and who they were. Without Ralph Waldo Emerson’s influential works, transcendentalism and the American thought process that followed might have never taken such an individualistic approach to life and living in general.

Springfield Nor'easters Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Springfield Nor'easters - Article Example The tickets will also consider the families buy giving the families a different package to make the families have fun with their children in the stadium. The stadium will be partitioned into sections and the prices set for every section in the arena. The proposed packages are Friends and family package Couple packages Children with birthday parties Single tickets VIP packages And general sits packages Expected annual revenue With good advertisements and the culture of giving good packages to the community, the tickets are expected to be sold out even before the leagues start. Since it is a new culture being built in the community, the fans will be intrigued by the new sports phenomenon and would be down to pay the tickets for the experience. Another motivation to the revenue collection is the fact that the fans will be treated to new teams who come to the venue therefore fostering the competitive culture and identification. With creation of a local fan base, the tickets are inclined to producing more money even during the friendly games and off-season matches. With the packages and pricing set per seat a family is expected to pay for a game is close to $59 every single game. The ticket for an individual is $ 4-12 depending on the preference of the sitting area. The stadium has a capacity of 8200 seats. With the approximation of 500 families in the community will start cultivating a culture of sports the family will spend $2242 a season. With five hundred families alone, the expected revenue collected is $1,121,000. If 2000 individual fans attend for a whole season at $4 each the expected revenue collected is $304,000. For the VIP section, the expected revenue is close to $500,000for the single tickets of a thousand fans. For families VIP tickets can cost an approximate of 96 dollars. The expected number will be higher in this section due to the environment conducive for the children. If only 300 families book the VIP area, the revenue is expected to be $1,094,4 00. The summation of this revenue will be close to 3,400,000. Concisely the annual revenue can be close to $5,000,000 when everything is done right in the initial stage. Better revenue collection will be realized with the events building up in the region and a fan base created. The revenue is based on approximation and the least amount charge to every game Expected annual concession revenue The concession calculations will vary due to the different types of ticket sales to the people. With an attendance bracket that depreciates from the 5game, 20 game seasons and a full season, the logical expectation of the revenue will be $2,000,000 as long as the tickets will be reasonable to the public. However, the tickets are supposed to medial to avert the events where the people do not attend since it is cheap. The establishment of a price that is at par with the control and building of the fans will create a culture of not missing a game to utilize the money spent on the ticket. Even in the assumption of full attendance, the variation in the fan attendance will dictate the revenue collected annually. With the survey conducted in the research there will be better concession revenue collected than the estimate. Breaking even The team will break even in the end of the year only if everything is done right. The qualitative analysis of the research is done using the contribution analysis. The model of payment is crucial to the

McDonald's Takes the Blame for Obesity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

McDonald's Takes the Blame for Obesity - Essay Example The following is an examination of Critical Concepts: Experts blame the adverts targeting children to be responsible for causing obesity. The most relevant concepts in the case against first food joints are their marketing policies. Perhaps the aim is to cripple the allure junk food produces through adverts which are particularly appealing to children. However, Ronald McDonald in the same light as Joe Camel is a bit of a stretch. Attacking the marketing strategies of business entities to me amounts to clutching at a straw. There are rules that govern the world of production and marketing. In a situation where a product has production rights, the production company has the right to market it. In view of the above sentiments, McDonald should consider rebranding its image but not to exclude Ronald McDonald. Marketers, especially in France argue that positive ad inclusions such as, â€Å"eat fruits daily, exercise, and drink a lot of water† appeal more to customers than severe hea lth warnings. For instance the caption, â€Å"cigarette smoking is harmful to your health, did not reduce the number of smokers in Europe or America. Therefore, adding health messages as proposed by the French is a constructive move. When McDonald includes the health messages in its ads it will go a step further to include healthy substitutes to its menu. Negative publicity led to drop in sales in McDonald’s. This caused McDonald to add healthy food to their menu such as porridge and salad. The move led to a 90% positive turnaround in sales. It should be noted that the increased sales result from consumption of â€Å"non-healthy† foods such as burgers and fries. Some European nations in their fight against obesity push for a ban on fast food advertisements that target children. However, it is imperative to note that advertisements not directed to children may still influence them. In a situation, where bans on advertising directly to children are in place such as in N orway, the food companies will still advertise for adults. Nevertheless, the bans are crucial because they eliminate at least one influence of obesity. Conforming to the ban is also a positive marketing strategy for McDonald’s. Consumers will see their efforts in implement change, and this will retain their loyalty to their products as mentioned above. Problems facing McDonald’s positive ad strategy. The state of obesity has not improved ever since the launch of positive ads by McDonald’s. This is not the company’s fault, but critics do not seem to think so. Governments and health regulatory institutions are up in arms against McDonald’s. For instance, Prince Charles of England out rightly attributes obesity to McDonald’s. In response to the above situation, McDonald responds just like most companies in the food production industry. Self regulation in regard to advertisement is a common strategy where the company reduces adverts directed at children. In the case of fast foods, the company specifically cuts down on use of celebrities and cartoon characters in advertisements. McDonald, however, is not fully committed to this strategy. In the U.K, its dominant market is children under the age of sixteen, and it does not intend to lose this market. McDonald instead favors positive health messages to run alongside their advertisements. That way McDonald’

The Chemistry of Swimming Pools

The Chemistry of Swimming Pools Pool chemistry is the application of chemistry to maintain safe and clean water (Hann, 1997). This is achieved by regulating numerous factors which include: the pH, the quantity of disinfectant and the buffers used to resist pH changes. The normal pH range of a swimming pool needs to be between 7.2 and 8.0, although a range between 7.2 and 7.8 is more practical as some disinfectants such as chlorine are most effective for this range (Hann, 1997). The Importance of pH The pH scale (see figure 1) is a measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in a solution and is a logarithmic scale based on 10 (Zumdahl, 2007). Furthermore, it is represented by the equation: pH = -log[H+] (Zumdahl, 2007), and since the scale is logarithmic, this means that a pH increase of one value represents a H + concentration increase of tenfold. The pH scale ranges from one, which is very acidic, to fourteen which is very alkaline. A value of seven is neutral, meaning that a solution is neither acidic nor basic (Hann, 1997). The pH scale (Environment Canada, 1992) A strong acid dissociates completely in water to produce H+ ions in the form of H3O+ (hydronium ion), whereas a weak acid does not dissociate completely, causing a lower H+ concentration to form (Zumdahl, 2007). Since an acid dissociates in water to produce H+ ions it is known as an H+ donor and a good example of this is the strong hydrochloric acid (HCl). This acid easily dissociates in water to form H+ and the following equation represents this dissociation. HCl(aq) + H2O(l)  ® H3O+(aq) + Cl-(aq) Because HCl is easily dissociated, it means that equilibrium lies far to the right, favouring the products. On the contrary, a weak acid does not easily dissociate in water, meaning that a reaction involving a weak acid would not favour products or reactants. In contrast to an acid, a base dissociates in water to form OH- and is known as an H+ acceptor. The role of acids and bases for the maintenance of the pH of pool water is important for a number of reasons. A pH that is too high or low (above 8 or below 7.2) will cause irritation to the skin (Gothard, 2006). As well as this, disinfectants such as bromine and chlorine require an optimum pH between 7.2 and 7.6 in order to function most efficiently (Hann, 1997). Thus, an increase or decrease in pH will cause these disinfectants to work less efficiently. Another reason for the regulation of the pH balance is to prevent the formation of scale or water hardness deposits. These deposits are usually composed of magnesium and calcium which can become damaging to the functioning of a pool as it affects the filter system, heater and the piping (Hann, 1997). Maintenance of the pH levels Factors such as, the removal or addition of pool water; waste from swimmers such as urine; and the addition of chemicals, affect the pH of the water. In order to have a pH level that is desirable, specific chemicals need to be added to the water, although it is also possible to reach a desired pH balance by adding extra water to the pool (Hann, 1997). By adding additional water this will cause the pH concentration to lower, which helps to balance the pH. However, it is not always possible to do this as different factors affect the pH, and so pool chemicals are needed. Two main chemicals are used to lower the pH of pool water: sodium bisulfate and muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid). These chemicals both have a low pH which means that they act as a pH reducer. A decrease in pH occurs because the chemicals react in the water to produce more hydrogen ions, hence increasing the acidity. The choice of which chemical to use depends on the size of a pool. Sodium bisulfate is usually used for small pools (about 190 000 litres) as it is less acidic than muriatic acid, thus a safer alternative (Hann, 1997). On the other hand, muriatic acid is used for larger pools to reduce the pH because it is a more acidic. Furthermore, to raise the pH of pool water, sodium carbonate is most commonly used (Perkins, 2000). It is known as a pH increaser because it produces hydroxyl ions (OH-) which increases the pH of the pool water. Chlorine also has an effect on the pH of water; however, it is used more commonly for disinfection purposes. Chlorine for Disinfection of Pool Water A safe and clean pool requires the use of a disinfectant to stop the spread of transmittable diseases (Hann, 1997). The most common disinfectants used are chlorine-based products as chlorine is relatively inexpensive and is very effective in killing bacteria and other harmful organisms (Perkins, 2000).Chlorine gas (Cl2) is never used on its own for disinfecting pool water because it is very toxic, and so would pose many risks. Therefore, compounds containing chlorine are used instead and there are three main types: Calcium hypochlorite [Ca(OCl)2 ­], sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and chlorinated isocyanurate. When these compounds are added to the water a reaction occurs, forming a chemical called hypochlorous acid (HOCl) which is an oxidising agent and hydrochloric acid (HCl). Since hydrochloric acid is formed, this will mean that the pH of the pool water decreases slightly. Cl2 + H2O  ® HOCl + HCl The hypochlorous acid kills the bacteria in the water by oxidation and the HOCl can easily become dissociated to from hydrogen ions (H+) and hypochlorate ions (ClO)-. HOCl à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬  H+ + ClO- Both the hypochlorous acid and the hypochlorite ions are considered as free chlorine, which is the chemical species responsible for killing bacteria in the water; however, the hypochlorous acid is far more efficient (Daniels, 1973). The dissociation of the hydrochlorous acid is an equilibrium reaction, meaning that the reaction can occur in either direction. Furthermore, the pH of the water affects the direction in which the reaction proceeds, thus influencing the effectiveness of the disinfectant. An increase in pH would mean that there are more H+ ions which would cause the reaction to proceed to the right, meaning that less hypochlorous acid is present in the water. Moreover, a decrease in pH will cause the reaction to proceed to the left, meaning that more hypochlorous acid is produced which increases the effectiveness of the chlorine as a disinfectant. To be able to determine the pH of a solution, the use of acid/ base indicators are needed. The role of acid/base indicators In order to keep the pH of pool water in the correct range it is necessary to use an acid/base indicator to test the pH. An acid/base indicator is a substance that gives an accurate indication of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution (Dice, 2008). Also, an indicator is a weak acid represented by HIn (Zumdahl, 2007) and it can be written as an equilibrium expression: HIn (colourless) à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬  H+ + In- (pink) where the In- is the basic form of the indicator. The HIn and the In- both show a different colour which corresponds to the pH of the solution. As an example, the indicator phenolphthalein is colourless in an acidic solution and pink in a basic solution. This means that the HIn represents the colourless molecules, whereas the In- represents the pinkmolecules. Since an indicator is in equilibrium, an acidic solution would cause an increase in H+ concentration, hence shifting equilibrium to the left. Likewise, in a basic solution the OH- ions cause a decrease in H+, which shifts equilibrium to the right. The equation for an indicator can be written as an equilibrium constant expression. Ka = [H+] [In-] / [HIn] This expression can be rearranged to form an equation which is very useful in finding the end point of an indicator, which is the point at which colour change occurs. Ka / [H+] = [In-] / [HIn] The ratio between the In- and the HIn will show the colour of the indicator; for example if there is one In- pink molecules for every one hundred colourless it means that the solution will appear colourless. However, for the human eye to detect the colour change, the colour change occurs at a pH where the ratio of In- to HIn is 1:10 for an acidic solution, whereas for a basic solution the change will occur at a ratio of 10:1 (Zumdahl, 2007). There are a variety of indicators all of which are useful for specific pH ranges, and so it is important to use an appropriate indicator for measuring pool water pH. The following table (figure 2) displays four different acid/base indicators that could be possibly used to assist with pool management. Four Possible Indicators for Testing pH of a pool (figure 2) Indicator pH range Colour shown for Acidic Solution Colour shown for Basic Solution Ka pKa (-log10Ka) Bromthymol Blue 6.0-7.6 Yellow Blue 1.0 x 10-7 7.0 Cresol Red (alkaline) 7.2-8.8 Yellow Reddish-purple 1.0 x 10-8.32 8.32 Phenol Red 6.8-8.4 Yellow Red 1.0 x 10-7.9 7.9 Phenolphthalein 8.3-10 Colourless Pink 1.0 x 10-9.3 9.3 From the table it can be seen that phenol red, cresol red and bromthymol blue would all be useful indicators as their pH range is quite close to the pH range of a pool which is 7.2-7.8. Since phenolphthaleins range is 8.-10, this indicator would be the least effective as is not very close to the pool range, whereas the other indicators each have similar ranges that are within the range. To verify the pH at which an indicator changes colour, the equation from above can be used: Ka = [H+] [In-] / [HIn] Sample calculation for the indicator phenol red: x 10-7.9 = [H+] [In-] / [HIn] First, the pH at which the indicator will change for an acidic solution will be found. For an acidic solution the colour change will be visible when [In-] / [HIn] = 1/10 : x 10-7.9 = [H+] (1) / (10) [H+] = (1.0 x 10-7.9) x 10 = 1.26 x 10-7 pH = -log(1.26 x 107à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ) = 6.9 pH = 6.9, which is close to the actual value of 6.8. This means that at this point, the colour change will be yellow. The pH at which the colour change occurs in a basic solution can also be calculated, however, the ratio of In- to HIn will be 10:1 as there must be more In- molecules for a colour change to occur. x 10-7.9 = [H+] (10) / (1) [H+] = (1.0 x 10-7.9 )/ 10 = 1.26 x 10-9 pH = -log(1.26 x 10-9) = 8.90 pH = 8.9, which is the point at which the colour change will be red. However, the value is not exactly the same as the actual value because it is an approximation and is not exact. Phenol reds pH range is the closest to the pools range when compared to the other three indicators, which means that it is the most appropriate for testing pool water. Acid/base indicators are not only important for determining the pH of a solution, but are also significant for finding a pools buffering capacity, as the pH of a solution must be known. Buffer solutions To assist in the maintenance of pool pH, it is necessary to use a buffer solution. A buffer solution is any solution which resists fluctuating changes in pH, making it easier to keep pool water in the appropriate pH range (Hann, 1997). The buffering ability of a pool is dependent on the total alkalinity, which is the measure of the quantity of alkaline substances present in the water (Hann, 1997). Calcium carbonate is the main compound which makes up the total alkalinity and when it is dissolved in water it produces carbonate ions which act as a buffer. CaCO3 (s) à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬  Ca2+ + CO32- The carbonate ions work as a buffer because they neutralise the H+ ions formed when an acid is added. To determine the buffering ability of a solution, the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation can be used. This equation is derived from the equilibrium constant for the dissociation of a weak acid which is given by the equation: Ka = ([H+] [A-]) / [HA] where A- is the conjugate base, and HA is a simple acid. By taking the logarithm of both sides and rearranging it will give the following equation: -log [H+] = -logKa + log ([A-]/[HA]) Since, -log [H+] = pH and -logKa = pKa, the equation can be written as: pH = pKa + log ([A-]/[HA]) This equation is known as the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation and can be used in regards to pool chemistry to be able to calculate the buffering capacity, which is the quantity of hydroxide ions (OH-) that can be absorbed by the solution before a significant pH change occurs. Additionally, the magnitude of [HA] and [A-] determine the buffering capacity of a solution. The most effective buffer is one that has a ratio of one, as this will cause no change in pH (Zumdahl, 2007). The following calculation will show a possible application of buffer chemistry for the pool. pH = pKa + log ([A-]/[HA]) A concentration of 0.002M Hydrochloric acid is added to a solution with a pH of 7.6 and a calcium carbonate concentration of 2.11 x 10-8M. Hypochlorous acid is also present in the water and its pKa is 3.5 x 10-8. 7.6 = 3.5 x 10-8 + log ([2.11 x 10-8]/[0.002]) = 7.46 Therefore, the pH of the solution has decreased, which means that the solution does not have the best buffering capacity. The best buffer solution would need to have a ratio of 1:1 which would cause the pH to stay about the same. Conclusion The chemistry involved in the management of backyard swimming pools is an important aspect and needs to be understood in order to maintain a safe swimming pool environment. A pH range between 7.2 and 7.8 is recommended and so an understanding of how to lower and raise the pH is essential. Chlorine can be used as a disinfectant of pool water; however, it needs to be known that the reaction forms hydrochloric acid which lowers the pH. Thus, an addition of a pH increaser such as sodium carbonate is needed as this increases the number of OH- molecules in the water, which increases the pH. Furthermore, the use of pH indicators is necessary in controlling the pH, as they give an accurate reading of the pools pH. However, each indicator has a different pH range and so it is important to choose the appropriate indicator for the pool. Also, a pools buffering ability is significant in keeping the pools pH in balance. Poor buffering capacity means that an addition of an acid or a base will caus e the pH to dramatically fluctuate, making it difficult to manage a pool. Total alkalinity is the measure of a pools buffering ability and calcium carbonate is often used to increase the buffering ability.

To Autumn by John Keats Essay -- To Autumn John Keats Poetry Essays

To Autumn by John Keats â€Å"To Autumn† is one of the most famous, and perfect odes written by John Keats, and any modern writer. It is quite fitting that his greatest piece was the last one that he ever wrote before he met with his unfortunate end. However, this ode has some significant differences to the other odes that he has written. Firstly, there is no flight from reality, or deviation into imagination or dream, in fact there is no narrative voice at all. Secondly, it has an unprecedented emphasis and commemoration of change and progress, not only through autumn, but through all mortal events. While the title implies a progression through autumn, the ode also has references to an aging day, and even personal maturity. The first stanza is brimming with specific vivid visual imagery. The first which relates to the change in the season and day is the â€Å"maturing sun.† This sun makes the fruit ripen and cause the burst of ripe food for harvesting. He then goes on to describe the outburst of ripening fruit to an excruciating intensity. The apples are so plentiful that... To Autumn by John Keats Essay -- To Autumn John Keats Poetry Essays To Autumn by John Keats â€Å"To Autumn† is one of the most famous, and perfect odes written by John Keats, and any modern writer. It is quite fitting that his greatest piece was the last one that he ever wrote before he met with his unfortunate end. However, this ode has some significant differences to the other odes that he has written. Firstly, there is no flight from reality, or deviation into imagination or dream, in fact there is no narrative voice at all. Secondly, it has an unprecedented emphasis and commemoration of change and progress, not only through autumn, but through all mortal events. While the title implies a progression through autumn, the ode also has references to an aging day, and even personal maturity. The first stanza is brimming with specific vivid visual imagery. The first which relates to the change in the season and day is the â€Å"maturing sun.† This sun makes the fruit ripen and cause the burst of ripe food for harvesting. He then goes on to describe the outburst of ripening fruit to an excruciating intensity. The apples are so plentiful that...