Subject: Feedback Loops

Posted by Florence Duarte on 2/9/2006
In Reply To:Feedback Loops Posted by Bill Braun on 2/9/2006

Message:

Bill;

When it comes to feedback loops and chemistry, here are my thoughts as a former teacher of chemistry...

You said :

"Also, chemistry is out of my league though I wonder if there is a cycle in the availability of hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide that is in some way influenced by water (in any of its states). If hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide are stocks, what is the process that replenishes them, and what are the related feedback loops that govern their replenishment?"


The dance of molecules in water...

The principle that replenishes the stocks HCL and NaOH is based on Le Chatelier's principle of chemical equilibrium. It states that chemical reactions reach a state of DYNAMIC equilibrium. The feedback loops are most evident when the system in subjected to "stress". For example, if one dumps some NACl into the system "changes will occur to releave the system of the added NaCl and establish equilibrium at different concentrations...


I hope this helps,

Florence