large/12904/worldswithinworlds_v1-3_1904_librivox_64kb_mp3/worldswithinworlds_02_asimov_64kb_43
large/12904/worldswithinworlds_v1-3_1904_librivox_64kb_mp3/worldswithinworlds_02_asimov_64kb
English
12904
If a great deal of hydrogen and oxygen are well mixed to begin with, the rate of reaction is so great that an explosion occurs. IF A GREAT DEAL OF HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN ARE WELL MIXED TO BEGIN WITH THE RATE OF REACTION IS SO GREAT THAT AN EXPLOSION OCCURS
gen gas are allowed to mix in such a way as to form water. Just mixing the hydrogen and oxygen isn’t enough. The molecules of hydrogen and oxygen must be separated and that takes a little energy. The energy in a match flame is enough to raise the temperature of the mixture and to make the hydrogen and oxygen molecules move about more rapidly and more energetically. This increases the chance that some molecules will be broken up into separate atoms (though the actual process is rather complicated). An oxygen atom might then strike a hydrogen molecule to form water (O + H₂ → H₂O) and more energy is given off than was absorbed from the match flame. The temperature goes up still higher so that further breakup among the oxygen and hydrogen molecules is encouraged. [Illustration: _The formation of a sodium chloride molecule._] This happens over and over again so that in very little time, the temperature is very high and the hydrogen and oxygen are combining to form water at an enormous rate.  OF ENERGY MOSTLY IN THE FORM OF HEAT IS GIVEN OFF IF A JET OF HYDROGEN GAS AND A JET OF OXYGEN GAS ARE ALLOWED TO MIX IN SUCH A WAY AS TO FORM WATER JUST MIXING THE HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN IS NOT ENOUGH THE MOLECULES OF HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN MUST BE SEPARATED AND THAT TAKES A LITTLE ENERGY THE ENERGY IN A MATCH FLAME IS ENOUGH TO RAISE THE TEMPERATURE OF THE MIXTURE AND MAKE THE HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN MOLECULES MOVE ABOUT MORE RAPIDLY AND MORE ENERGETICALLY THIS INCREASES THE CHANCE THAT SOME MOLECULES WILL BE BROKEN UP INTO SEPARATE ATOMS THOUGH THE ACTUAL PROCESS IS RATHER COMPLICATED AN OXYGEN ATOM MIGHT THEN STRIKE A HYDROGEN MOLECULE TO FORM WATER AND MORE ENERGY IS GIVEN OFF THAN WAS ABSORBED FROM THE MATCH FLAME THE TEMPERATURE GOES UP STILL HIGHER SO THAT FURTHER BREAK UP AMONG OXYGEN AND HYDROGEN MOLECULES IS ENCOURAGED THIS HAPPENS OVER AND OVER AGAIN SO THAT IN A VERY LITTLE TIME THE TEMPERATURE IS VERY HIGH AND THE HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN ARE COMBINING TO FORM WATER AT AN ENORMOUS RATE
large/12904/worldswithinworlds_v1-3_1904_librivox_64kb_mp3/worldswithinworlds_02_asimov_64kb
file
download/librilight/large/12904/worldswithinworlds_v1-3_1904_librivox_64kb_mp3/worldswithinworlds_02_asimov_64kb.flac