Where does potential energy go when exposed to acid?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the fate of potential energy in various scenarios involving materials exposed to acid. Participants explore theoretical and practical implications of potential energy in compressed springs, magnets, and charged capacitors when subjected to corrosive environments, seeking to understand the energy transformations at a microscopic level.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes a scenario with a compressed iron spring in acid, questioning where the potential energy goes when the spring dissolves.
  • Another case involves magnets with a repulsive force, raising similar questions about the potential energy when one magnet is melted in acid.
  • A third case discusses a charged capacitor and the energy stored in its dielectric medium, questioning the conservation of energy when the capacitor plates are destroyed.
  • Some participants note that metals do not melt in acid but dissolve, which may affect the understanding of energy loss.
  • One participant suggests that stress corrosion cracking may release potential energy from the spring before it completely dissolves.
  • There is a discussion about the energy required to pull apart charged plates in a Leyden jar, indicating that additional energy input may lead to temperature increases beyond theoretical predictions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the mechanisms of energy transformation and the implications of dissolving materials in acid. There is no consensus on the ultimate fate of potential energy in these scenarios, and multiple competing perspectives remain unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the need for careful consideration of practical versus theoretical aspects, including the effects of stress corrosion and the nature of energy transformations in chemical processes.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying energy transformations in physical systems, particularly in the context of chemistry and materials science.

suhagsindur
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Case:1 I have one iron spring. I compress it gives potential energy E= ½* K*x2 & bind it by glass wire which is not melted in acid. Now I put this spring in acid & it melted completely, So where the potential energy gone?

Case:2 I put one magnet in glass vessel & hold it in vessel by some mechanical means. I put another magnet outside of vessel in such a way that there is a repulsive force between them & so both magnet possesses potential energy w.r.t. each other. Now I pour acid in vessel & magnet inside vessel is melted, So where the potential energy gone?

Case:3 I charge capacitor & break it. Both the charged plate taking outside carefully so it not get discharged. Previously the energy which is in the dielectric media, now where is that energy? If I destroy both the plate of capacitor by throwing it into acid OR furnace, How the energy will conserve which I have given to charge the capacitor?
Please for giving answer take suitable acid & material.
Please give explanation from microscopic point of view also, so I can understand better.
 
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Final temperatures of solutions should differ.

Case 3: was it easy to pull the plate apart?

Note: metal doesn't melt in acid, it dissolves.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
suhagsindur said:
Case:1 I have one iron spring. I compress it gives potential energy E= ½* K*x2 & bind it by glass wire which is not melted in acid. Now I put this spring in acid & it melted completely, So where the potential energy gone?
Borek is correct theoretically, but from a practical standpoint you will get stress corrosion cracking which will break the spring and mechanically release the remaining potential energy long before it dissolves.
 
DaleSpam said:
break the spring and mechanically release the remaining potential energy

Heating the solution :-p
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Borek said:
Final temperatures of solutions should differ.

Case 3: was it easy to pull the plate apart?

Note: metal doesn't melt in acid, it dissolves.

If I make leyden jar apparatus in which outside metal plate is there & inside water or metal plate & then charge this jar. Now it is easy to pull apart both the charged media with some care.
 
Hello, Borek, Dalespam.
Thank you for giving reply.
 
suhagsindur said:
If I make leyden jar apparatus in which outside metal plate is there & inside water or metal plate & then charge this jar. Now it is easy to pull apart both the charged media with some care.

You have missed the point. You need to apply some force to pull apart charged plate, don't you? It is not different from pulling apart two charges.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
OK, it required force to pull apart & this additional energy which I give plate to pull apart is giving higher increase in temperature then theoretical calculation in which I only take electrical energy for calculation of rise in temp.
thank you.
 

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