NextPrevious

Math in Engineering

Chemical Engineering

How is math used to understand chemical reactions?

One of the simplest examples of mathematics used in understanding chemical reactions is based on two chemicals, A and B (they can be molecules or ions). If A and B encounter one another, they can rearrange themselves into molecules or ions of two other substances: in this example, C and D. The reaction that takes place can give off or absorb energy, making the molecules move faster or slower. Although this is a simple example of what can happen in a chemical reaction, it can still be analyzed using mathematical modeling. For example, given starting amounts of A, B, C, and D molecules at time t = 0, what would the molecules be like at time t1 (or after a specific amount of time)? These and more complex chemical engineering questions can be answered using mathematical modeling.



Close

This is a web preview of the "The Handy Math Answer Book" app. Many features only work on your mobile device. If you like what you see, we hope you will consider buying. Get the App