Molecular reformation

Molecular reformation, following deformation by an external force, is time-de-pendent (Fig. 9). An external force exerted briefly and quickly, causes a viscoelastic substance to go out of shape for a short time only, allowing the substance to regain its shape as soon as the force is removed. If force is applied more slowly, the viscoelastic molecules gradually adapt to the new form. This relationship is easily seen in the following two models which also take into account the direction of the external force ... 

The initial process for molecular conversion was thermal reforming (late 1920s). Thermal reforming at 950 - 1050 F and 600 psi produced gasolines of 70 to 80 octane and heavy naphthas less than 40 octane. Products were olefins, diolefins, and aromatic compounds that were unstable in storage and tended to form heavy polymers and gums, which caused combustion problems. 

Increasing the octane number of a low-octane naphtha fraction is achieved by changing the molecular structure of the low octane number components. Many reactions are responsible for this change, such as the dehydrogenation of naphthenes and the dehydrocyclization of paraffins to aromatics. Catalytic reforming is considered the key process for obtaining benzene, toluene, and xylenes (BTX). These aromatics are important intermediates for the production of many chemicals. 

As the molecular weight of the hydrocarbon increases (lower H/C feed ratio), the H2/CO product ratio decreases. The H2/CO product ratio is approximately 3 for methane, 2.5 for ethane, 2.1 for heptane, and less than 2 for heavier hydrocarbons. Noncatalytic partial oxidation of hydrocarbons is also used to produce synthesis gas, but the H2/CO ratio is lower than from steam reforming ... 

Because of their cyclic structures, cycloalkanes have two faces as viewed edge-on, a "top" face and a "bottom" face. As a result, isomerism is possible in substituted cycloalkanes. For example, there are two different 1,2-dimethyl-cyclopropane isomers, one with the two methyl groups on the same face of the ring and one with the methyls on opposite faces (Figure 4.2). Both isomers are stable compounds, and neither can be converted into the other without breaking and reforming chemical bonds. Make molecular models to prove this to yourself. 

Trinuclear carbonyls have been studied with the anticipation that the retention would prove to be in some way inversely related to the molecular complexity. The values obtained were surprisingly high, despite careful chemical purification, as is shown in Table 10. It was suggested that the reformation mechanism must involve exchange reactions during and after the hot zone, starting with M(CO)4, as building blocks . 

Combining these arguments with the observation that extensive Auger charging evidently leads to total and usually permanent molecular destruction, it can thus be concluded that molecule survival or reformation is observed to some extent when the initial species is a single atom... 

The frequent breaking and reforming of the labile intermolecular interactions stabilizing the reversed micelles maintain in thermodynamic equilibrium a more or less wide spectrum of aggregates differing in size and/or shape whose relative populations are controlled by some internal (nature and shape of the polar group and of the apolar molecular moiety of the amphiphile, nature of the apolar solvent) and external parameters (concentration of the amphiphile, temperature, pressure) [11], The tendency of the surfactants to form reversed micelles is, obviously, more pronounced in less polar solvents. 

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