Mutual neutralisation

Formation of electrostatic complexes means mutual neutralisation of the macro-molecular reactant. This mutual neutralization of opposite charges and formation of the concentrated complex coacervate phase, minimizes the electrostatic free energy and reduces both the hydrophilicity and the solubility of the resultant complex. The loss of entropy on complexing may be compensated by the enthalpy contribution from interactions between macro-ions and by liberation of counter-ions and water molecules. 

Some modified zeolites have both acid and base sites in close proximity to one another. This is possible without mutual neutralisation because the sites are separated and immobilised on the solid surface. The combination of these sites can lead to reactions which will not proceed in purely acidic or purely basic systems. Some examples of what may be achieved are shown in Figure 16.3. 

A bucket containing 25% sodium hydroxide solution was used to catch and neutralise bromine dripping from a leak. Lack of stirring allowed a layer of unreacted bromine to form below the alkali. Many hours later, a violent eruption occurred when the layers were disturbed dining disposal operations. Continuous stirring is essential to prevent stratification of slowly reacting mutually insoluble liquids, especially of such differing densities. 

Iodic Acid.—Iodic acid is a white crystalline compound, easily soluble in water it is a strong acid, and its salts are produced by neutralisation with hydroxides or carbonates. When it is mixed in solution with hydriodic acid, mutual decomposition ensues and iodine is liberated HIOs.Aq+sHI.Aq=3l2 + 3H2O.Aq. 

Acids and bases unite together, and the characteristic properties of both disappear. They are said mutually to neutr ise each other, and the resulting compound is called a salt. If neither the acid nor base be in excess, the salt is a neutral salt if the acid predominate, it is called an acid salt, or a super-salt, and if the base prevail, it is called a basic salt, or a sub-salt. The salt is named from both the ingredients. Thus, when sulphuric acid neutralises soda, the resulting salt is called the sulphate of soda when phosphoric acid unites with lime, the acid being in excess, the salt is called acid phosphate of lime, or superphosphate of lime and when nitric acid unites with oxide of mercury, the latter being in excess, the compound is called basic nitrate of mercury, or subnitrate of mercury. 

Berzelius mentions the dynamic system of some German philosophers, that matter is the result of the opposite tendencies of an attractive force and a repulsive force the first, if it could completely overcome the second, would reduce all matter in the universe to a mathematical point. The elements at the moment of their chemical combination mutually penetrate one another, the result being a neutralisation of their chemical properties. This would, says Berzelius, not allow the doctrine of chemical proportions to be foreseen, and this is a special advantage of the atomic theory. He referred this view to a... 

According to Berthellot, when substances of definite composition are formed, they are either (i) the result of a mutual saturation of an acid by a base, when the powers of each are just neutralised in a certain proportion (the change of reaction proceeding continuously) or (2) they are, exceptionally, due to the interference of other manifestations of the physical forces, such as (a) cohesion, when a precipitate of definite composition is formed because it happens to have the maximum density, or (b) elasticity, when a gaseous product is formed which escapes from the system, and as the most volatile product is favoured in the reaction. Solutions were regarded as true chemical compounds of variable composition. Salts crystallise out in a neutral state because in that neutral state the insolubility is greatest. ... 

In soap, the hydrophobic group is a relatively long aliphatic hydrocarbon radical the carboxyl group, characteristic of acids and neutralised with an alkali, acts as the hydrophilic group. In order to obtain new surfactants with improved properties, these two groups are varied, at first empirically and then systematically. The hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts of the surfactant molecule are in a balanced mutual relationship. Depending on the molecular structure, the character of the... 

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