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The Chemical Educator
ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)
Abstract Volume 15
(2010) pp 1-2
Molecules and Gravity
Igor Novak
Charles Sturt University, POB 883, Orange NSW 2800,
Australia, inovak@csu.edu.au
Received November 20, 2008. Accepted September
11, 2009.
Published: 9 January 2010
Abstract. We discuss the influence of gravitational forces on bulk molecular properties and intermolecular interactions. We show that the Earth’s gravitational field influences molecules to a much greater extent then the traditional intermolecular forces (ionic, ion-dipole, dipole-dipole and dipole-induced dipole). Nonetheless, the influence of gravitation on bulk properties e.g. boiling point elevation is negligible due to the cancellation effect which is due to the Earth’s size and flatness of gravitational potential in the vicinity of Earth surface.
Key Words: In the Classroom; phyiscal chemistry
(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: inovak@csu.edu.au)
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