Synthesis of colored superabsorbent polymer and its use to demonstrate convection currents in water by heating

Article Abstract:

Colored crosslinked polyacrylic acid can be synthesized for use as a teaching material for showing convection currents in heated water in chemistry classes. A radical initiator is required for polymerization of acrylic acid and ammonium peroxidisulfate with N, N, N', N'-tetraethylenediamine (TMEDA) is a convenient water-soluble initiator. The degree of cross-linking reduces the ability of the polymer to swell, but to be insoluble in water the chains must be cross-linked. To get a gel with density similar to that of water is important. Using very small amounts of inexpensive N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (MBAA) as a cross-linking agent is effective. To demonstrate water convection currents pieces of polymer are placed in a beaker of water which is warmed with a spirit lamp and then cooled so that the polymer gel goes up and down.

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The Japan card

Article Abstract:

Japan could play a crucial role in settling the regional Spratly Islands dispute between China and other Asian nations in the same way it did in 1968 with the Malacca Strait Council. While Japan is expressly neutral, it does have extensive interests in shipping and mining through the Spratlys just as it did in Malacca, and as then, the current dispute seems intractable. If the disputants approach Japan, it might be willing to set up a non-governmental organization to chart and oversee the development of the islands to the benefit of all concerned.

China, International aspects, Political aspects, Chinese foreign relations, Japanese foreign relations, Spratly Islands, Senkaku Islands

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Whaling: 17 countries protest to Japan

Article Abstract:

Seventeen countries have lodged a formal protest with the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture, asking the country to desist from carrying out lethal scientific research on whales. In the meanwhile, Greenpeace has convinced an Argentinian client of Nissui to stop buying products from the company because of its whaling operations.

Government domestic functions, International politics, Demonstrations and protests, International relations, Control, Whaling, Countries, Natural resource policy

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