Reef Chemistry Question of the Day

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

This is the first of hopefully many Reef Chemistry Questions of the Day.

Some will be easy, and some will be harder.

We'll start very hard, just for fun,

First question:

Some reefers dose vinegar, and some dose vodka to drive bacterial growth and reduce nutrients.

Considering just the primary organic molecule present in each, and ignoring the concentration/amount of water in each, which of these two organic molecules packs more energy per unit of weight when fully metabolized with oxygen to CO2 and water?

Good luck!

 

[whixley101]

Vinegar because it is buffered for the most part and does not precipitate as quickly?

 

[DFW]

I have a 50/50 chance at getting this right, so, I will say vinegar? (My experience with using just a little vinegar mixed in with lime water - I have used nothing but lime water for calcium, and alkalinity in the 5+ years of being in the hobby - did not seem to please some of my corals.)

Thank you, Randy!

 

[Keithcorals]

For the possibly ridiculous reason that I believe it has more calories I would go with vodka

Love the idea of chemistry trivia and looking forward to learning a thing or two

 

[Reefing Madness]

Vodka. Considering it takes take way less by volume to concentrate it in a tank to get Trates to fall.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Answer tomorrow, along with an explanation.

As a hint, at least one person has the right answer. :lol:

 

[redfishbluefish]

THis isn't a chemistry question, but a biochemistry question! The answer is vodka (ethanol), considering vinegar (acetic acid) could be the "end product" of ethanol metabolism.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Vodka...

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

THis isn't a chemistry question, but a biochemistry question! The answer is vodka (ethanol), considering vinegar (acetic acid) could be the "end product" of ethanol metabolism.

Biochemistry is just a subset of chemistry.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Biochemistry is just a subset of chemistry.

Some might argue it's a subset of biology! It was at the school I attended.

 

[badfinger]

Vodka only reason I assume that is you have to use like 8 times more vinegar to get the same impact.... on a separate note I believe I have read before you dose vinegar daily

 

[leptang]

Same, acetic acid (vingar) C2H4O2
Ethanol (vodka) C2H6O
Carbon may help also on reducing copper by binding Cu to Carbon. Different localities and depths in the ocean have different amounts and specific types of these organic materials present. Typical values for the total dissolved organic carbon are on the order of 1 ppm carbon for tropical surface seawater.6 Humic substances typically account for about 10-20 % of that total, and fulvic substances can account for more than 50%.

 

[leptang]

Same, acetic acid (vingar) C2H4O2
Ethanol (vodka) C2H6O
Carbon may help also on reducing copper by binding Cu to Carbon. Different localities and depths in the ocean have different amounts and specific types of these organic materials present. Typical values for the total dissolved organic carbon are on the order of 1 ppm carbon for tropical surface seawater.6 Humic substances typically account for about 10-20 % of that total, and fulvic substances can account for more than 50%.

Same as not getting any more C out of either there both C2 weight.

 

[brentsreef]

vodka, cause you use a lot less

 

[DRThompson]

The balanced equations, assuming I did this right.

Ethanol: 5 CH3CH2OH + 12 NO3 ---> 6 N2 + 10 CO2 + 9 H2O + 12 OH

Acetic Acid: 5 CH3COOH + 8 NO3 ---> 4 N2 + 10 CO2 + 7 H2O + 8 OH

I'd say Ethanol is the winner.

 

[Reefing Madness]

The balanced equations, assuming I did this right.

Ethanol: 5 CH3CH2OH + 12 NO3 ---> 6 N2 + 10 CO2 + 9 H2O + 12 OH

Acetic Acid: 5 CH3COOH + 8 NO3 ---> 4 N2 + 10 CO2 + 7 H2O + 8 OH

I'd say Ethanol is the winner.

Oh crap. I quit if I gotta start reading up on what this stuff is. WOW

 

[cope413]

I loved stoichiometry. If pchem wasn't from the devil, I wouldn't have changed majors. Following along for the answer/explanation...

 

[lionfish5740]

I'm wanting to say vinegar as a gut feeling and being too lazy to think about it.

 

[JOKER]

I say vinegar.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I loved stoichiometry. If pchem wasn't from the devil, I wouldn't have changed majors. Following along for the answer/explanation...

:lol:

Physical Chemistry was my favorite class of all in college.