CHE 205 Chemical Process Principles

Section 1: F&R, Chapters 23

Air Conditioner Sizing Exercise
On an uncomfortable summer day, the air is at 87oF and 80% relative humidity. A laboratory air
conditioner is to deliver 1000 ft3/min of air at 55oF in order to maintain the laboratory at an
average temperature of 75oF and a relative humidity of 40%. A stream of outside air is combined
with a recirculated laboratory air stream. The combined stream passes through a refrigeration
unit which cools it to a low enough temperature to condense the required amount of moisture,
and then reheats the dried air to 55oF and delivers it into the lab. The cooling duty, Q (Btu/min) ,
is the rate at which the refrigeration unit transfers energy from the air to accomplish the required
cooling and condensation. Your task is to calculate Q . (The answer determines how large an air
conditioner to order.)

(a) What quantities needed for this calculation are given in the process specifications? (Two
quantities on the list would be the temperature and relative humidity of the outside air; what are
the others?)

(b) What else would you need to determine to be able to calculate Q ?

(c) Outline how you would solve the problem.

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CHE 205 Chemical Process Principles

Section 1: F&R, Chapters 23

UNITS, CONVERSION FACTORS, AND DIMENSIONAL EQUATIONS (2.12.5)

What were going to do now you should have learned in high school or last year. Some of you know it,
most dont. Learn it and save hours of calculation time and avoid costly (in grades here, in dollars later)
and easily avoidable mistakes. (The Mars probe was lost because of a unit conversion error.)

Measured and counted quantities have dimensions (length, time, mass, length/time,) and
units (s, ft, kg, miles/h, ft/s2, kg/m3, artichokes, moose/mile2,)

In arithmetic operations, treat units like algebraic variables:

12 ft 7 ft 5 ft

(12 x 7 x 5 x)

12 ft 7 cm ???

(12 x 7 y ???)

5 ft 3 lb m = 15 ft lb m (5 x 3y = 15xy )
(3 sec) 2 9 sec 2 (3x)2 9 x 2
9.0 kg
3 (dimensionless quantity )
3.0 kg
55

miles
3 h 165 miles
h

x
55 3 y 165 x
y

Conversion factor: Ratio of a quantity to its equivalent in different units (= 1). Find ones
you dont know in the conversion factor table on the inside front cover of the text.
Convert (150.0 ft) to cm:

150.0 ft

________ cm (150.0)(________)

cm 4572 cm
________ ft
(________)

Dimensional equations. To convert a quantity from one set of units to another, use a
dimensional equation. Start with the quantity youre given & multiply by conversion factors
to replace old units with new ones.

Convert 0.02562 g in/min 2 to ton miles/wk 2

0.02562 g in
min

_________ ton
_________ g

4.5288176 105

____ ft
____ in

_____ mile ______ min 2

_______ ft

______ h

___________

_________

__________

_____ wk 2

ton miles
ton miles
4.529 105
2
wk
wk 2

Why four significant figures? In multiplication & division, sig. figs. in result = lowest number of sig.
figs. in any of the terms being multiplied & divided. Read Sect. 2.5a, & obey the ruleslose points if
you dont.

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CHE 205 Chemical Process Principles

Section 1: F&R, Chapters 23
PROCESSES AND PROCESS VARIABLES (Felder & Rousseau, Ch. 3)

Process Unit

Process Unit

Inputs
Outputs

Here we have feed (input) and product (output) from the big box (process). Inside the box (process)
you have individual boxes (processes) with their own inputs and outputs.
Consider a familiar system: A car

What do we want to know about these streams? Temperature, pressure, volumetric flow, mass flow,
chemical composition. Some will be given, others we will measure, but many we will calculate.

Mass flows we get from mass balance (CHE 205)

Heating, cooling requirements we get from energy balance (CHE 205)
What happens in the boxes (modeling, designing, sizing, and costing unit operations) the rest of
the chemical engineering curriculum.

Often we will have to convert from something that is easy to measure to something that is useful.
Examples include:

Volume to ____________________
Mass to ______________________

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CHE 205 Chemical Process Principles

Section 1: F&R, Chapters 23
Consider this simple case study: You mix 100 g of water with 100 mL of methanol into a container at
25 C. Draw and label this process below:

How much mass is in the container? We could measure it (on a balance), but you can also calculate it.
We need a way to relate volume to mass: ______________.
Density: Ratio of mass to volume. Density is a conversion factor between mass and volume (or between
mass flow rate & volumetric flow rate of a process stream)

M (l ) = 0.792 kg/L (= 0.792 g/cm3 = 49.44 lbm/ft3) [Note: M is methanol, and l in M(l) means liquid]

Liquid and solid densities vary slightly with temperature, almost not at all with pressure. Gas
densities depend heavily on both T and P. Look up a liquid or solid density at one T & P, use at
another set of conditions without introducing much error.

Specific gravity (SG): Ratio of density of a species to the density of a reference species, usually liquid
water at 4oC and 1 atm. (What about gases? Use Equation of State, covered in Ch. 5).
SG

ref

where ref =1.000 g/cm3 = 1000. kg/m3 = 62.43 lbm/ft3

(3.1-2)

Look up SG for liquids and solids at 20oC & 1 atm in Table B.1, use values to estimate density at any
T and P.
Melting point at 1 atm

Boiling point at 1 atm

The following entries come from Table B.1 of F&R.

Compound
Methyl alcohol
(Methanol)
Water

Formula

Mol. Wt.

SG(20o/4o)

Tm(oC)

Tb(oC)

CH3OH

32.04

0.792

97.9

64.7

0.00

100.00

H2O

18.016

1.00

4o

Q: What is the mass of 100 mL of methanol at 25oC?

A: First, methanol must be a liquid at 25oC because _______________________________________.

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CHE 205 Chemical Process Principles

Section 1: F&R, Chapters 23

Then m MeOH

100 mL

_________ g
_________ mL

Q: That value is probably an overestimate of mmethanol. Why?

A: ______________________________________________________________________________

(Hint: What probably happens to methanol as T rises, and what did we assume in the calculation?)
Q: How much mass is in the original container (water + methanol)?
A: ______________________________________
Q: What is VH 2O (ft3/s) of a stream of liquid water whose molar flow rate is 2.17x103 kmol/h?
VH 2O

2.17 103 kmol

0.383

How much volume is in the container? This is tougher because volume is not _________________
Non-additivity of liquid volumes. Going back to our case study, lets generically call water A and
methanol B and when they are together, it forms a solution T (for total).

mA(kg)
nA(mol)
VA (L)

For the mixture, mT = mA + mB

nT = nA + nB
but

mT(kg)
nT(mol)
VT (L)

mB(kg)
nB(mol)
VB (L)

(law of conservation of mass)

(provided only that A and B dont react and neglecting evaporation)

VT VA + VB (volumes of liquids are not additive, although its usually close)

Compound
Methyl alcohol
(Methanol)

m(g)

Mol. Wt.

79

32.04

Water

100

18.016

Mixture

179

MW

n(mol)

(kg/L)

0.792

1.004

V(mL)

100
o

100
210

200

If you dont have density data for a liquid mixture, assume volume additivity of the components.

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ft 3
s

CHE 205 Chemical Process Principles

Section 1: F&R, Chapters 23
How many mols are in the container? Like mass, mols are also additive, so just calculate the mols of
water and mols of methanol, and add them!
First, why do we care about mols? ______________________________________________________
Molecular weight: Sum of atomic weights of the atoms of a molecule (12C has A.W. = 12.0000....)
Values in table reflect mixture of isotopes found in nature.
Mole: Amount of a species whose mass is numerically equal to its molecular weight.

1 g-mole CH3OH (or 1 mol CH3OH) = 32.04 g CH3OH (= 6.02x1023 molecules of CH3OH)
1 lb-mole CH3OH = 32.04 lbm CH3OH
1 kg-mol CH3OH (or 1 kmol CH3OH) = 32.04 kg CH3OH = 1000 mol CH3OH

Molecular weight is a conversion factor between mass and moles.

32.04 g CH3OH
1 mol CH3OH

32.04 kg CH3OH
1 kmol CH3OH

32.04 lb m CH3OH
1 lb-mole CH3OH

etc.

Q: How many mols of methanol are there (in the case study)?
A: ______________________________________

Q: How many mols of water are there (in the case study)?
A: ______________________________________

Q: How many total mols are there in the container (in the case study)?
A: ______________________________________

Q: How many lb-mols of water are there (in the case study)?
A: ______________________________________

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CHE 205 Chemical Process Principles

Section 1: F&R, Chapters 23
What is the composition of the liquid in the container (case study)?
Mass fraction, Mole fraction, Concentration

For the liquid mixture in the example above:

Mass fraction: x M

79.2 g CH3OH
g CH 3OH
lb CH 3OH
kg CH 3OH
0.44
0.44 m
0.44
179 g
g
lb m
kg

Mole fraction: y M

2.47 mol CH 3OH

kmol CH 3OH
lb-mol CH 3OH
0.31
0.31
8.02 mol mixture
kmol
lb-mol

Concentration: C M

2.47 mol CH 3OH

mol CH 3OH
11.8
0.210 L mixture
L

The denominator units of the mass and mole fractions (g, mol) always refer to the total mixture
The mixture contains 44.0 wt% CH3OH (44% w/w, 44% by mass) and 31.0 mole% CH3OH. The
molarity of methanol in the mixture is 11.8
The mass fractions of all components of a mixture must add up to 1.000. So must the mole fractions.
If you know all but one, you can calculate the last one by difference (yW = 1yM = 0.69)
Before leaving Chapter 3, be sure you know how to calculate mole fractions from known mass
fractions & vice versa; the definition of average molecular weight of a mixture, and how to calculate
it. (See Examples 3.3-3 and 3.3-4.)
Mole and mass fractions are dimensionless, but not unitless.

What is the average molecular weight in the container (case study)? The average molecular weight is
the sum of the molecular weights of the mixture weighted by their mol fractions. Calculate it below:

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CHE 205 Chemical Process Principles

Section 1: F&R, Chapters 23
What if you needed to convert between mole and mass fractions? Lets stick with the case study:

In either case, you can assume some total mass (or total mole) because mole and mass fractions are
independent of the total amount (we call these properties intensive, as discussed later).

Q: Assuming 1000 g of liquid in the container, calculate the mole fractions knowing that the mass
fraction of methanol is 0.44.

Q: Would your answer change if you assumed 20 g of liquid in the container?

Q: Assuming 1000 mole of liquid in the container, calculate the mass fractions knowing that the mole
fraction of methanol is 0.31.

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CHE 205 Chemical Process Principles

Section 1: F&R, Chapters 23
What is the force exerted by the liquid (case study) on the bottom of the container?

Mass and weight. Go through Sect. 2.4 carefully. Make sure you can do the Test Yourself on p. 13
without looking up the answers.
o

Force = _______ x ___________

How much force results from gravity acting on the liquid?

F = 0.179 kg x _________________ =

For convenience, we define the unit N (1 N = 1 kg m/s2)

Likewise, we define the unit (1 lbf = 32.174 lbm ft / s2)

This conversion factor is often called gc which converts between natural and derived
force units. Dont confuse it with the gravitational constant, g. If you are having trouble
getting your units to come out right, you may have forgotten to use gc.

1 2
1

or

Note the difference between lbm (a mass unit) and lbf (a force unit). When you use the
word pounds be sure to know which you are talking about.

Archimedes Principle: The mass of a floating object equals the mass of the fluid displaced by that
object.

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CHE 205 Chemical Process Principles

Section 1: F&R, Chapters 23
What is the pressure exerted by the liquid (case study) on the bottom of the container?
Fluid Pressure (3.4)

A container of a fluid of density (kg/m3) has height h(m) and cross-sectional area A(m2). A uniform
pressure Po(N/m2) is exerted on the upper surface of the fluid.
Po(N/m2)

A(m2)

(kg/m3)

h(m)
2

P(N/m )

Q: How much does the fluid weigh? (Let g denote the acceleration of gravity.)
A:

Wf = ______________________________________________________

Q: What is the pressure exerted by the fluid on the bottom surface of the generic container?
A: Let Fo and F be the forces exerted on the top and bottom surfaces. Then
P

F
1
1

[ Fo (N) W f (N)] [__________________]

A A (m 2 )
A

P Po gh

(3.4-1)

Q: What is the pressure exerted by the fluid on the bottom surface of the container (case study) assuming
the container is a cylinder with a radius of 1 cm?
A:

Q: What would we need to know about the fluid to determine its height in the container?
A:

Pressure expressed as a head of fluid. Using Eq. 3.4-1, you can express any pressure as a head of a
particular fluid with known density ()that is, the height (h) of a column of that fluid with a surface
pressure of zero (Po = 0). So, for example, a pressure of 14.7 lbf/in2 can also be expressed as a head of
mercury (specific gravity = 13.6).

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CHE 205 Chemical Process Principles

Section 1: F&R, Chapters 23
h(mm) =

g
14.7 lb f
in

______ in 2
1 ft

ft 3
13.6 _______ lb m

_______ ft/s

_______ lb m ft / s 2

_____ mm

1 lb f

______ ft

= 760 mm Hg (= 760 torr )

Conversion factors for pressure (including the one just calculated) are given in the inside front cover
of the book.

Atmospheric pressure (or barometric pressure): The earths atmosphere can be considered a very tall
column of fluid (air). The pressure at the bottom of that column is atmospheric pressure. At sea level,
Patm is typically on the order of 760 mm Hg (or 760 torr). By definition, 760 torr = 1 atm.
Questions:

Would atmospheric pressure at a ski resort be greater or less than atmospheric pressure at sea
level? Explain your answer.

Suppose you are given the height of the atmosphere. Why cant you use P = Po + gh to calculate
atmospheric pressure?

Absolute pressure and gauge pressure. The absolute pressure of a fluid is its pressure relative to a
perfect vacuum (P = 0). The gauge pressure is its pressure relative to atmospheric pressure; that is,
the absolute pressure minus atmospheric pressure (that atmospheric pressure can be any value and is
not limited to 1 atm) . It is called gauge because many pressure gauges, such as the Bourdon gauge
shown on p. 57 of the text, are calibrated to read 0 when P = Patm.) Thus
Pgauge = Pabsolute Patm

Sometimes you will see lbf/in2 units written as psia (pounds per square inch absolute) or psig (pounds per
square inch gauge).
As an analogy, suppose you are 6 tall and your friend is 62 tall. You could either say your friend is
62 tall, or that he is 2 taller than you (his gauge height compared to you is 2). Either way, it doesnt
change his actual height, just the way you report it. Gauge pressure is just a convenient way of reporting
pressure inside closed containers.
Unless you are told otherwise, assume that given pressures are absolute.

Work through the Test Yourself on p. 56.

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CHE 205 Chemical Process Principles

Section 1: F&R, Chapters 23
Q: The absolute pressure of a gas on a sunny day is 3.67 atm. A low pressure storm comes up. If the
conditions in the gas cylinder remain unchanged, does the absolute pressure of the gas increase,
decrease, or remain the same? What about the gauge pressure?

Manometers are useful and simple instruments for measuring pressure visually. Sketch and label a
general manometer (see Fig. 3.4-5)

What is the pressure at point (a)?

What is the pressure at point (b)?
If you equate the pressures at (a) and (b), you get the general manometer equation:

What happens if fluid 1 and 2 are the same?

What happens if one of the ends of manometer is sealed?

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CHE 205 Chemical Process Principles

Section 1: F&R, Chapters 23

What happens if fluid 1 or 2 is a gas at moderate pressure?

What happens if both fluids are gases?

What if P1 and P2 are expressed in units of heads of manometer fluid (i.e. mm Hg or m H2O)?

Example: A cylindrical tank is filled with methylethyl ketone (MEK) up to a height of 2.78 ft. The
tank is open to the atmosphere and has a diameter of
4.00 feet. An open-end mercury manometer is attached
to the side of the tank. Assume the atmospheric
pressure is 1 atm.

a) What is the absolute pressure on the bottom

surface of the tank (in psia)?

b) What is the gauge pressure on the bottom surface of the tank (in psig)?

c) What is the gauge pressure on the bottom surface of the tank (in ft MEK)?

d) Suppose the distance d1 is equal to one foot. What reading would you expect on the manometer (h, in
mm Hg)?

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CHE 205 Chemical Process Principles

Section 1: F&R, Chapters 23

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CHE 205 Chemical Process Principles

Section 1: F&R, Chapters 23
Temperature (3.5)

To convert a temperature in one unit to an equivalent unit:

T(K) = T(oC) + 273.15
T(oR) = T(oF) + 459.67
T(oR) = 1.8 T(K)
T(oF) = 1.8 T(oC) + 32
To convert one temperature interval to another temperature interval, use the following conversion factors:

1.8o F 1.8o R 1o F 1o C
,
,
,
1K 1o R 1K
1o C

Before leaving Chapter 3, be sure you know

how a manometer works, and how to derive and use Eqs. (3.4-5) (3.4-7).

the difference between a temperature of 20oC and a temperature interval of 20oC; how to convert
both temperatures and temperature intervals among the four most common temperature scales.

For an excellent practice problem and a good head start on Chapter 4, see Problem 3.29 in the
Student Workbook.

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CHE 205 Chemical Process Principles

Section 1: F&R, Chapters 23
We wont cover this in class since it should be review, but you may find it helpful:
PROCESS DATA REPRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS (2.7)

The operation of a chemical plant is based on the measurement of process variables temperatures,
pressures, flowrates, concentrations, etc. To a process engineer, a process is defined as the set of all
those variables.

Sometimes possible to measure directly, but more often we must relate one variable to another that is
easier to measure. We might do some kind of calibration experiment from which we can develop an
equation relating one variable to another.

Example: Set values of CA (say, a concentration of a salt A in an aqueous solution, mg/mL), measure
corresponding values of something thats easy to measure [say, (S/cm) the electrical conductivity of
the solution]. (S = Siemen = 1/Ohm.)
CA
4.62
12.4
...
...
...

Conductivity
meter

Solution:
Known
amounts of A and H2O
CA (mg A/L)

10.0
28.5

...
...

Plot CA vs. (calibration plot). Then, measure for solutions with unknown salt concentration, use
calibration plot to determine CA.
Possibilities:
(a)

(b)

CA

CA

(c)

CA

If (a) or (b), our life is easy and we have a straightforward linear relationship.
CA = a + b
which is much more convenient than a curve for converting to CAcalculator, spreadsheet, computer
If its (c) but we straight-line it anyway, when do we run into trouble? When we get outside the range of
our data. Interpolation versus extrapolation. Betterfind a nonlinear function that fits the curvature of
the data. (Extrapolation still risky.)

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CHE 205 Chemical Process Principles

Section 1: F&R, Chapters 23

Suppose we are lucky and the data appears linear. Plot CA vs. , draw line through data.
Two points on line are ( = 10.0, CA = 5.00) & ( = 310.0, CA = 205). Note: were not picking two of the
data points and drawing a line through them --- we are drawing a line through the data and picking two
points on the line we have drawn.
(2 = 310.0, CA2 = 205.00)

200

CA
100
(1 = 10.0, CA1 = 5.00)

100

300

200

Derive an expression for CA(). (See Eqs. 2.7-2, 2.7-3, and 2.7-4 on p. 24 of Felder text book)

Aqueous solutions are drawn from two process vessels and analyzed. Their electrical conductivities
are found to be a = 200 S/cm and b = 550 S/cm. Estimate the salt concentrations in both vessels.

Which of your two estimates would you have least confidence in, and why? Speculate on whether
your value is an underestimate or an overestimate, and explain your reasoning.

Suppose the salt concentration of the first solution is determined by chemical analysis, and it is found
to be significantly different from the value you determined. Think of at least five possible
explanations for the discrepancy.

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CHE 205 Chemical Process Principles

Section 1: F&R, Chapters 23
NONLINEAR DATA (2.7c,d)

Data is not always linear, but sometimes we can plot it in a different way to make it linear. Linear plots
are convenient for fitting (to get slope & intercept), interpolation, and ease of use.
The key concept is to get a general expression:
(What you plot on vertical axis) = SLOPE x (What you plot on horizontal axis) + INTERCEPT
Lets try y = ax3 + b. A plot of y vs. x is non-linear, but a plot of y vs. x3 should be a straight line with
slope a & intercept b. (Why?)

x
0
1
2
3

y
1
2
9
28

x3
0
1
8
27

Slope =
x

x3

Intercept =
Equation:

Example

Sometimes we have to rearrange an equation to get it in a linear form. Suppose we have nonlinear (x,y)
data, and we have reason to believe that they are related through the equation

sin y nx my
where n and m are constants (adjustable parameters). Questions: (1) Does that relationship fit our data?
(2) If it does, what are the best values of n and m?
Task: Rearrange the equation into a form f(x,y) = ag(x,y) + b, plot f vs. g. If linear, original equation is
valid. Determine a and b from plot, use to calculate m and n.

How about (sin y my) = nx, plot (sin y my) vs. x, if linear then slope = n?
Wont work, because _____________________________________________

Solution:
x
sin y
sin y nx my
n m
y
y

f(x,y)

g(x,y)

...
...
...
...

...
...
...
...

sin y

...
...
...
...

...
...
...
...

sin y
y

x/ y

Conclusion: Function is correct, n = slope of line, m = intercept

Work through Test Yourself on p. 27. For additional practice, work through Problem 2.31 in the
Student Workbook and check your solutions in the back.

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CHE 205 Chemical Process Principles

Section 1: F&R, Chapters 23
SWITCHING VARIABLES IN EQUATIONS and PLOTS

Suppose you have a function shown below, where V (cm3) and t (min):

V = 2t3

What are the units of 2 and 3?

How would you plot this to make it linear? What would be the slope and intercept?

Suppose the equation represents the volume of a balloon V (cm3) as you blow it up over time (min).
Some data are below:
t (min)

T (sec)

V (cm3)

16

3
If you wanted to get an expression in terms of seconds instead of minutes, the temptation would be to do
the following:

V = 2 (t

)3

Why is this NOT correct?

Instead, define a new variable T (sec), instead of t (min). These are related by T = t * 60 (sec/min). If
we plug this into the original equation, we get:

Another option is to convert the units of the coefficients, e.g. convert all minutes in all the coefficients
into seconds.

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CHE 205 Chemical Process Principles

Section 1: F&R, Chapters 23
EXPONENTIAL AND POWER LAW FUNCTIONS (Section 2.7d)

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CHE 205 Chemical Process Principles

Section 1: F&R, Chapters 23
Example. A toxic waste product from a chemical process, A, is treated in a holding tank with a bacterial
agent that causes it to decompose.
Effluent from plant
High CA

Discharge to sewer

Tank

Low CA

Bacteria

The initial concentration of A in the tank is CA0 = 10.0 mol A/liter. Samples are frequently drawn from
the reactor and analyzed for A, leading to the following data:

0
1
2
3
4
5
6

mol A

CA

10

10.0
6.1
3.7
2.2
1.3
0.8
0.5

CA(mol/L)

t(min)

8
6
4
2
0

4
t (min)

We want to determine an expression for CA(t) so we can determine the holding time required for the A to
fall below its safe value of 0.001 mol/L.
Curve looks like an exponential decay, so lets try C A aebt (expect b to be negative).

C A aebt ln(C A ) ln a bt
Plot ln C A vs. t. If plot is linear, assumption is correct, slope = b, intercept = ln a
Rectangular plot

ln C A

10.0
6.1
3.7
2.2
1.3
0.80
0.50

2.303
1.808
1.308
0.788
0.262
0.223
0.693

(t1=0, CA1=10.0)
10

2.0

1.0

or
2

CA

0
1
2
3
4
5
6

[(t1=0, ln(CA1)=2.303)]

mol A
CA

ln(CA)

t(min)

Semilog plot

3
2
1

0.5

1.0
[(t2=5, ln(CA2)=0.223)]

(t2=5, CA2=0.80)

logarithmic axis

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CHE 205 Chemical Process Principles

Section 1: F&R, Chapters 23

Rectangular:
What would you plot versus what?
How do you calculate the slope and intercept?

What is the final equation for CA?

Semilog:
What would you plot versus what?

Calculate the slope and intercept:

What is the final equation for CA?

How long will it take for CA to drop to 0.001 mol A/L?

Q: What could go wrong with this waste treatment process?

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Richard M. Felder, Lisa G. Bullard, and Michael D. Dickey (2014)

CHE 205 Chemical Process Principles

Section 1: F&R, Chapters 23

1. Hypothetical data:

X-Y on Rectangular Coordinates

6.0

0.5

0.2

0.5

1.4

2.0

2.6

1.0

4.0

5.6

5.0

4.0
3.0

Non-linear!

0.0
0

2. You believe the data has a power law relationship

y a xb

ln y ln a b ln x

3. If true, two approaches will produce linear fits:

ln y ln( y )

(i) Change both axis

Y vs. X on

2
1
In both b

ln x2 ln x1
cases:

Log Plot

ln Y vs. ln X on Rectangular Plot

ln Y

10.0

1.0
Y

-1.00

0.1
0.1

(i) Change the data

10

2.00
1.50
1.00
0.50
0.00
-0.50 -0.500.00
-1.00
-1.50
-2.00

0.50

ln X

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Richard M. Felder, Lisa G. Bullard, and Michael D. Dickey (2014)

1.00

1.50

2.00

CHE 205 Chemical Process Principles

Section 1: F&R, Chapters 23
Exercise: A photometric detector sensitive to the concentration of A gives a reading R. In a calibration
experiment, values of R for known values of CA are measured. A log plot of the calibration data appears
linear. A line drawn through the data passes through the two points labeled below.

CA(mol/L)

10

(R1=2.7, CA1=0.75)

(R2=38, CA2=4.7)

10

100

Derive an expression for CA(R).

Solution:

The plot shown is equivalent to a rectangular plot of ______________ vs. ________________

The form of the equation of the rectangular plot is _____________ = ____________ + ln a

The form of the desired expression is therefore CA = aRb

The exponent b is calculated as ___________________________________________________

The intercept ln a is ________________________________________

o

a = ____________________________

The final expression is CA = _____________________________________________________

Work through Test Yourself on p. 29. For additional practice, work through Problems 2.32 and 2.38
in the Student Workbook.

Read Section 2.7e and Appendix A.1 on the Method of Least Squares.

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Richard M. Felder, Lisa G. Bullard, and Michael D. Dickey (2014)