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Speed of Reaction | GCE O Level Chemistry Notes (5070)

Speed of reaction is a very important topic in Chemistry and there are multiple concepts with which you should know to ace your exams.  Rate of reaction refers to the speed at which a chemical reaction proceeds (takes place) and this speed can vary dramatically.  The speed at which a chemical reaction takes place is mainly dependent upon two factors. Those are: Frequency of collisions :  The more often molecules collide with each other, the greater the rate of reaction.  The energy of collisions :  When the molecules strike each other with greater energy, the reaction proceeds faster. In other words, the forcefully the molecules collide, the greater will be the rate of reaction.  This was all about the introduction of this topic. Now, let's discuss some important concepts about this topic.  How do we measure the speed of a reaction:  To know the rate at which the reactants are utilised or the rate at which the products are formed, we can measure the time taken for the reaction to c

Electromagnetic Waves | GCE O Level Physics Notes (5054)

What do we mean by electromagnetic (EM) waves?  The electromagnetic waves (also known as EM waves) are formed as a result of the vibrations between the electric field and magnetic field.  In simple words, these are the waves of the electromagnetic field which make up a family of waves known as the electromagnetic spectrum.  The EM waves, such as radio , micro , ultraviolet and X-rays , propagate through space carrying electromagnetic radiant energy.  Let me further explain this with the help of an example. The light from a lamp in your house is a type of electromagnetic radiation. Similarly, the waves travelling from the radio station are also a type of electromagnetic radiation.  In the electromagnetic spectrum (refers to the range of frequencies of the electromagnetic radiations in order with their respective wavelengths), the EM waves are arranged in order of their frequencies and wavelengths.  Radio wave (which have the longest wavelength and the lowest frequency) is the first

Atmosphere and Environment | GCE O Level Notes (5070)

  The atmosphere and environment is a very important topic in GCE O level Chemistry (5070). There are multiple concepts in this chapter that need to be addressed.  Therefore, let's dive into the topic without further introductions and start from the very beginning of this chapter.  What is the atmosphere? Our earth is surrounded by a layer or layers of gases known as the atmosphere.  In other words, atmosphere refers to the layer of air that is held by gravity. You should know that without the atmosphere, there would be no life on earth.  But, why is that so? Let me explain that in detail.  The atmosphere is a protective layer that serves as a shield to the earth and protects it from the harmful radiations from the sun. This action ensures that an optimum temperature is maintained on earth.  In other words, due to the atmosphere, the climate of the earth is moderate and it is a major reason why life exists on the earth.  We discussed earlier that the earth's atmosphere is