Hi Allen:

Although I am good at mathematics, I am not very good at arithmetic. Take 
the following with a grain of salt!

Molecular Weight of  Oxalic acid           =   90 gm

Molecular Weight of  Water                 =   18 gm

Molecular weight of  Oxalic acid dehydrate =  90+ 2x18 = 126 gm

In two grams of OA dihydrate there are:

90/126 x 2gm = 1.4286 gm of OA

36/126 x 2gm = .5714  gm of water

Volume of 1 Molecular Weight of vapour is 22.4 litres

Volume of 1.4286 gm of OA vapour   =  1.4286gm/90gm x 22.4 litre = .36 
litres

Volume of .5714 gm of water vapour  =  .5714gm/ 18gm x 22.4 litre = .71 
litres


In the actual process, the two water molecules separate and are boiled off 
first. This keeps the temperature at 100 deg C. When the water is all boiled 
off the temperature of the remaining oxalic rises to the sublimation 
temperature.

One way to check the mode of action would be to put a sample of mites in a 
jar that has had OA sublimated into it and see how they react to the fine 
crystals on the glass. Compare with a similar sample of mites in a jar into 
which the OA is subsequently sublimated.
                                    Best regards

                                    Donald Aitken

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html

Guidelines for posting to BEE-L can be found at:
http://honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm