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
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