Chemistry in High Pressure Environments, Research Paper Example

The study of chemicals and elements under high pressure is interesting and complex, and while many years’ worth of research has been conducted since high-pressure environments were able to be simulated, there are still many questions regarding how pressure relates to chemical properties. What has been found, however, is interesting and unpredictable in some cases.

Synthesizing environments that allow for the high pressures necessary to influence chemical properties of elements is no easy task. While there are many types of apparatuses that can be used for achieving higher pressure than atmospheric pressure, there are fewer that can achieve incredibly high pressures; one of those select few, however, is the D-DIA Apparatus (Burnley 5). The Rotational Drickamer Apparatus is another high-pressure potential apparatus that have ability to “mimic strains in the earth” in order to help with applicable predictions regarding earth (7). John Francis Cannon writes of several potential errors in measuring the amount of pressure placed on elements, specifying that friction between the piston and cylinder needs to be adjusted out before any official pressure recordings can be responsibly made (783).

When pure elements are influenced by high pressures, not only do their lattice properties and molecular structure change, their chemical properties are oftentimes adjusted (Schilling, Hillier, and Foroozani 4). For example, in their experiments with boron under high pressures, Oganov et al. found that higher pressures change phases in different types of boron units resulted in changes in static energy (Oganov et al. 863). More specifically, they found that boron had two particular unit types that were similar in static energy when surrounded by normal atmospheric pressure: ?-B₁₂ and ?-B₁₀₆ (863). After applying massive amounts of pressure, Oganov et al. found that ?-B₁₀₆ became generally more stable “when zero-point vibrational energy is taken into account” (863).  Different makeups of pure elements will react differently under pressure, but the structure and chemical properties of that element’s respective unit makeup will change as well.

Another more common example of the effects of high pressure on pure elements is what happens to carbon under high pressures.  Hemley, Chiarotti, Bernasconi, and Ulivi discuss their findings regarding diamond creation and reveal that basic carbon, which generally comes from minerals in the earth such as dead plant matter or coal, is subject to extremely high temperatures and pressures to become diamonds (Hemley, Chiarotti, Bernasconi, and Ulivi 93).  The lattice is adjusted so that the bonds and their corresponding angles readjust in order to hold a more stable state, resulting in a colorless and smooth rock rather than the Carbon that began in the process.

Aside from pure metals, compounds that undergo heavy pressure face changes in properties, as well. Schilling, Hillier, and Foroozani write that it is not uncommon for some compounds to become superconductors (Schilling, Hillier, and Foroozani 1).  The resulting compounds are generally hard, have adjusted stability and volatility, and hold different electric and magnetic properties (4). Choong-Shik Yoo mentions the common occurrence of electron delocalization after high pressures are asserted, which affects bonding, stability, melting points, and the electric qualities of the compound (Yoo 12, 16). In general, many properties change from the beginning to the end of a high-pressure process.

Applying pressure to elements is not only difficult to do because of the struggle creating apparatuses that can maintain high pressures for a long enough time to see results, it requires heavy math to account for any type of error.  The results, however, have taught scientists around the globe about properties and how they change based on pressure.

Works Cited

Burnley, Pamela C. “High Pressure Deformation Experiments.” Teaching Mineralogy. Carlton, 20 November 2013. Web. 8 Nov. 2015.

Cannon, John Francis. “Behavior of the Elements at High Pressures.” Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data 3.2 (1974): 781-792. Web. 8 Nov. 2015.

Hemley, R. J., G. L. Chiarotti, M. Bernasconi, & L. Ulivi. “High Pressure Phenomena.” Proceedings of the International School of Physics “Enrico Fermi” 147.1 (2002): 87-

Oganov, Artem R, et al. “Ionic High-Pressure Form of Elemental Boron.” Nature 457.12 (2009: 863-868. Web. 8 Nov. 2015.

Schilling, James, Narelle Hillier, & Neda Foroozani. “What Have We Learned From High-Pressure Experiments on Cu-Oxide and Fe-Based Superconductors?” Journal of Physics 449.1 (2013): 1-9. Web. 8 Nov. 2015.

Yoo, Choong-Shik. “High Pressure Chemistry.” HPCAT-CDAC Summer School. Washington State University, Pullman, WA. 16 September 2010. Web. 8 Nov. 2015.