CrimpJiggler
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Modulating electromagnetic frequencies to interact with specific compounds in big ways
Learning about all the different forms of spectroscopy really opened my mind up to this and has been giving me ideas. In case you don't know,
modulation of EM waves just means varying the frequency (or amplitude in the case of AM) over time in a controlled manner. Also, you can use more than
one frequency at a time, the word for that is a pulse (thats why they use Fourier Transform in spectroscopy).
So we all know that each compound has its own unique IR, UV-Vis, microwave, whatever spectrum which we can use to analyse the compound. But what about
using this principle for things other than analysis, like causing reactions to occur. For example, if you used multiple IR frequencies to target
specific bonds of a molecule and make them vibrate faster, then used UV-Vis frequencies to excite electrons in or around those specific bonds, I
reckon you could increase the odds of a reaction happening, involving those particular bonds. So by adding EM frequencies to the reaction mix, you
increase the selectivity towards specific reactions. I reckon the more large and complex the molecule, the more useful this principle would become.
I doubt I'm the first person to think of this, does anyone know the name of this field of chemistry? I reckon its only in its infancy (or in the womb
might be a better analogy) because I have never come across it being used, and in uni, they didn't even cover the topic.
There are so many possibilities, this has to be a whole new frontier for chemistry. x-rays for exciting inner electrons would likely come into use
here. Not sure if inducing rotation with microwaves would have any application here. So by knowing exactly what resonant properties (i.e. the
vibration of bonds, valence electrons, inner electrons etc.) to target, at exactly what time, we could add a whole new dimension to controlling
chemical reactions. And thats just the tip of the iceberg. I bet it can come into use in separation methods like chromatography. I don't know how
exactly that could work, I just intuitively know it can. By exciting a molecule in a very specific way, we could influence how it travels through a
chromatographic matrix. How well it travels through an electrophoresis matrix. The more aspects of one molecule we target, the more selective the EM
waves become for that specific molecule.
[Edited on 31-12-2014 by CrimpJiggler]
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forgottenpassword
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photochemistry
https://www.google.com/search?q=photochemistry&btnG=Sear...
[Edited on 31-12-2014 by forgottenpassword]
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CrimpJiggler
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I've learned about photochemical reactions, its the process of modulating EM pulses in order to target specific molecules/parts of molecules in a
specific way over time that I haven't come across. This falls under the category of photochemistry, in the same way electronics falls under the
category of physics. Its such a vast field, electronics deserves a category of its own.
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forgottenpassword
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No it doesn't. Learn about photochemistry first, then come back and tell us that you've come up with something completely new. Read some of the books:
what you are suggesting is precisely what they are doing.
[Edited on 31-12-2014 by forgottenpassword]
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CrimpJiggler
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Just came across this:
http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9780824757106
Chiral photochemistry. Thats pretty cool. Looks like they're only using frequencies that interact with valence electrons though. Just came across talk
of magnetochiral anisotropy too, interesting stuff. Looks like they're using modulated magnetic fields to influence the stereoselectivity of
reactions.
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00268970110109826
Again, pretty cool but not what I'm talking about. All these things don't take time into consideration, not to the extent I'm talking about anyway.
Magnetic fields I'm sure will be a useful component of this when this field advances enough that it becomes commonly used. Electrical fields too. Then
then theres electron bombardment, neutron bombardment etc. I suppose the motion of large groups of molecules can be exploited too, so ultrasound,
microwaves, radio waves etc. will come into play here.
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CrimpJiggler
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Quote: Originally posted by forgottenpassword  |
No it doesn't. Learn about photochemistry first, then come back and tell us that you've come up with something completely new. Read some of the books:
what you are suggesting is precisely what they are doing.
[Edited on 31-12-2014 by forgottenpassword] |
I've only learned the basics, probably the historical stuff (like Norrish reactions), if you're saying the field has advanced and now covers exactly
what I have in mind, then I'll take your word for it for the time being. It'd be helpful if you mentioned some terminology to help narrow searches.
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forgottenpassword
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You've read that book, have you? That was quick! Yes, they're talking about valence electrons because that
is what determines the chemistry of a molecule. If you are interested in electron and neutron bombardment, then perhaps you're more interested in
nuclear physics rather than chemistry?
I'm afraid that I cannot give you any terms to look up because you are not expressing yourself very clearly at all. I have worked in photochemistry
for a good portion of my career, so I have no doubt that I will be able to help you: but vague references to 'time' as well as other
seemingly-stimulant-induced grandiose ideas do not help me to give you specific recommendations. Sorry about that, but I don't know what you have in
mind. I suspect that what you have in mind is simply modern photochemistry, but since you've only just learned the basics and haven't read any books
or reviews on the subject, I cannot say for sure. Perhaps you could get back to me once you have; if you're still interested in it then.
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Marvin
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Traditionally microwave bands are associated with rotation of groups, IR bending and stretching and mostly far UV for electronic excitation. With
electronic excitation an electron can be moved from a bonding orbital to an antibonding orbital causing the parts to move apart and leading to
reactions with the radicals. I don't see how you could reasonably stimulate a reaction with IR or below, the energy is too close to regular thermal
energy and human time scales are so long compared to molecular interactions.
IR has been used in conjunction with sharp UV decompositions for isotope enrichment. In MLIS the IR frequency is chosen for a particular isotope in
the molecule and the UV is tuned so that only excited molecules absorb.
For chromatography or electrophoresis, I think the main barrier would be how much energy would be required to keep a high proportion of molecules in
the excited state. I'm also not sure what information you would get from it if it worked that isn't in an IR spectrum.
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deltaH
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CrimpJiggler, I've started a thread a long time ago in the 'whimsy' section of SM called 'The Pandora Device' that deals exactly with
this idea. Get access to whimsy from an Administrator, write like Bert.
The idea requires that one use a very broad portion of the spectrum, from UV to IR and extremely intense light sources, all discussed.
Quantum mechanical molecular modelling these days has progressed to the stage where one can get an accurate predictive spectra for any reasonably
smallish organic molecule, so some day, one might be able to simple draw the molecule and get a few mg's synthesised this way from stock gases that
supply the elements to the reaction chamber.
...scary thought, hence the name the 'Pandora Device' 
[Edited on 2-1-2015 by deltaH]
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Texium
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Thread Moved
22-11-2023 at 19:03 |
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