Chemiformers: lab cars go green!
What is Chem-e-Car?
Chem-e-Car is an annual college competition for students majoring in Chemical Engineering held in Malaysia. Students must design small-scale automobiles that operate by chemical means, along with a poster describing their research. During the competition, they must drive their car a fixed distance in order to demonstrate its capabilities. In addition to driving a specified distance, they must also hold a payload of 0-500mL of water. The exact distance (15-30m) and payload is given one hour before the competition. The size of designed cars cannot exceed a specific defined size and cars must operate using “green” methods, which do not release any pollution or waste in the form of a visible liquid or gas, such as exhaust. To operate the car using “green” method, it can be used electrochemical cell, fuel cell, solar cell, pressure, and etc. A new learning opportunity is emerging, in which the competition can help students to confront another reality safety an area of instruction where some teachers admit the current curriculum often falls short. The competition may help jump-start students’ expertise in safety. The event gives chemical engineering students the opportunity to work in teams and apply their knowledge of chemistry, physics, and thermodynamics.
How Chemiformers work?
The Chemiformers operate using electrochemical cell which consists of magnesium and lead oxide as the electrodes and sulfuric acid as the electrolyte. In the process of the reaction, electrons move from magnesium to lead oxide through an electrically conducting path as useful electric current. This result generates energy to move the motor which connected to the well of the car and thus moves the car. The car will continue move until the magnesium strip is fully dissolved into the solution.
Reaction
Anode : Mg(s) + SO42-(aq) + 2H+(aq) -> MgSO4(s) + H2(g) + 2e-
Cathode : PbO2(s) + SO42-(aq) + 4H+(aq) + 2e- -> PbSO4(s) + 2H2O(l)
Overall : Mg(s) + 2SO42-(aq) + PbO2(s) + 6H+(aq) -> MgSO4(s) + PbSO4(s) + H2(g) + 2H2O(l)
Features and Safety
Inside the Chemiformers, the reaction occurs instantly as soon as the circuit is completed, giving a very minimal start-up time in the process. Additional to the zero release of pollution in the form of a visible liquid or gas, Chemiformers also uses economical-recycled materials which make it a complete environmentally-friendly lab cars. Chemiformers may be operated in ease with design considerations in the safety factors. The reactant tank is spillage and leakage free designed from material that strong enough to hold acids. The byproduct of Chemiformers is hydrogen which is earth-friendly gas.
The Competition
Chemiformers was one of two teams that represent Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in the competition. The team members are Ahmad Sharifudin Hashim, Shafika Zulkepli, Siti Noor Leela Selamat, and Alvin Octory Atmojo, an Indonesian student that currently continuing his bachelor study in UKM Malaysia. Chemiformers was also the winners of the Chem-E-Car competition at UKM level, held at the Engineering Faculty in September 2007. The competition, an annual event, was organized by the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) and held at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang. UKM won the Special Award, secured second place in the Car Competition and first place in the Poster Presentation in the competition.
(20 votes, 4.6/5)
selamat - selamat..keren bgt dah…sumpah..haha
Nice article, good job…
Honestly I didn’t really understand bout the reaction, huhu xp
But stil..
I wish that “green” metode will be use by the whole world in the future,..
Keep the good work..
Good Luck!!
Ganbatte!!!!!
keren…keren..
semoga sukses….
good job!
hope u will find another great stuff..
well, go green!
Good job bro…
terus berkarya… terus semangat… terusssss belajarr!!!
aku malas baca bro… tapi, keknya keren deh…
congratz fur establishing the article…
hopefully can be useful for all…
keep up the good work alv…
try to make everything in better and better result till u find the best one…
if u have reach the best point, try to maintain the effort…
chayo dek…
wow…
great job bro..
coz da nu stuff that ur team created is safe 4 our environment…
go green…!!!
congrats…
emmm….setelah gw pikir-pikir lama banget
kayaknya KEREN juga..
emang temen aq yg satu ini pantes di ksi jempoL…
slamet yah pin!
suxes en trs brkarya!
keren bgd!
gk nyangka aq pny temen sepintar ini!
slamt yah pin,,,,!
suxes en sllu brkarya aja yah!
lumayan lumayan
hasil yg cukup baik..
hehe
good luck aja ya…
bagus kali english ko vin, copy paste dari poster presentation waktu competition yh?
hehehehh
syang si Alvin gak dapat medal waktu national competition, padahl UKM sangt menjagokan mereka
di event national, katanya alvin, ini disebabkan asam yag meerka gunakan di sabotase ma orang, di tambahhin air jadi konsentrasi asam berubah….makanya laen kali dijaga baik2,heheheh klo gak t thun ni ko kan dah ke US, heee
success bro
o ya tq dah nngenalin web ini,
makasih2 bro,,
mm,,poster presentation tuh kan aq yg buat bro…
jd ga apa2 dunk aq copy paste,,hehehe,,kan karya aq sndri;)
dear admin,
mantap blognya….adsensenya juga mantap nggak keliatan seperti iklan…
sy juga mahasiswa kimia tapi bukan teknik kimia, sy mahasiswa MIPA UNTAN.
sy sangat suka blog dengan blog ini…boleh nggak tukeran link…
Thanks
best regards,
http://www.ardhindie.com
gile ni si alvin.. hehe.. banyak bgt dah pujiannya.. hehe.. sukses terus ya, vin.. jangan lupa Indonesia.. hehe..
“begitu banyak negeri kujalani, yang mashyur permai dikata orang. tetapi kampung dan rumahku di sanalah kurasa tenang.”
sukses!!
anyway, buat ardhi.. dasar ni ketauan bgt kerjaan webmaster.. hehe.. yang dikomentarin malah adsense dan link.. huehehe.. buat link boleh kok, tapi halaman link kita lagi under construction.. ntar kita kabari.. ditunggu kedatangan selanjutnya ya!
sebenernya c gak faham (bukan anak engineering)
tp kelaiatannya keren kok..
sukses ya..
TemEn Q daRi USU juGA iKutaN LomBa ini di..
LomBanYA di UI,,
CooL..
hehe I
@ jubel,,mkasih ya bel,,pokoknya gw ga akan lupa ama tanah air yg gw cintai deeh,,hehe
@ ija,,wah di UI ada jg yah lombanya,,bgus ;),, bdw anak2 TK ITB ada ikut ga bel??
tp gmn prospek buat chem-e-car di Indo nih??apakah yg menang wakilin indo di tingkat internasional??
gw udh search di internet tp ga ad info lebih lanjut ttg kompetisi ini di UI,,
lo bs ga ngasih info ma gw ttg kompetisi ini di UI..thanks
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