This is a DISCUSSION, NOT AN ESSAY. Do not use extravagant words, as this is a s

This is a DISCUSSION, NOT AN ESSAY. Do not use extravagant words, as this is a simple discussion post. I will provide an example from one of my classmates. Here are the instructions: This week, we will take the chemistry concepts we have explored and apply them to real-world situations.
Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words:
Reflect on the concepts we have learned so far: states of matter, energy, acids and bases, and chemical reactions.
Pick a story related to these topics from the news that has occurred in the past five weeks.
Summarize the story and discuss how at least one of the concepts from this course influenced the outcome.
Explain the concept you chose and how it relates to the story.
Discuss what the outcome of the story may have been if matter had behaved differently. Be sure to use the vocabulary related to the concept you picked in your response.
Here is an example of one of my classmates posts:
Recently, an immense discovery in the field of batteries was announced. Researchers created a new form of battery that is capable of holding substantially greater amounts of electricity and is healthier than current batteries made of lithium-ion. This novel cell uses a solid-state electrolyte rather than a liquid one, which offers various advantages.
The most relevant idea from our course to this scenario is states of matter. In this scenario, the term “state of matter” refers to the chemical composition of the battery’s electrolyte, which might be solid or liquid. In a normal lithium-ion battery, the solution known as electrolyte is liquid. This liquid permit lithium ions to pass between the batterie’s pair of electrodes, which is required for the battery to work. However, electrolytes that are liquid have some downsides. They can leak and cause the power source to malfunction or catch fire. They also limit how much charge the battery can store. The researchers in this tale created a battery using a solid-state electrolyte. This kind of solid electrolyte does not provide the same risk of leakage or combustion as a liquid electrolyte. It also enables the battery’s ability to store more electrical power because it can withstand greater voltages.
If matter had behaved differently, the outcome of this story could have been very different. For example, if solid electrolytes did not allow lithium ions to move between the electrodes, then this new type of battery would not work. The researchers would have had to find a different way to increase the energy density and safety of the battery, or they might not have been able to improve the battery at all.
In conclusion, the state of matter is a fundamental concept in chemistry that can have significant real-world implications, as demonstrated by this news story.
Another example:
In the past five weeks, a significant development in the energy field relates to the use of chemical reactions for sustainable energy production. A recent study by researchers at the University of Chicago (Duan, 2024) explored the role of electrocatalysis in increasing the efficiency of chemical reactions. The researchers found that applying electrical energy to a reaction can improve the yield of products without needing to rely on traditional heat-driven processes. This process is especially important for hydrogen production, a key component in clean energy technologies.
The concept of energy in chemical reactions, as discussed in this course, plays a critical role in understanding this development. In chemical reactions, energy is often needed to break bonds in reactants, and the reaction may release or absorb energy as products are formed. In the case of electrocatalysis, electrical energy replaces thermal energy, enhancing the efficiency of reactions. This application of electrical energy is more sustainable and can reduce environmental impacts by lowering energy consumption in industrial applications (Patel & Zhang, 2024).
If the reaction could not respond to electrical input, the process would not have been efficient, and the desired products might not have been produced in the quantities necessary for practical applications. This illustrates how the type of energy used in chemical reactions can significantly influence the outcome, and it highlights the importance of energy management in both chemical reactions and sustainability efforts.
References
Duan, Z. (2024). Electrocatalytic silver surfaces accelerate energy-efficient chemical reactions. University of Chicago. https://www.uchicago.edu/news
Patel, R., & Zhang, S. (2024). Innovations in electrocatalysis and energy-efficient chemical processes. Journal of Sustainable Energy, 16(4), 112-128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.susene.2024.01.014
You do not need to have references, but you can definitely use them if it is needed in the discussion post you write. Please let me know if you have any questions.