Module 8 Population Genetics

4.8.4 page 4

Reflect and Connect

When taking antibiotics it is advised that you take the drug at regular time intervals. Can you think of why it is important to take the drug at the times specified?

In order for a drug to have its desired effect it has to reach a certain concentration in the body. This concentration can be regarded as an equilibrium concentration since it is a result of the processes of ingestion and adsorption (that will increase the concentration) of the drug, and the processes of metabolism and excretion (that will reduce drug concentration). Can you think of how the processes to reach an equilibrium in the concentration of a medicine in the body are similar to the investigation you performed in this lesson where you simulated a dynamic equilibrium?

Lesson Summary

In this lesson you investigated the following essential question:

• What procedures are used to calculate the chemical quantities for all substances in a chemical system?

You applied your skills in performing stoichiometric calculations to analyze chemical systems in equilibrium. You found that constructing an ICE table is a convenient way to identify the relevant calculations that must be performed to complete this type of analysis.

In Lesson 5 you will learn more about how an equilibrium system can be analyzed using quantitative techniques.