O enigmático problema das gigantes ricas em Lítio e as perspectivas com o satélite Kepler

Lithium (Li) is a chemical element with atomic number 3 and it is among the lightest known elements in the universe. In general, the Lithium is found in the nature under the form of two stable isotopes, the 6Li and 7Li. This last one is the most dominant and responds for about 93% of the Li found in the Universe. Due to its fragileness this element is largely used in the astrophysics, especially in what refers to the understanding of the physical process that has occurred since the Big Bang going through the evolution of the galaxies and stars. In the primordial nucleosynthesis in the Big Bang moment (BBN), the theoretical calculation forecasts a Li production along with all the light elements such as Deuterium and Beryllium. To the Li the BNB theory reviews a primordial abundance of Log log ǫ(Li) =2.72 dex in a logarithmic scale related to the H. The abundance of Li found on the poor metal stars, or pop II stars type, is called as being the abundance of Li primordial and is the measure as being log ǫ(Li) =2.27 dex. In the ISM (Interstellar medium), that reflects the current value, the abundance of Lithium is log ǫ(Li) = 3.2 dex. This value has great importance for our comprehension on the chemical evolution of the galaxy. The process responsible for the increasing of the primordial value present in the Li is not clearly understood until nowadays. In fact there is a real contribution of Li from the giant stars of little mass and this contribution needs to be well streamed if we want to understand our galaxy. The main objection in this logical sequence is the appearing of some giant stars with little mass of G and K spectral types which atmosphere is highly enriched with Li. Such elevated values are exactly the opposite of what could happen with the typical abundance of giant low mass stars, where convective envelops pass through a mass deepening in which all the Li should be diluted and present abundances around log ǫ(Li) ∼1.4 dex following the model of stellar evolution. In the Literature three suggestions are found that try to reconcile the values of the abundance of Li theoretical and observed in these rich in Li giants, but any of them bring conclusive answers. In the present work, we propose a qualitative study of the evolutionary state of the rich in Li stars in the literature along with the recent discovery of the first star rich in Li observed by the Kepler Satellite. The main objective of this work is to promote a solid discussion about the evolutionary state based on the characteristic obtained from the seismic analysis of the object observed by Kepler. We used evolutionary traces and simulation done with the population synthesis code TRILEGAL intending to evaluate as precisely as possible the evolutionary state of the internal structure of these groups of stars. The results indicate a very short characteristic time when compared to the evolutionary scale related to the enrichment of these stars

Modelagem Matemática e Computacional de fenômenos eletrocinéticos em meios porosos carregados eletricamente

In this work we present a mathematical and computational modeling of electrokinetic phenomena in electrically charged porous medium. We consider the porous medium composed of three different scales (nanoscopic, microscopic and macroscopic). On the microscopic scale the domain is composed by a porous matrix and a solid phase. The pores are filled with an aqueous phase consisting of ionic solutes fully diluted, and the solid matrix consists of electrically charged particles. Initially we present the mathematical model that governs the electrical double layer in order to quantify the electric potential, electric charge density, ion adsorption and chemical adsorption in nanoscopic scale. Then, we derive the microscopic model, where the adsorption of ions due to the electric double layer and the reactions of protonation/ deprotanaç~ao and zeta potential obtained in modeling nanoscopic arise in microscopic scale through interface conditions in the problem of Stokes and Nerst-Planck equations respectively governing the movement of the aqueous solution and transport of ions. We developed the process of upscaling the problem nano/microscopic using the homogenization technique of periodic structures by deducing the macroscopic model with their respectives cell problems for effective parameters of the macroscopic equations. Considering a clayey porous medium consisting of kaolinite clay plates distributed parallel, we rewrite the macroscopic model in a one-dimensional version. Finally, using a sequential algorithm, we discretize the macroscopic model via the finite element method, along with the interactive method of Picard for the nonlinear terms. Numerical simulations on transient regime with variable pH in one-dimensional case are obtained, aiming computational modeling of the electroremediation process of clay soils contaminated

Dificuldades de aprendizagem do conteúdo de soluções: proposta de ensino contextualizada

The study of solutions is considered very important to chemist’s education because most of the chemical reactions occur in aqueous medium, being also required to understand other subject such as chemical changes, electrochemical and chemical balance. Nevertheless, it is noticed that many students indicate learning difficulties related to the content of solutions, how to pass among the macro-submicroscopic knowledge levels, and how to solve quantitative problems that demanding the establishment of a stoichiometric ratios. This thesis defended considers the use of contextualized teaching strategies about some subject associated to the study of solution, can foster student learning through reflection and understanding of their own difficulties, besides to provide motivation and active participation. The target group is formed by students of the undergraduate distance education with major in chemistry education of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), and they were chosen because this education system is expanding and its learning difficulties publications number is reduced as well. Thus, the first methodological stage was to identify the student’s main learning difficulties associated to the study of solutions through literature sources. Next, using an adapted script of the Plano Nacional do Livro Didático para o Ensino Médio (PNLEM, Textbook National Plan for High School), the approach of the content of solutions printed in educational materials used by the target group was analyzed. Afterward, a teaching unit was planned in the last methodological stage and, finally, a new teaching unite was given with a sequence of contextualized activities such as video presentation, dialogued lecture, questionnaires application, exercises, and an experiment, where the target group’s main difficulties related to learning of solution were identified. The participants of the teaching unit activities had some learning difficulties in understand concepts of compound, ion, charge, entropy and solubility, as well as to identify the ion charge, interpret statements, decode tables, use the chemical language, perform mathematical calculations and use concentration units, similar results raised in the literature sources. In order to work on these difficulties, these students were encouraged to expose, question and test their ideas about the phenomenon under study, allowing learn from their mistakes and reflect on the organization strategy of scientific explanatory models they use. Therefore, activities and information about learning difficulties presented in this thesis need to be critical reflection object, because it can help both students in the process of acquiring knowledge about the content of solutions and professors in the planning of their lessons.