Week 3

Transitional Metal of the Week: Chromium!

 

Look how shiny and lustrous it is! Chromium's atomic number is 24, with a mass of approximately 52. The melting point is an astonishing 1857.0 °C (2130.15 K, 3374.6 °F) and boiling point is 2672.0 °C (2945.15 K, 4841.6 °F). It was discovered in 1797 by
Louis Vauquelin.  Even though it's pretty to look out, the compounds are toxic. Adding chromium to stainless steel is how metals are able to resist corrosion. It is also used to prepare pigments, gives grass its green color, rubies its red and emeralds their green, by using it as a decorative and protective metal coating and as a catalyst.

Neptune's Medicine:

I found the article to be quite interesting! Utilizing the resources of the ocean is something that I wouldn't have thought of.  I also thought it showed how complex trying to make tests and formulas are, and the intense amount of work that goes into it.  Bill Fenical is definitely a dreamer, and he's done a lot of work that will hopefully make a huge change in the future of medicine and drugs.  

Green Chemistry:

I think this concept is awesome! When I think of chemicals, I think of toxic substances that occasionally can do good, but more likely it's harmful.  The ability to use sustainable products and biodegradable will help the earth in the long run. I like the 12 principles that Green Chemistry stands by. It shows that they're really trying to make a difference and just better everything as whole by prevention rather than having to do a clean up after a catastrophe happens.

Week 2

My element of the week is......... Oxygen!

It's atomic number 8, the chemical symbol is O and the atomic mass is 16.  It's part of the non-metal group. In it's natural state (room temperature), oxygen is in a gaseous form that is tasteless, colorless, and odorless.  The name oxygen derives from two greek words oxys and genes, which means "acid forming." It's the third most abundant element in the sun.  And without oxygen, humans would not be in existence since it comprises 2/3 of our body!

Discussion Question:
Are we too lax in our environmental controls?
Definitely! Look at all the instances that happen because of it. The most recent and major one being in West Virginia. The fact that 4-methyl-cyclohexane-methanol (MCHM) was  allowed to be dealt with in large quantities, regardless of the fact that most chemists and toxicologists have no idea what this chemical does and the impact it can have on human life. And why was the chemical plant so close to the water? The consequences are being taken lightly, with most officials brushing it off saying that it's "generally not likely to be associated with any adverse health effects." How reassuring.

 

http://www.chem.purdue.edu/gchelp/atoms/elements.html

 

A handy site to visualize how elements, compounds and mixtures look like in atomic form. The moving pictures of each one of them help because you can see how they move. Each of them are also broken down into a simplified list with bullet points to get the actions across. This helps rather than just reading paragraphs out of a book. 

Periodic Table

1. http://www.chemicalelements.com/

Great way to break down each element in the table and explain it's properties and structure!

2. http://www.funbrain.com/cgi-bin/pt.cgi?A1=s&A2=1&ACOMMON=1&submit=Play+Proton+Don

I liked how you could quiz yourself on the periodic table, and it's better than just using flashcards and saying the element. 

3. http://www.johnpratt.com/atomic/periodic.html

Nifty way to memorize the chart through pictures! I've always been a visual person, but specific pictures makes it that much easier. Even younger kids could use this!




All of these links are so useful!! If only I knew about these sites when I was taking chemistry in high school and undergrad. It would have made everything so much easier!

Chem Quiz

1. Classify the following as either a chemical or physical change. 

Burning wood: chemical 

Crushing a rock: physical

Dissolving sugar in water: physical

The rusting of iron: chemical

 I got all the above correct

2. Classify the following as to whether or not they are pure substances or mixtures. 

milk: pure mixture 

table salt: mixture

sugar: pure

steel: pure mixture

I chose pure for milk because it hasn't been tampered with, but it is indeed a mixture. Same with steel, I put pure but it is a combination of iron and carbon

3. A cup of black coffee is considered to be __?__ and a/an __?__ substance. 

(a) homogeneous�..pure

(b) homogeneous�..impure

(c) non-homogeneous�pure

(d) non-homogeneous�impure 

I chose homogenous because there is no milk or any other substance in it, but coffee itself is not pure.

4. The boiling of water is considered to be a __?__ change and the temperature at which water boils is considered to be a __?__ property. 

(a) chemical�..chemical

(b) chemical�..physical

(c) physical�..chemical

(d) physical�..physical

I chose physical and physical because there is no chemical change that is occurring. The water is still there and hasn't changed. 

About Me

Hi All!

My name is Noelle and I'm a first year ACCHS student. I was born and raised in Florida where I went to UF for my bachelors. I moved to Cali over the summer, and yes, JUST FOR SCHOOL! California licensing is different than any other states, so I figured I'd study here and then eventually go back to Florida after I'm finished with school. Still an adjustment, but I like it so far. But who knows what will happen or where I'll be in 4 years, it might just be too good to go back to the east coast =) I hope to specialize in women's health and fertility. I enjoy traveling, dancing, and listening/playing music. Here's to a good term!