Here is a photo of our gross copper product.
Stoich Lab Day 3
After washing the copper we obtained, we ended up with our final product which we later measured along with iron nail. We used these measurements to calculate the theoretical amount of copper as well as the actual amount of copper. Using this data we were able to determine the final solution which was iron chloride 3.
Stoich Lab Day 1
This lab was very interesting. We started out with an iron nail and put it in a jar of copper chloride 2. The purpose of this was to get the iron to react to the chlorine and then it would separate the copper alone. After putting the nail in the solution, we left it sit for a day to let the copper separate.
These are just a few photos of the solution and the iron nail sitting in the solution.
Percent Yield
This lesson was very simple. Percent yield is taking the actual measured amount of a substance and dividing it by the theoretical amount in order to get a percent. Sometimes this percent can be over 100%. See here for more info. It was a very easy concept. I like how easy this unit is so far. The link under the photo has a great explanation and video about percent yields.
This Kahn Academy article gives a great explanation about limiting reagents and percent yields. Click here.
Intro to Stoichiometry
We have reached our last section for the semester. Stoichiometry has to do with finding masses of certain reactants or products by using the mass of a given substance. It's a very useful tool when trying to find a theoretical mass of a product before your experiment begins. The method is done by taking a starting mass of a given substance and converting it to moles. Next, you multiply it by a mole ratio of the substance you want and the given. Finally, convert the new substance to grams and you have the answer. It's a very simple concept. Check out the link under the photo for more info as well as this link here.
Also check out this awesome video here from Kahn Academy.
Chemical Reaction Test
The exam over chemical reactions was a little difficult. There were some rules when it came to writing a chemical formula that I didn't understand, therefore making my grade worse. I felt I had a decent understanding over what chemical reactions were, why they took place, and the different kinds. Check out this video here from Kahn Academy about chemical reactions for a good overview of the unit.
One of my problems was also balancing equations. I, regretfully, fell asleep for the balancing equations lesson and never taught myself the lesson. I wasn't so hot on the subject, hurting my grade on the test. Using this practice really helped me, click here.
One of my problems was also balancing equations. I, regretfully, fell asleep for the balancing equations lesson and never taught myself the lesson. I wasn't so hot on the subject, hurting my grade on the test. Using this practice really helped me, click here.
Precipitate Lab
In this very interesting lab, we put multiple elements with soluble compounds to see if they would create a reaction. We then saw which of the elements had the most amount of reactions to help create a reactivity series. The lab had some really interesting reactions, some I did not even expect, such as the Calcium and Water, which nearly exploded.
Some of the reactions were a pain to clean up!
Precipitate Reactions
Precipitate reactions have to do with how soluble certain elements are with other compounds. Certain reactions can create new gases and solids as a product. This isn't very confusing since it is mostly the same process as all the other reactions we have been learning. After balancing the equations, the states of the elements may change, creating new products. For more information on precipitate reactions, click here.
Also check out this link under the photo.
Also check out this link under the photo.
SigFigs
In order to keep measurements accurate, God gave us wonderful significant figures. Significant Figures are the process where you keep the same number of figures in numbers to keep data accurate. There are many confusing rules with the system such as what zeros are considered to be real and how many decimal places can be used after a certain math function. Click here for a good lesson on SigFigs.
Also check out the link under the picture.
Driving Force Lab
The other day, we performed a lab where we took two aqueous molecules and put them together to see if they would create a solid. The purpose of the lab was to demonstrate how two soluble molecules can create a solid molecule and how the driving forces can affect this process. It was very interesting to see how some of the reactions would cause an instantaneous reaction that would create a completely different color from the original solution.
The first photo shows our group mixing the two original solutions and the second photo shows a couple solid products of the reactions.
Chemical Reactions
We are starting the new unit: Chemical Reactions. I see this unit is going to be a bit tougher than the previous sections we have covered. We are starting off with balancing equations and looking at the driving forces in reactions. This isn't too bad, but I wish I didn't fall asleep for this lesson. I found a great simulation for balancing chemical equations. Check it out here. Also check out the link under the photo for more information.
Chemical Composition Test
We took a test over chemical composition. I'm not going to say it went very well. Some of the questions weren't very hard, but I had to guess on at least five problems because I ran out of time to test. I feel like I didn't do too bad on the rest of the test, so I'm not too worried. Most of the problems were very gross. They didn't contain too much math. I skipped most of the long problems because I didn't have time to simply do them.
Since we're on chemical composition, I'd thought I'd attach a link here about the cosmos since they are so interesting and mysterious. This link will show you the chemical makeup of the entire universe. If you're feeling adventurous, there is much more information on that website just waiting to be read!
Since we're on chemical composition, I'd thought I'd attach a link here about the cosmos since they are so interesting and mysterious. This link will show you the chemical makeup of the entire universe. If you're feeling adventurous, there is much more information on that website just waiting to be read!
Chemical Formuals
We are learning a process on how to derive the amount of atoms in a chemical formula from the mass of a compound. It's started by finding the individual mass of each element in the compound then the total mass of the compound. After finding the percent of the elements, change them to grams and then convert them to moles. Finally, divided each mole by the smallest mole to get the number of atoms. It isn't a very hard concept. This link here will give explanations to properties certain elements have in chemical equations.
A lab was performed in class to find the amount of Zinc and Chlorine after a chemical reaction. After finding the mass of the compound, the process for finding atoms was used to balance to equation for the compound. If I remember, the compound ended up being ZnCl2. Howeverr, the compound cooking on the hotplate did not smell very good!
A lab was performed in class to find the amount of Zinc and Chlorine after a chemical reaction. After finding the mass of the compound, the process for finding atoms was used to balance to equation for the compound. If I remember, the compound ended up being ZnCl2. Howeverr, the compound cooking on the hotplate did not smell very good!
Chemical Composition Test
Yesterday we had a test over chemical composition. It was mainly a math based test. The different kinds of problems that were covered included converting from mass to atoms, atoms to moles, and finding the amount of water in a compound. It wasn't a very hard test even though I might just be doing the problems completely wrong and I just don't know. At least I think I know how to do it. This might have been a quiz and we still have more of this unit to learn.
Since I'm on the subject of compounds, I thought I'd add a cool link about some toxic compounds here. I'm sure we won't be using any of these chemicals in lab, but make sure to steer clear of them. I won't be very seeing if Bactrachotoxin is actually deadly (which it is)!!!
Since I'm on the subject of compounds, I thought I'd add a cool link about some toxic compounds here. I'm sure we won't be using any of these chemicals in lab, but make sure to steer clear of them. I won't be very seeing if Bactrachotoxin is actually deadly (which it is)!!!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batrachotoxin
I thought the part of this unit that talked about hydrated particles very interesting.
Check out the link under the photo for an excellent example of water and energy exchange in compounds.
The Mole
The mole is unit that is commonly used to express the amount of a substance. It is a combination of a regular mass in grams and the atomic mass. It can be expressed by the Avogadro constant which is about 6.02 x 1023 .
Check out the link under the photo. It has an awesome video explaining the mole. A mole also acts as a converting factor. It can be used to express the mass of a finite number of atoms or vice versa.
Check out the link under the second photo also. It gives a good explanation on mole math and the different kinds of situations the mole can be used in.
Measurement Test
We had our measurement exam. The test went over pretty well, even though there was a lot more long calculation problems on it than I anticipated. I believe I fixed problems that I had on the quiz. I'm still not looking forward to Significant Figures for the rest of the year, though. The one thing I noticed on the test was the question asking if atoms could be split. I of course said no for the sake of what we learned, but I do know it is possible to split an atom. I found an interesting article on scientists using quantum mechanics to split atoms. Quantum mechanics is the use of particle theory and physics to study the quantum (microscopic particle) world. Check it out here.
Dimensional Analysis
Dimensional analysis is a technique of converting units that may not be within the same unit system. It is not as hard of a concept as the name makes it out to be. All the technique is taking your original value then multiplying it by a ratio that relates the original unit to a new unit and so on. In order to clear the original unit the unit must be placed indirectly in two separate ratios. Click here for more help understanding dimensional analysis. It might help.
http://lccmiddleschoolnews.blogspot.com/2013/11/science-dimensional-analysis.html
We will be using this formula for our recipe project due Friday. It's going to take more research because we are going to need to convert cups and teaspoons to metric. We haven't really learned what the proportion of a cup is to metric, or even what unit it would be in. I found this chart which might help a bit. Click here and it will make your project that much easier.
First Matter Quiz
Today we took a quiz over forms of matter and significant numbers. It was an easy test, but I personally strongly dislike significant numbers. The process defeats the purpose of all rounding rules I have ever learned. It makes no sense to me why this system would be used. I understand that it is supposed to help with accuracy, but some of the rules call for very inaccurate number values.
The other part of the test was the difference between chemical and physical process and characteristics. I attached a quiz here for you guys to test your knowledge on chemical and physical changes. Good Luck!
Aspirin Synthesis
My partner and I are unfortunately not able to participate in the synthesis of Aspirin. We were given a very difficult and unfair pre-lab question which nobody answered correctly. So instead of performing the experiment I read so much about, I will just have to receive data from other students who were given a less difficult lab question. I was very interested in watching the crystallization of this reaction. The salicylic acid and acetic anhydride would mix and sulfuric acid would act as a catalyst to begin the reaction.
Crystallized Aspirin http://asiaclinic-thailand.com/clinical-trials/crystal-asprin.html
Cold Water bath to create solid crystals
Crystallized Aspirin http://asiaclinic-thailand.com/clinical-trials/crystal-asprin.html Cold Water bath to create solid crystals
https://aspirin411.wordpress.com/experiment-details/observations/crystallization/
The link under the second picture will give a more detailed history and description of aspirin.
The link under the second picture will give a more detailed history and description of aspirin.
Finishing Up Radioactivity
We finished off the Atomic Structure and Radioactivity unit today. The unit was concluded with a unit exam composed of 36 questions. The test was very easy except for one single problem: how many alpha emissions would it take for 238/92 U to decay into 208/82 Pb. The answer was either 2,4,6,9 or none. (Please comment what you think the answer is, just curious). The test did have a rather large amount of questions over radioactive decay. I didn't mind being that I actually think radioactive decay is very interesting. Check out this link to learn more on alpha and beta decay: here. Can't wait to see what this next unit has in-store for us.
Half Life
All radioactive elements are subject to devolve into an element of less protons and atomic mass. The amount of time it takes s for half of a sample to devolve is called a half life. Some elements can take numbers of years or centuries to decompose while others can in a matter of seconds. For example, carbon 14's half life is 5730 years. The half life of an isotope can be expressed though a basic exponential algorithm.
http://www.coolmath.com/algebra/17-exponentials-logarithms/13-radioactive-decay-decibel-levels-01
Elements with half lives can be applicable to many functions that we use in our world. It's amazing to think about all that these simple particles can actually accomplish.
Isotopes
One of the flaws in Dalton's five points about chemistry is that all atoms of a single element are identical. The number of protons in the nucleus will be the same, but the number of neutrons can vary among atoms of the same element. The various amounts of neutrons in the nucleus, which have a neutral charge, create various isotopes of an element. These isotopes will also vary in mass as well as neutrons.
http://www.ducksters.com/science/chemistry/isotopes.php
To name an isotope, you must use isotope notion. It displays the symbol of the element, the mass number (sum of protons and neutrons) on the upper left, and the atomic number (number of protons) on the bottom left.
To name an isotope, you must use isotope notion. It displays the symbol of the element, the mass number (sum of protons and neutrons) on the upper left, and the atomic number (number of protons) on the bottom left.
http://thechemguys.blogspot.com/2011/04/april-18-atomic-mass-and-isotopes.html
Dalton's Atomic Theory
Composed over two centuries ago, was the first theory to what makes up everything around us. The man behind this was John Dalton. Even though Dalton's theory contains a few flaws, it is the basis of modern chemistry.
His theory was made into five points:
- All elements are made up of atoms, which is still known to be a true statement.
- All atoms of a single element are identical, which has been proven false with the discovery of isotopes.
- Atoms of different elements are different, which is still true.
- Compounds are made up of different elements, which is also true.
- Atoms are indivisible and aren't created nor destroyed. Atoms can be divisible since subatomic particles such as the quark have been discovered. However, atoms still must abide to the law of conservation of matter, making the second part of the statement true.
His work has lead others to further his discovery and evolve the expanding universe of chemistry.
Final Thought on Nomenclature
Nomenclature has been a short, yet valuable learning experience. This subject has set the foundation for the rest of chemistry. It has introduced me into basic relationships among ions and polyatomic ions. It is also very interesting to me how electrons can be shared between different forms of elements such as metals and non-metals.
First Thoughts on Nomenclature
It has been basic knowledge to me all my life that the elements react together and in multiple different ways. However, the fact that all elements must be made into an ion in order to react with other elements blew my mind. I was introduced into a state of an element that was completely foreign to me.
Not only was this concept new to me, it caused me to understand all new possibilities that chemistry would open to me through the coming year.
Not only was this concept new to me, it caused me to understand all new possibilities that chemistry would open to me through the coming year.
Introduction Page
Hi, my name is Graeme. Even though this blog is mainly about chemistry, my favorite science and possible career is definitely physics. I've studied theoretical physics ever since I was a young boy.
Although I have spent much time with physics, my passion is music. I play the guitar, piano, drums, and, bass. Guitar is easily my favorite. The model I have is an ESP LTD MH-100. It is my favorite guitar that I own, but I also own a Fender Stratocaster and a Martin acoustic. I play lead guitar and write music in my metalcore band called Mandate.
Although I have spent much time with physics, my passion is music. I play the guitar, piano, drums, and, bass. Guitar is easily my favorite. The model I have is an ESP LTD MH-100. It is my favorite guitar that I own, but I also own a Fender Stratocaster and a Martin acoustic. I play lead guitar and write music in my metalcore band called Mandate.
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