chemistry at a glance

Chemistry fact number 1

2013-11-03T04:14:00.001-08:00

The only two different elements that are liquid at room temperature are:

Bromine (Br) - Red/brown liquid
Mercury (Hg) a very toxic metal (silver appearence)

Image taken from www.periodictable.com

Image taken from www.periodictable.com

Education is it the key?

2013-10-31T13:56:00.002-07:00

Visit education in a flash to find out more on what it is meant to be educated, how technology and science may offer us a greater of an advanced future. Finally looking at how traveling around the world will help to maintain ones ability to learn and love life.

What is chemistry? (Part 1)

2013-10-13T09:36:00.001-07:00

Frost, in ‘Learning to Teach Science’ had made an attempt to describe Chemistry, stating that “Chemistry is about two stories:

The macroscopic world of bulk materials and the invisible world of atoms and molecules.”

When talking about Chemistry there is always a transfer of information from both sides and when summarised, Frost said:

"It is the story of the flow of energy that accompanies chemical change that links the two.”

Chemistry is seen as the one of the ‘big three’ of the sciences (Wellington & co.) Chemistry fits neatly between the macro world of biology and the largely micro world of physics and in a sense, they both depend upon Chemistry (Stacey Bretz, 2008, p.15).

Bretz an editor of “Chemistry in the National Science” had been quite determined to make it clear that physics and biology would not be able to function without the ‘world of chemistry.’ She had gone on to say that its language provides the products that people use and that can directly have an influence on everyday lives.

Did you know? (Water - Part 1)

2013-10-13T09:25:00.001-07:00

Water is fantastic!

It is the compound that no one or any living thing can do without, life depends on this simple molecule. The larger portion of our earth is covered in water taking up most of our earths mass (around 70%). In us humans water makes up over 50% of our body mass some suggesting it could be over 60% which indeed is remarkable. Water is our life force and it is abundant in every form, Water is able to exist as the 3 states of matter being solid, liquid and gas.

So what about its physical and chemical properties?

Water (H₂0) is made up of 2 hydrogen atoms and one oxygen
atom. They are bonded to each other by covalent bonds. These covalent bonds are produced when two separate atoms share electrons with each other (covalent bonding is known as the sharing of electrons). Ionic bonding (the formation of Ions) is the other type of bonding found in the world of compounds and molecules. Thes best way to look at ionic bonding is the transfer of electrons.

So why does the water share its electrons with both the two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom?

The oxygen atom has a much greater affinity for the electrons than either of the hydrogen atoms, although it does not exert that much of a force to completely pull all the electrons away from the two hydrogen atoms to form Ions.

Basic chemical reactions

2013-10-05T12:57:00.003-07:00

Who says chemistry needs to be complicated?

Reactions can be very basic, in fact cooking an egg is an example of a chemical reaction, these reactions are seen as non-reversible. The properties at an atomic level have change and thus meaning that it cannot change back into the structures the atoms had previously. Another good example would be a firework, the rapid oxidation is an example of a chemical change.

Then there is the example of a physical change, this is an example of where something can be reversed. A good common example that I use in my classes is the changing of water into ice and vice versa. The structure of H20 molecules are kept the same (untouched) and thus can easily change states.

So to summarize, there are two types of reactions:

Chemical reactions - irreversible, for example fireworks or frying an egg

Physical Changes- Reversible, for example Melting ice.

Who is considered to be educated?

2013-10-05T03:53:00.001-07:00

Target the heart first and then you have the mind.

Trying to understand the best way to educate the next generation would always be a challenge, if we had already discovered how to do this we would have no problems, but it is clear to see that there are still problems in in our worldly education systems.

How important would you say knowledge is?

Some consider it vital.

‘An investment in knowledge pays the best interest’ Benjamin Franklin

We are living in a very hypocritical world, preachers who preach charity but yet drive around in cars worth thousands, to their homes with over 10 rooms; oh the irony. Is this what an ‘educated’ world has to offer?

For now let’s just come to this conclusion, when we look at education, as educated people we should be the ones listening first, so that we can come to a steady reasoning to help those who need to be correctly educated.

Motivation is key!

2013-10-05T03:21:00.003-07:00

I have found that to have real success at something you have got to have a hard work ethic. There is no easy way to get through something you want to be successful at than by putting hours of hard work into it.

Don’t give up, do not look at your mistakes and wish that had not happened, but look back and reflect, ask yourself what can I do better next time to improve? Once you have done this, look forward, implement what you have learned to improve your work ethos and overall you as a person.
I have had bad days where I just feel like I want to move on, change my line of work and try something different; however these are the days where you realise just how strong you are. How you deal with it from this point can make or break you next time you encounter a bad day.
Pain is temporary and it will pass.

GET EDUCATED!

2013-02-18T01:10:00.001-08:00

Get Educated,

Check out the new, the old and the ugly in "getting educated", what does education mean to you? how do you learn and what measures can be taken to get the most out of your learning?

visit http://educatedinaflash.wordpress.com/

Ozone

2012-03-09T09:34:00.002-08:00

On 08th march 2012 earth was hit by a solar storm on the earths strong magnetic feild. It is this magnetic field that is protecting us from devastating particles from the sun, but what about much protection closer to earth our stratosphere to be precise. In our stratosphere we have present the ozone which is responsible for absorbing photons from UV light from the suns lethal rays.

Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) are organic compounds made up of chlorine, fluorine and carbon. They were first seen in the 1920's, being developed by a man named Thomas Midgley, CFC's were used in cooling units as well aerosol sprays. At the time there was no concern over the damage that CFC's were having on our atmosphere and more importantly our ozone layer.

Ozone is a molecule that consists of three oxygen atoms, being held together by one double bond and one single. This molecule is what is present in the stratosphere (the ozone layer). This layer is what protects the earth and organisms from the sun's damaging ultraviolet light, which can be potentially lethal in high enough doses to all forms of life on earth.

The suns strong UV rays destroy the CFC compound releasing Chlorine free radicals, this chlorine radical can then combine with one of the oxygen's in ozone thus stopping ozone molecules from being formed. This process will continue to happen until two chlorine free radicals combine together

Three forms of oxygen are involved in the ozone cycle with ultraviolet light are O, O2 and O3. Ozone is formed in the stratosphere when molecules of oxygen after absorbing a photon produced from ultraviolet light, producing two separate oxygen ions from a molecule of O2. The atomic ions of oxygen then combine with other molecules of O2 thus forming two more molecules of O3.

O + O₃ → 2 O₂

Electromagnetic radiation breaks up the CFC compound releasing Chlorine free radicals, this chlorine radical can then combine with one of the oxygen's in ozone thus stopping ozone molecules from being formed. This process will continue to happen until two chlorine free radicals combine together.

Cl + O₃ → ClO + O₂ – The chlorine atom changes an ozone molecule to ordinary oxygen

ClO + O₃ → Cl + 2 O₂ – The ClO from the previous reaction destroys a second ozone molecule and recreates the original chlorine atom, which can repeat the first reaction and continue to destroy ozone.

Over time the damage caused by CFC's has been gradually decreasing as use of CFC's has been decreased, we may see the hole in the ozone completely filled, but until then it is important to know what s damaging to the earth and what can cause problems for future generations

A crazy scientist

2012-03-05T12:55:00.001-08:00

A day in the life of a crazy scientist

Keep science fun but please do keep safe

The future for science

2012-03-02T13:43:00.002-08:00

On the "chemistry world" tweeter feed was this -

“Hey, know any good jokes about sodium?” “Na.”

So cheesy, kind of nerdy too but come on admit it, it put a smile on your face.

We are in the year 2012, science has advanced so much in the last 20 years or so that we are now looking at technologies that we wouldn’t have even dreamed of decades ago. Thanks to science, thanks to chemistry, we are advancing at a very fast rate.

But what about the future?

A world where economic crisis is effecting the large proportion of homes in America and Europe, finances for education is becoming more of a struggle for students, more and more students see a degree as being not just worth as much as it once did as competition for jobs are becoming fierce. If science at high school level is a subject which students feel they do not want to take because they see it as boring, then putting all these factors together can it lead to a decrease in fully knowledgeable scientists in the future years? If so a world without scientists is a scary thought they are the brains behind all our advances, we must keep science alive.

http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=1939

A future without science may be a recipe for disaster the progression of mankind depends on the advancement of science, but how far should science take us? When are we going to past the barrier from trying develop cures to diseases to actually playing God? Let rephrase this a little, have you ever watched the film "Never let me go" Alex Garland's adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguru's book. The film is based around three characters, a story about love, about the human soul, about science; these three friends grow up in isolation with others like themselves from the real world, brought into this world for one purpose to donate their body parts to their original. You see this film is do with cloning, the clones are produced to be kept alive to maintain their organs, so that when their so called “original” becomes ill or is in need of an organ there clone is there to provide. It really was a film that made me think about the progression of science, how far are we going to go?

I found this article on "New scientist" about the future of our species, looking at questions such as

why we will still be here
what will we be like?
How will our language evolve?where will we live?
will there be any nature left?
Will we run out of resources?
and what will our descendants know about us?

Very interesting check it out at http://www.newscientist.com/special/deep-future

Achieving and good deeds

2012-03-01T06:48:00.001-08:00

I do believe that most of us have all got a desire to achieve as much as we possibly can in our lives, some of us set out to try and get the best, or reach the top but if that alway dont work out, because you have aimed so high you were more than likely achieve second best. So why not go all out and try to achieve the best you can as after all this life is short but we have all got so much potential, we can all do great things for our selves and for this world. In the film "evan almighty" a similar quote mentioned in the film that really stuck out was "you want to know how to change the world, produce one good deed at a time" it was something along thoes lines. But its true if every one takes their part in doing good wouldnt we live in a much better world? although this is an argument that really has no end, there would always be the thought of "what can I get out of this situation". Would this mean that wanting to achieve more to have a better future for your self is wrong? no not at all, its the decision's that we make in life that have a impact on our good and bad deeds.

http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=1701

The road to achievement is going to have its highs and lows, it would not be an achievement if it didn't. So take everything in its stride and roll on to the day that you have actually been waiting for. Give a helping hand along the way as that person may also be on their way to achieving, a story which always stuck out for me was the parable of the good Samaritan.

"A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the host, and said to him, 'Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.' Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbour to him who fell among the robbers?"

He said, "He who showed mercy on him."

Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." ( Luke 10:30–37, World English Bible)

Religious or not its a parable that I think we should all abide by, even though many of us would think "I would be that good Samaritan" but when the situation comes its a totally different story. But maybe that's how we begin to change this world not by thinking of what can I do to help feed a nation, or stop a war but by producing one good deed at a time "slowly but surely".

Generations of science

2012-02-28T12:17:00.000-08:00

Chemistry is the foundation for life, every thing around us is chemistry based, from the chair your sitting on to the drink that you may or may not have at this very moment. The point is that there is so much more to life than meets the eye. Take water for example, our earth is made up of 70% water, our land mass does not even make up half of this earth. The percentage of water in a average 70kg male is around 60%, so as you can see we have already got an idea of how so important water is for us as a species and of course for our survival. Now lets go further in depth as to get a full understanding of water and the chemistry around it, I do know that if we want to gain a better understanding of chemistry we best start with the most abundant compound on this earth. Water is made up of the two elements oxygen and hydrogen, one molecule of water will consist of two hydrogens attached to one oxygen atom, with in say a cup of water there are millions of these molecules all attached to one another by bonds known as hydrogen bonds, these hydrogen bonds are the result of electrostatic attraction between molecules of H20, but I am not going to go too much in depth just yet.

In 2005 there was a news paper report on how student were bored to depth with science and 51% of students found science to be boring (HTTP://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4100936.stm ) as well as this science subjects at A-level were also being neglected and was not a subject that was being chosen above others such as art or physical education.

picture taken from -http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=3062

Chemistry and of course science in general is needed and really should be a large priority subject over others as science is the foundation for life, although of course there are arguments as to what really is the main foundation of life but that's going into the topic of philosophy which I do not want to go to much into, but I do agree on one point, that science should be the search for truth.

So before we go to much off topic can you answer this question, what is science? or to be more precise what is chemistry? I suppose they are questions that cannot be answered with just one simple answer. But with a understanding of the basis of chemistry and science as a whole we can all begin to fully understand the meaning of science and of course how important it is for us to help us develope as a society, as humans.

Chemistry can be taken and applied to all aspects of life, in industries we are always relying on chemical process that supply us with our everyday products. The uses and distribution of elements and using their physical and chemical properties, although some are used to cause destruction and havoc as war erupts because of the greed of our nations. But still elements and chemistry in general are used for our own benefits and because of these facts its important that we are educated in understanding chemistry and of course science in general.