Thursday, December 2, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Chemistry Tools
Monday, November 15, 2010
Burning Issues in Chemistry
Global warming, waste management, and recycling are all issues we are familiar with. Chemistry is key in changing our past mistakes into cures for our Earth. The ICCA (International Council of Chemical Associations) Their pressing issues involve "green chemistry" specially designed not to emit hazardous waste. The American Chemistry Society is using cigarette butts to protect oil tankers against rust. This normally costs the companies millions but with cigarettes dissolved in water they can cut the cost by nearly 100%. 9 chemicals including nicotine are responsible for this value. Nearly 4.5 million cigarettes are dumped a year onto the ground. Besides looking horrible they poison fish because when it rains the runoff goes into the water. I believe another issue could be added to the mix, nuclear waste and plant management. It is more efficient to process energy from these plants. If scientists could find a way to make them more reliable and safe then we would reduce our carbon output. Currently, working in a nuclear plant is shown to cause cancer from breathing in the fumes. One must mine the heavy elements, also causing lung damage. Nuclear waste has no safe way of being contained. In the U.S. all they do is bury it under ground. For 60 years the amount of waste has been building up. The waste is unsafe to be released into the world. Chemists should come up with a way of neutralizing the effects of the waste.
Friday, November 12, 2010
"Intersex" Fish Found in Susquehanna River
http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/green/bs-gr-fish-20101102,0,4595447.story
In Pennsylvania, US, "intersex" fish are cropping up. These male small mouth bass have female traits. Over 90% tested have immature eggs. Scientists are looking into this abnormality of nature. What is causing these mutations? Arigcultural run off or consumer products such as medicines are linked to it. Vicki Blazer, a fishery biologist with US Geographical Survey, has seen other cases like this when studying the Potomac watershed. It came to her attention when she was studying bacterial infections in the fish. Not only are they mutating but newly hatched fish are dying. Blazer links this to hormonal chemicals dumped around agricultural and developed areas. Herbicides containing atrazine is a main culprit. Syngenta, a company that produces it claims that tests from the 1970's show that it does no harm to the fish. To solve this troubling dilemma scientists are studying fish chronically exposed to chemicals in herbicides and other pollution.
To progress further in research scientists need to conduct more tests with chemicals and how they affect fish. The article also mention that there may be a direct link to a change in diet.
In Pennsylvania, US, "intersex" fish are cropping up. These male small mouth bass have female traits. Over 90% tested have immature eggs. Scientists are looking into this abnormality of nature. What is causing these mutations? Arigcultural run off or consumer products such as medicines are linked to it. Vicki Blazer, a fishery biologist with US Geographical Survey, has seen other cases like this when studying the Potomac watershed. It came to her attention when she was studying bacterial infections in the fish. Not only are they mutating but newly hatched fish are dying. Blazer links this to hormonal chemicals dumped around agricultural and developed areas. Herbicides containing atrazine is a main culprit. Syngenta, a company that produces it claims that tests from the 1970's show that it does no harm to the fish. To solve this troubling dilemma scientists are studying fish chronically exposed to chemicals in herbicides and other pollution.
To progress further in research scientists need to conduct more tests with chemicals and how they affect fish. The article also mention that there may be a direct link to a change in diet.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Absolute Zero: Part 1
Today in science class we watched the video Absolute Zero about the cold: what it is, how people perceived it in the past, and some of the unique properties. This documentary is named so because absolute zero is the coldest temperature there is. There were many interesting facts about how early scientists developed theories on the cold. One of the more strange yet incorrect theories is about calhors, a mysterious "element" in the 1700s which invisibly made things cold. Since then we have developed a long way in our understanding. The cold is the lack of atomic movement; heat is movement. Important inventions such as the refrigeration, flash freezing, steam engine, and air conditioner were all developed by manipulating the temperatures of our surroundings. In modern times scientists strive towards the goal of creating absolute zero, which is not found in nature. Strange properties are attributed to matter when it becomes super frozen. A new state know as Einstein Bose Condensation is where matter is cooled so much it looses "self awareness" or shape. You cans slow down a beam of light using this property. There are still some questions I have regarding this documentary. Is there an absolute hot? If not, then what is the hottest temperature recorded? Do atoms have special properties when they are heated to high temperatures? Do all refrigerators use ammonia? If so, why?
Monday, November 1, 2010
Phases of Matter
There are three common states of matter. They are solids, liquids, and gases. You see them everyday in the form of air, water, trees, ect. All matter fits into one of the these categories. One of the lesser known phases is plasmas. What are these types of matter like? Solids have their molecules most pact together. They cannot move around. Solids can be rocks, trees, metal, ect. Liquids have molecules that are less pact than a solid. They spread to fill a container that they are poured into; their is no definite shape. When poured onto a surface liquids spread across it. Gases have the least compact atoms. There is no definite shape to a gas. Some examples are oxygen in the air and water vapor. Plasmas have free floating ions and electrons. Plasmas conduct electrical currents. They are found in stars such as our Sun.How is one phase of matter different from another one?
Phases of matter differentiate by their compactness. Solids are the most compact and gases (including plasmas) are the least. Liquids are in between. Because of the space between the atoms this allows more movement. Gas atoms are more active than solid ones. Gases are also hotter than solids. Atoms are more active when they are heated. Solids must be naturally cooler than liquids or gases.
My Tests:
Emiak and I are going to design three tests to determine if the matter is solid, gas, or liquid. (Plasma is too hard.)First of all we will determine if the matter is solid. To do this we will smash the matter.
Materials
ice cube
water
air from our lungs
bowl
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Flame Test
A flame test is a method in chemistry to find certain metal ions in a solution. Each type of metal ion produces a different colored flame (it also depends on the temperature of the fire). Elements are heated in a Bunsen burner to produce flame. The metal ions become excited by the heat, this causes them to turn into atoms. They then produce visible light. After the Experiment:
Emika and I did the flame test with nine different elements/compounds. We used about a teaspoon of every compound. Then we lit the gas Bunsen burner. We used a metal holder to put the element directly into the fire. They produced flames ranging from magenta to green to orange. Most were partially or completely green. This may because of chloride content. The compounds that produced a green flare were calcium chloride, copper chloride, iron filings, and potassium chloride. Three of the four have chlorine, a common pool cleaning agent, characterized by its greenish color. However, lithium chloride made magenta-orange flames when burned. Borax made orange flames and so did sodium carbonate. Borax is also known as sodium borate. Maybe the sodium in borax and sodium carbonate produces the orange flames.
Monday, October 25, 2010
One World Essay About Water Pollution
Water Pollution
The Deadly Crisis
By Emma Moore
He is only 3 years old. He has only days left. Every day millions of children like this die from dehydration. Why? Because of our mindless dumping of pollutants into the Earth’s water systems. Children have to walk miles just to get adequate water. It’s so simple to turn on a tap and get all the water you want. We forget the people who die every day because they do not even have a drop. Millions die every year from dehydration. We need to stop this outrage, today. This first step is to cut down on water pollution.
H2O commonly known as water, is everywhere from the ocean to clouds to our bodies. Without water, life would be impossible. It is clearly the most precious resource on Earth. Formed by the bonding of an oxygen atom with two hydrogen atoms, over 70% of the globe is water. 75% of it is salt water while the rest is locked up in ice caps. This leaves only around 1% left for drinking water. However, due to a combination of industry, agriculture, and private uses, our supply of this essential substance dwindles. Over a billion worldwide do not have access to this basic amenity. That is roughly one out of every six people.
Water pollution is defined by any human-caused contamination of water that reduces its usefulness to humans and other organisms in nature. Pollutants can range from grass clipping to sewage run off to radioactive waste. They are divided into two types, point source and non-point source. Point source pollution is emitted directly into the water. For example, the BP oil spill is a point source. Non-point source pollution indirectly poisons the environment. An example of this would be agricultural runoff which flows through streams killing aquatic life. Non-point sources are much more difficult to control because there are no obvious starting places.
There are numerous causes of water pollution.
One of the most common non-point source pollutants is sewage and fertilizer runoff. They contain nitrates and phosphates which algae transform into a form of energy. This reaction uses oxygen in the water which aquatic life needs to breathe. Overgrowth causes the algae to clog waterways. When the supply of food runs out they die, falling to the bottom. Fish suffer respiratory problems from the lack of oxygen. Algae also blocks sunlight from entering the water bed. Animals and plants die unnecessarily. This causes disruptions in the food chain ensuring further deaths from starvation. The same thing happens with other organic runoff such as grass clippings and livestock feedlots.
One of the most deadly pollutants are pathogens: bacteria, viruses, and protozoan. Though microscopic, these disease vectors are responsible 5 million deaths a year. The majority are young children. Untreated sewage, storm drains, farm runoff, and septic tanks are all carriers of pathogens. Drinking water contaminated by pathogens often causes chronic illnesses if not death. Typhoid fever, dysentery, skin and respiratory problems can all be linked to it.
Remember last April? The world was horrified by news of an leak gushing out tons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. B.P. was drilling on April 20 th when it happened. It is estimated that so far 8 million gallons have spread through the ocean and more is coming. Petroleum leaks are the most ecologically damaging. Countless creatures who live by or in the sea die from poisoning. Because oil and water do not mix, petroleum can rapidly flow across the ocean. Wild animals do not know to avoid the oil spills. Dolphins can be seen eating, playing, and sleeping in oiled areas. Efforts to halt oil leaks just damage the sea more. Chemically treating the spill with dispersant just kills more aquatic life and spreads the oil further below the surface. They may be aimed to prevent concentrated spread to the shore. However, dispersants are generally ineffective. They do not clean the oil on the water, merely breaking it down and sinking it to the bottom. There are many types but they all contain a solvent and a solution. Planes spray down the dispersant onto the oil slick. The solvent carries the solution down into the oil. The Type 1 dispersant is a hydrocarbon solvent sprayed onto the oil at the surface of the water in the Gulf. Another type of dispersant is made up of alcohol and glycol in a higher concentration.
Despite all the damage that is being done, organizations across the globe are making an effort into preserving our water supply. The United Nations had formed U.N.E.P. (United Nations Environmental Program). Their goal is to provide access to sanitary water for all by 2015. While this may not happen, so far they have spread programs from 22 countries to 88. The Clean Water Act of 1970 prevents factories from dumping waste. This deals with point source which can be easily traced. Non-point sources, like the examples in the above paragraphs, are harder to trace.
We have gotten off to good start, but this is not enough, you, yes you need to act, starting today. Do you want your children to live in a world without clean water? Do you want to? Recycle! When they are produced most factories that make your materials pollute. Reduce! Try to bike or walk as often as you can. Emissions from cars go up into the atmosphere then rain down upon bodies of water. Reuse! Packaging often contains harmful dyes. Factories that produce the packaging let out poisonous emissions. If you make smart choices everyday you can ensure sanitary water throughout your life.
As you can see, water pollution is a major issue. Everyone needs to pitch in and reverse society’s mindless poisoning. I believe that saving our water supply is an urgent cause. What else do we depend on so heavily for life? Humans can only last days without water. We need it for sanitation, drinking, and recreation. Anyone who poisons water systems must realize they will eventually poison themselves or their home, the Earth. We can all make a difference, it just takes work.
The Deadly Crisis
By Emma Moore
He is only 3 years old. He has only days left. Every day millions of children like this die from dehydration. Why? Because of our mindless dumping of pollutants into the Earth’s water systems. Children have to walk miles just to get adequate water. It’s so simple to turn on a tap and get all the water you want. We forget the people who die every day because they do not even have a drop. Millions die every year from dehydration. We need to stop this outrage, today. This first step is to cut down on water pollution. H2O commonly known as water, is everywhere from the ocean to clouds to our bodies. Without water, life would be impossible. It is clearly the most precious resource on Earth. Formed by the bonding of an oxygen atom with two hydrogen atoms, over 70% of the globe is water. 75% of it is salt water while the rest is locked up in ice caps. This leaves only around 1% left for drinking water. However, due to a combination of industry, agriculture, and private uses, our supply of this essential substance dwindles. Over a billion worldwide do not have access to this basic amenity. That is roughly one out of every six people.
Water pollution is defined by any human-caused contamination of water that reduces its usefulness to humans and other organisms in nature. Pollutants can range from grass clipping to sewage run off to radioactive waste. They are divided into two types, point source and non-point source. Point source pollution is emitted directly into the water. For example, the BP oil spill is a point source. Non-point source pollution indirectly poisons the environment. An example of this would be agricultural runoff which flows through streams killing aquatic life. Non-point sources are much more difficult to control because there are no obvious starting places.
There are numerous causes of water pollution.
One of the most common non-point source pollutants is sewage and fertilizer runoff. They contain nitrates and phosphates which algae transform into a form of energy. This reaction uses oxygen in the water which aquatic life needs to breathe. Overgrowth causes the algae to clog waterways. When the supply of food runs out they die, falling to the bottom. Fish suffer respiratory problems from the lack of oxygen. Algae also blocks sunlight from entering the water bed. Animals and plants die unnecessarily. This causes disruptions in the food chain ensuring further deaths from starvation. The same thing happens with other organic runoff such as grass clippings and livestock feedlots.
One of the most deadly pollutants are pathogens: bacteria, viruses, and protozoan. Though microscopic, these disease vectors are responsible 5 million deaths a year. The majority are young children. Untreated sewage, storm drains, farm runoff, and septic tanks are all carriers of pathogens. Drinking water contaminated by pathogens often causes chronic illnesses if not death. Typhoid fever, dysentery, skin and respiratory problems can all be linked to it.
Remember last April? The world was horrified by news of an leak gushing out tons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. B.P. was drilling on April 20 th when it happened. It is estimated that so far 8 million gallons have spread through the ocean and more is coming. Petroleum leaks are the most ecologically damaging. Countless creatures who live by or in the sea die from poisoning. Because oil and water do not mix, petroleum can rapidly flow across the ocean. Wild animals do not know to avoid the oil spills. Dolphins can be seen eating, playing, and sleeping in oiled areas. Efforts to halt oil leaks just damage the sea more. Chemically treating the spill with dispersant just kills more aquatic life and spreads the oil further below the surface. They may be aimed to prevent concentrated spread to the shore. However, dispersants are generally ineffective. They do not clean the oil on the water, merely breaking it down and sinking it to the bottom. There are many types but they all contain a solvent and a solution. Planes spray down the dispersant onto the oil slick. The solvent carries the solution down into the oil. The Type 1 dispersant is a hydrocarbon solvent sprayed onto the oil at the surface of the water in the Gulf. Another type of dispersant is made up of alcohol and glycol in a higher concentration.
Despite all the damage that is being done, organizations across the globe are making an effort into preserving our water supply. The United Nations had formed U.N.E.P. (United Nations Environmental Program). Their goal is to provide access to sanitary water for all by 2015. While this may not happen, so far they have spread programs from 22 countries to 88. The Clean Water Act of 1970 prevents factories from dumping waste. This deals with point source which can be easily traced. Non-point sources, like the examples in the above paragraphs, are harder to trace.
We have gotten off to good start, but this is not enough, you, yes you need to act, starting today. Do you want your children to live in a world without clean water? Do you want to? Recycle! When they are produced most factories that make your materials pollute. Reduce! Try to bike or walk as often as you can. Emissions from cars go up into the atmosphere then rain down upon bodies of water. Reuse! Packaging often contains harmful dyes. Factories that produce the packaging let out poisonous emissions. If you make smart choices everyday you can ensure sanitary water throughout your life.
As you can see, water pollution is a major issue. Everyone needs to pitch in and reverse society’s mindless poisoning. I believe that saving our water supply is an urgent cause. What else do we depend on so heavily for life? Humans can only last days without water. We need it for sanitation, drinking, and recreation. Anyone who poisons water systems must realize they will eventually poison themselves or their home, the Earth. We can all make a difference, it just takes work.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Alunimum Plant Spill: An Ecological Disatster
In an aluminum plant in Western Factory , a reservoir containing red metal rich run off burst, flooding seven surrounding towns. At least four people were killed, several missing, and more than 120 are injured. People have reported burning and itching eyes. In a statement on its website, MAL Magyar Aluminum said that the sludge contains iron oxide, aluminum, silicon dioxide, calcium oxide, and titanium dioxide. According to The New York Times, "residents in Kolontar, not far from where the accident occurred, people tried to rush from their homes as a 6-foot-high wave of sludge pushed its way through narrow streets and homes." Major waterways, including the Danube are at risk from this toxic sludge. Millions have already been spent on trying to contain and remove this hazard. However it is estimated that clean up will take up to 18 months. Further will probably require an application for financial or technical support from the EU. Injured people have reported burning and itching eyes.
In a statement on its website, MAL Magyar Aluminum said that the sludge contains iron oxide, aluminum, silicon dioxide, calcium oxide, and titanium dioxide.
More Information: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGfX6Eo5lsI
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/10/05/130351938/red-sludge-from-hungarian-aluminum-plant-spill-an-ecological-disaster
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11475361
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Periodic Table of Videos- Sodium
Sodium is very light, silvery, alkali metal. It has to be stored in oil because it oxidizes with water and air. When sodium chloride is broken it breaks into rectangular pieces because the crystals have a cubic arrangement.
NOTE: The element video that was not included was for Boron. :)
Periodic Table of Videos- Neon
Neon is an inert gas like helium. It does not really form any compounds at all. You commonly see neon in glass signs where other elements are added to produce different colors. High voltage is pumped through a glass tube which excites the neon atoms, giving off a red glow.
Periodic Table of Videos- 0xygen
Oxygen exists in two forms, as O2 in the air we breathe and as ozone (it protects us from harmful UV rays). Unpaired electrons within the orbit causes liquid oxygen to become blue. Chemists often make liquid oxygen by mistake. This is dangerous because it is very reactive to organic compounds.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Periodic Table of Videos- Nitrogen
Nitrogen atoms form the strongest bond between same element atoms on the periodic table. This is utilized in bombs where separate Nitrogen atoms come together creating an explosion. Another use for nitrogen is for correcting eyes. The patient is put under amnesia while the doctor removes their eye lens. Using liquid nitrogen the doctor freezes the lens then shaves it into the right shape. He unfreezes the lens and put it back into the patient's eye.
Periodic Table of Videos- Carbon
The element carbon is present in all living things. Scientists use that mass of the isotope Carbon 12 to measure the mass of all other elements on the periodic table. Carbon makes up both diamonds and graphite (used in our pencils). Amorphous carbon (without any form) is used for gas masks because it filters the poisonous gases into safe one.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Periodic Table of Videos- Beryllium
Beryllium is an unusual metal many people have never heard of. It is unique because if you put x-rays through beryllium they are not absorbed, they just go straight through. This make beryllium useful for x-ray experiments where scientists want to make a vacuum without the vessel absorbing the rays. Beryllium is very toxic. It is know to cause an industrial lung disease called berylliosis. One small dome of beryllium costs 15,000 Euros.
Periodic Table of Videos- Lithium
Lithium is the lightest of all metals and can even float on water. It has to be stored in oil because it reacts immediatly with water and nitrogen in air. Lithium is used to cure bipolar disorder.
Periodic Table of Videos- Helium
This video is about the element helium, Much like hydrogen, in the fact that it is so light, helium has a few unique properties of its own. It is the least reactive of the gasses, in remains inert when combined with others. Liquid helium cools at a very low temperature. Because of this, liquid helium can change the properties of a material when it is poured over it. For example, it is used to remove electrical resistance. Helium can not be made by humans because it is simply a pure element. Under the US large amounts of helium is formed by decaying minerals.
Periodic Table of Videos- Hydrogen
This video about Hydrogen was very informative. I had not known that hydrogen had an isotope called Deuterium which has twice the mass of Hydrogen due to the extra proton and neutron. When combined with oxygen it makes "heavy water". (It is NOT safe to drink!) While they look the same Deuterium and Hydrogen are quite different in their reactions. Another isotope of Hydrogen is Tritium which is radioactive.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Chemistry Mind Map
This is my mind map for chemistry. As you can see elements play a large part in chemistry. There are chemical properties and physcial changes which I asscoiate with combining elements or compounds.
(NOTE: The category "atoms" fits under all the element categories.)
Nitrogen: Too Much of a Good Thing
Nitrogen in Fertilizers Article
Review of the Article
The above article discusses the element nitrogen, a necessary component of fertilizers but one that has devastating environmental costs. Commercial fertilizer is made up of three elements: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Nitrogen is by far the most deadly. Most plants cannot process pure nitrogen from the air. Instead, they need nitrogen to be "fixed" so they can process it into energy. Exceptions to this are soybeans, peas and clover. Symbotic bacteria in thier roots allows these crops to take in atmospheric nitrogen (N2). The bactieria breaks N2 down into a chemically usable fertilizer. Fertilizers mainly use ions of N2 such as ammonia (NH3) or the ammonium ion (NH4+).
Normally, nitrogen makes up roughly 78% of the air. However, excess nitrogen in fertilizers do more harm than good. Nitrogen can leak off from the farmland into bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, and eventually the ocean. This fertilizer triggers algae growth. When they die the algae falls to the bottom of the body of water. Bacteria break the algae down. In doing so, bacteria suck up oxygen from the water. If this occurs frequently in large numbers there is no more oxygen for the fish and marine life to breath. Nitrogen from fertilizers can also be converted into N2O which contributes to global warming.
Reflection
"Jerry Glover, an agroecologist at the Land Institute, and colleagues predict that it will be possible to grow perennial crops within the next 25–50 years."
This is an outrage. We cannot wait another half or quarter of a century to have better industrial crops. Actions must start today. What the article fails to contribute is why farmers overdose the crops with fertilizer. If we are only using 15 to 20% would it not make sense to simply lower the intake of nitrogen. Ideally, the government would limit the amount of fertilizer farmers are permitted to dump on the crops. That way, farmers would save money and save the environment at the same time.
According to Food Inc. (the documentary) corporate food industries hold farmers down by constantly putting them in debt. They tell them they need this new expensive technology or they will not buy their crops. This further puts the farmers into debt trying to get out of it by buying "necessary" technology. The same applies to fertilizers. We pay farmers to overproduce keeping the price of corn low and farmers suffer. Scientists try to come up with new ways to use this excess corn. In all ways this is a suicidal cycle.
Action needs to start now. Firstly, corporate giants and even the government need to stop paying growers to over produce and instead for organic farming. Farmers will be less likely to be motivated to use killer fertilizers and instead go natural. Secondly, we need to kick our addiction to corn. While it may seem natural that everything from batteries to coke has corn somewhere in it this is just destroying our world further. Thirdly, foreign and local sugar should become more avalible. A major product involving corn is high fructose corn syrup found in virtually every manufactured product.
This will all take time and effort. Not everyone may agree. But if we start today then we will definitely benefit tomorrow.
Review of the Article
The above article discusses the element nitrogen, a necessary component of fertilizers but one that has devastating environmental costs. Commercial fertilizer is made up of three elements: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Nitrogen is by far the most deadly. Most plants cannot process pure nitrogen from the air. Instead, they need nitrogen to be "fixed" so they can process it into energy. Exceptions to this are soybeans, peas and clover. Symbotic bacteria in thier roots allows these crops to take in atmospheric nitrogen (N2). The bactieria breaks N2 down into a chemically usable fertilizer. Fertilizers mainly use ions of N2 such as ammonia (NH3) or the ammonium ion (NH4+).
Normally, nitrogen makes up roughly 78% of the air. However, excess nitrogen in fertilizers do more harm than good. Nitrogen can leak off from the farmland into bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, and eventually the ocean. This fertilizer triggers algae growth. When they die the algae falls to the bottom of the body of water. Bacteria break the algae down. In doing so, bacteria suck up oxygen from the water. If this occurs frequently in large numbers there is no more oxygen for the fish and marine life to breath. Nitrogen from fertilizers can also be converted into N2O which contributes to global warming.
Reflection
"Jerry Glover, an agroecologist at the Land Institute, and colleagues predict that it will be possible to grow perennial crops within the next 25–50 years."
This is an outrage. We cannot wait another half or quarter of a century to have better industrial crops. Actions must start today. What the article fails to contribute is why farmers overdose the crops with fertilizer. If we are only using 15 to 20% would it not make sense to simply lower the intake of nitrogen. Ideally, the government would limit the amount of fertilizer farmers are permitted to dump on the crops. That way, farmers would save money and save the environment at the same time.
According to Food Inc. (the documentary) corporate food industries hold farmers down by constantly putting them in debt. They tell them they need this new expensive technology or they will not buy their crops. This further puts the farmers into debt trying to get out of it by buying "necessary" technology. The same applies to fertilizers. We pay farmers to overproduce keeping the price of corn low and farmers suffer. Scientists try to come up with new ways to use this excess corn. In all ways this is a suicidal cycle.
Action needs to start now. Firstly, corporate giants and even the government need to stop paying growers to over produce and instead for organic farming. Farmers will be less likely to be motivated to use killer fertilizers and instead go natural. Secondly, we need to kick our addiction to corn. While it may seem natural that everything from batteries to coke has corn somewhere in it this is just destroying our world further. Thirdly, foreign and local sugar should become more avalible. A major product involving corn is high fructose corn syrup found in virtually every manufactured product.
This will all take time and effort. Not everyone may agree. But if we start today then we will definitely benefit tomorrow.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Chemical Party
Chemcial Party
This video shows the different reactions between elements through the use of a humorous script. It informs the viewer of what happens when two or more chemicals come together. Here is a list of what happened:
1. Neon and Hydrogen have zero reaction.
Noble gases do not react with other elements bhttp://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4387960185330109689ecause their outer shells are full. They do not give or take electrons. Even helium with only 2 electrons in the outer shell is full. Noble gases do not naturally combine with themselves or other elements.
H+Ne = H+Ne
2. Carbon can attract 4 hydrogen atoms in at tetrahedral formation.
Carbon and hydrogen generally have no reaction. Sometimes they form a slight acid between protons.
1C+4H= CH4
3. Sodium and chlorine have an electric reaction. They can be separated by electrolysis.
Mixing sodium and chlorine produces common table salt. This is because chlorine has 7 electrons in its outer shell. This means its unstable. Sodium gives it that one extra electron to stabilize it. This creates what you use to salt you mash potatoes. Electrolysis can be applied to divide it back into sodium and chlorine again.
2Na(s) + Cl2(g) ——> 2NaCl(s)
4.Water and potassium have an explosive reaction.
Potassium is an alkaline metal. When it combines with water it wants to get rid of one electron to form a noble gas. The result is a chemical reaction in the form of an explosion.
K(s) +2 H2O(l) Ã 2KOH(aq) + H2(g)
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Structure of Matter
Here are several different types of matter found in the natural world. I will hypothesize what it is composed of and how one could prove the components.
The Ocean
Major Components: water, salt, bacteria, algae, plants, fish, coral, sand
How to Test This: Take a sample. Put the water under a microscope to identify the unseen bacteria. Look at the visible components with the naked eyed. Categorize them. Evaporate the water to see if salt is let over.
Sea Water
Major Components: water, salt, bacteria
How to Test This: Put the water under a microscope to look for living things. Evaporate the water to see if salt is left over.
Salt
Major Components: sodium chloride, sodium silicoaluminate or magnesium carbonate
How to Test: Use electrolysis to divide it into sodium and free floating chlorine gas. This must be done at high temperatures when the salt is molten.
Source: http://www.ccmr.cornell.edu/education/ask/index.html?quid=588
Beach Sand
Major Components: quartz (silicon dioxide) , dust, shell bits, salt, volcanic glass powder (depends),
How to Test: Put the sand through a fine filter. Look at what is left over. Let the sand settle into layers. Examine closely with a magnifying glass.
Silicon
Components: 14 protons, 14 neutrons, 14 electrons
How to Test: Smash one atom together with an atom of a much heavier element and measure how the momentum changes. This will be the mass. To find the number of electrons find the charge of the element by moving it towards an atom of a the same element with the same charge. If there is no charge then there are the same number of electrons as protons.
Chlorine
Components: 17 protons, 17 neutrons, 17 electrons
How to Test: Do the same as above.
The Ocean
Major Components: water, salt, bacteria, algae, plants, fish, coral, sand
How to Test This: Take a sample. Put the water under a microscope to identify the unseen bacteria. Look at the visible components with the naked eyed. Categorize them. Evaporate the water to see if salt is let over.
Sea Water
Major Components: water, salt, bacteria
How to Test This: Put the water under a microscope to look for living things. Evaporate the water to see if salt is left over.
Salt
Major Components: sodium chloride, sodium silicoaluminate or magnesium carbonate
How to Test: Use electrolysis to divide it into sodium and free floating chlorine gas. This must be done at high temperatures when the salt is molten.
Source: http://www.ccmr.cornell.edu/education/ask/index.html?quid=588
Beach Sand
Major Components: quartz (silicon dioxide) , dust, shell bits, salt, volcanic glass powder (depends),
How to Test: Put the sand through a fine filter. Look at what is left over. Let the sand settle into layers. Examine closely with a magnifying glass.
Silicon
Components: 14 protons, 14 neutrons, 14 electrons
How to Test: Smash one atom together with an atom of a much heavier element and measure how the momentum changes. This will be the mass. To find the number of electrons find the charge of the element by moving it towards an atom of a the same element with the same charge. If there is no charge then there are the same number of electrons as protons.
Chlorine
Components: 17 protons, 17 neutrons, 17 electrons
How to Test: Do the same as above.
Monday, September 6, 2010
What is the Octet Rule, a Bohr Diagram, and Lewis Dot Diagram?
Source: http://groups.molbiosci.northwestern.edu/holmgren/Glossary/Definitions/Def-O/octet_rule.html
A Bohr diagram is a simplified model to represent atoms. It was designed by the physicist Niel Bohr. In the center is the nucleus, where the static protons and neutrons reside. On the outside, in the surrounding circles representing electron shells where the electrons float around. The Bohr diagram shows difference in charges by having a plus sign for a positive charge, a minus sign for a negative one, and none for no charge.The top illustration shows what it looks like. If there was a neutron it would be in the center with no charge.
Source: http://homepages.ius.edu/GKIRCHNE/Chem.htm
A Lewis Dot Diagram shows the bonding of atoms within a molecule. In the center is the abbreviation of the element. Surrounding it are dots each representing the valance or outer electrons of an element. The central element is the one with the largest amount of electrons or the largest atom. Around the atom go the other elements within the molecule. You place them according to electrons they share with the central atom. (This means that every bond shares two electrons.)
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_dot
http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/bonds/faq/simple-lewis-structures.shtml
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Green Plastics: The Material of the Future or a Misguided Mistake?
http://vimeo.com/11077939
Response to the Video
This informative video produced by ChemMatters discusses the latest innovation from the scientific community: "bioplastics". It goes on to discuss the chemical composition of these new greener plastics and their pros and cons. Watching this makes me wonder whether all these attempts at more environmentally friendly materials are really worth it. What happened to the simple idea of reducing waste rather that creating more eco counterparts? It takes very little carbon to simplify and cut down on your intake of materialistic items. More stuff even if its supposedly good for the environment does not save the planet. It gets consumers to go out and buy more worthless junk.
The answer lies in reusable items, which plastic is mostly not. Very few, cloth bags rather than billions of eco plastic ones are better. Further more, this idea of plastic created with vegetables forces motivates farmers to overproduce further destroying the land. Instead of using just plain old sun and water farmers will turn to the most toxic pesticides and herbicides they can lay their hands on.
In the US the government already supports the overproduction of corn. Because of this scientists look for any product possible to sneak it in. Everything from coke to diapers to batteries contain corn. Bioplastics provide yet another item corn will demand. When we've used up all sources of land in the US we will turn to the precious rainforest. With a combination of cross clearing and soil overuse the world's lungs will be gone.
In addition, producing bioplastic takes almost as much energy as normal plastic. Why waste the effort? The program said in 10 years it could make up 20% of the global plastic. This is relying on the fact that bioplastic would be cheap enough to be globally endorsed. Improvised countries and many of us are not going to pay extra when there is a cheaper alternative. Bioplastic would need to be boosted by government support or private companies. If we keep deluding ourselves that there is limitless oil for normal plastic that is not going to happen anytime soon. By then it may be too late.
While in theory bioplastic sounds like the savior to our mindless consumerism habits it is not. In stead of coming up with more alternatives we need to change our foolish ways. Bioplastics are idealistic but simply out of the question. Perhaps this will change... in 20 years when the rainforest is gone! While they may seem like the answer, we should not rush ahead with them. Scientists can take them back to the drawing board... for now.
Reflection on the Video
These plastics are being developed by Nature Works scientists who develop the plastic pellets and send them off to factory to process. They are called "green" because they are based on vegetable sugar molecules rather than oil. Some of them are even compostable. This video lists 3 reactions, 2 for normal plastic (ethylene and condensation) and 1 for bioplastics (PLa). Within the process of making PLa there are over four different reactions. I think I see around five or six elements but I am not sure if every molecule is an element . If so, I see around 12. By making all these chemical reactions scientists get byproducts of water. It is a hindrance rather than a help. This shows another amazing quality of water. If making water from molecules is dangerous then how can be processing this plastic be safe?
Response to the Video
This informative video produced by ChemMatters discusses the latest innovation from the scientific community: "bioplastics". It goes on to discuss the chemical composition of these new greener plastics and their pros and cons. Watching this makes me wonder whether all these attempts at more environmentally friendly materials are really worth it. What happened to the simple idea of reducing waste rather that creating more eco counterparts? It takes very little carbon to simplify and cut down on your intake of materialistic items. More stuff even if its supposedly good for the environment does not save the planet. It gets consumers to go out and buy more worthless junk.
The answer lies in reusable items, which plastic is mostly not. Very few, cloth bags rather than billions of eco plastic ones are better. Further more, this idea of plastic created with vegetables forces motivates farmers to overproduce further destroying the land. Instead of using just plain old sun and water farmers will turn to the most toxic pesticides and herbicides they can lay their hands on.
In the US the government already supports the overproduction of corn. Because of this scientists look for any product possible to sneak it in. Everything from coke to diapers to batteries contain corn. Bioplastics provide yet another item corn will demand. When we've used up all sources of land in the US we will turn to the precious rainforest. With a combination of cross clearing and soil overuse the world's lungs will be gone.
In addition, producing bioplastic takes almost as much energy as normal plastic. Why waste the effort? The program said in 10 years it could make up 20% of the global plastic. This is relying on the fact that bioplastic would be cheap enough to be globally endorsed. Improvised countries and many of us are not going to pay extra when there is a cheaper alternative. Bioplastic would need to be boosted by government support or private companies. If we keep deluding ourselves that there is limitless oil for normal plastic that is not going to happen anytime soon. By then it may be too late.
While in theory bioplastic sounds like the savior to our mindless consumerism habits it is not. In stead of coming up with more alternatives we need to change our foolish ways. Bioplastics are idealistic but simply out of the question. Perhaps this will change... in 20 years when the rainforest is gone! While they may seem like the answer, we should not rush ahead with them. Scientists can take them back to the drawing board... for now.
Reflection on the Video
These plastics are being developed by Nature Works scientists who develop the plastic pellets and send them off to factory to process. They are called "green" because they are based on vegetable sugar molecules rather than oil. Some of them are even compostable. This video lists 3 reactions, 2 for normal plastic (ethylene and condensation) and 1 for bioplastics (PLa). Within the process of making PLa there are over four different reactions. I think I see around five or six elements but I am not sure if every molecule is an element . If so, I see around 12. By making all these chemical reactions scientists get byproducts of water. It is a hindrance rather than a help. This shows another amazing quality of water. If making water from molecules is dangerous then how can be processing this plastic be safe?
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Facts You Didn't Know About.... Water!
http://discovermagazine.com/2010/may/20-things-you-didn.t-know-about-water
This article revealed 20 interesting and little know facts about the resource we depend on everyday... water. From all these facts here are 5 of my favorite:
1. Fresh can be a relative term. Before 2009 federal regulations did not require water bottle to remove E.coli.
Response: I like this fact because many people are hyped up by E.coli in food such as meat. That the law permitted E.coli in water bottles is astounding.
2. The new Water Recovery System on the International Space Station recycles 93 percent of astronauts’ perspiration and urine, turning it back into drinking water.
Response: This would be great to use on Earth but it is probably too expensive to practical.
3.Good gardeners know not to water plants during the day. Droplets clinging to the leaves can act as little magnifying glasses, focusing sunlight and causing the plants to burn.
Response: I didn't now that even tiny droplets of water can magnify and actually burn something.
4. Scientists at Oregon State University have identified vast reservoirs of water beneath the ocean floor. In fact, there may be more water under the oceans than in them.
Response: I wonder whether all of the water under the ocean is salt. Is any of it fresh enough to drink? Does it just stay there or is it part of the water cycle?
5. Recent evidence suggests that when the solar system formed 4.5 billion years ago, comets had liquid cores. If so, life may have started in a comet.
Response: If life started in comets does that mean there is life in other planets hit buy comets?
Here are 5 of my own facts about water:
1. In 20 minutes, one thunderstorm can send down over 125,000,000 gallons of water!
http://ellerbruch.nmu.edu/classes/cs255w03/cs255students/mteasley/p4/watercycle.html
2. Between 1950 and 2000, the U.S. population nearly doubled. However, in that same period, public demand for water more than tripled! Americans now use an average of 100 gallons of water each day — enough to fill 1,600 drinking glasses! (EPA, 2008)
http://www.oberlin.edu/recycle/facts.html
3. It takes 2 gallons to brush your teeth, 2 to 7 gallons to flush a toilet, and 25 to 50 gallons to take a shower.
http://www.njawwa.org/kidsweb/waterfacts/waterfacts.htm
4. If 4% of the world's military expenditures (36 billion dollars) was saved each year, all of humanity would have clean drinking water and a sanitary way of disposing waste.
http://library.thinkquest.org/11353/water.htm
5. If all the world's water were fit into a gallon jug, the fresh water available for us to use would equal only about one tablespoon.
http://www.rivers.gov/waterfacts.html
This article revealed 20 interesting and little know facts about the resource we depend on everyday... water. From all these facts here are 5 of my favorite:
1. Fresh can be a relative term. Before 2009 federal regulations did not require water bottle to remove E.coli.
Response: I like this fact because many people are hyped up by E.coli in food such as meat. That the law permitted E.coli in water bottles is astounding.
2. The new Water Recovery System on the International Space Station recycles 93 percent of astronauts’ perspiration and urine, turning it back into drinking water.
Response: This would be great to use on Earth but it is probably too expensive to practical.
3.Good gardeners know not to water plants during the day. Droplets clinging to the leaves can act as little magnifying glasses, focusing sunlight and causing the plants to burn.
Response: I didn't now that even tiny droplets of water can magnify and actually burn something.
4. Scientists at Oregon State University have identified vast reservoirs of water beneath the ocean floor. In fact, there may be more water under the oceans than in them.
Response: I wonder whether all of the water under the ocean is salt. Is any of it fresh enough to drink? Does it just stay there or is it part of the water cycle?
5. Recent evidence suggests that when the solar system formed 4.5 billion years ago, comets had liquid cores. If so, life may have started in a comet.
Response: If life started in comets does that mean there is life in other planets hit buy comets?
Here are 5 of my own facts about water:
1. In 20 minutes, one thunderstorm can send down over 125,000,000 gallons of water!
http://ellerbruch.nmu.edu/classes/cs255w03/cs255students/mteasley/p4/watercycle.html
2. Between 1950 and 2000, the U.S. population nearly doubled. However, in that same period, public demand for water more than tripled! Americans now use an average of 100 gallons of water each day — enough to fill 1,600 drinking glasses! (EPA, 2008)
http://www.oberlin.edu/recycle/facts.html
3. It takes 2 gallons to brush your teeth, 2 to 7 gallons to flush a toilet, and 25 to 50 gallons to take a shower.
http://www.njawwa.org/kidsweb/waterfacts/waterfacts.htm
4. If 4% of the world's military expenditures (36 billion dollars) was saved each year, all of humanity would have clean drinking water and a sanitary way of disposing waste.
http://library.thinkquest.org/11353/water.htm
5. If all the world's water were fit into a gallon jug, the fresh water available for us to use would equal only about one tablespoon.
http://www.rivers.gov/waterfacts.html
Friday, August 27, 2010
Helium: The Vanishing Element
Going, Going, Gone
This article is about helium, one of the most useful and strange elements, which is vanishing off the face of the Earth. Helium is used in everything from balloons to MRI's to liquid fueled rockets. Many of the highest technologies require this buoyant element. It is one of the most plentiful elements in the universe but on Earth it can only be found in great quantities in a few subterranean pockets, many of which are in the US. Due to mindless management it may soon vanish.
Q: Why is this element rare on Earth yet abundant throughout the universe?
A: Earth may once have had an abundant supply too but it was burned up by the sun eons ago. Why most of it is in America is just a random act of nature.
Q: What do we need this element for anyway?
A: MRI's, liquid fueled rockets, optical fibers, particle accelerators, all require helium either to test or manufacture.
Q: What could we do to prevent this problem?
A: The US could stop selling off their reserves and instead keep it for times of need. They should focus on the small scale laboratories. Scientists should work on finding alternatives to helium. Helium balloons not used for scientific study should be banned. Maybe we could figure out a way to harvest helium from space.
Q: How could this issue happen with other elements?
A: Maybe other gases could be lost up in space. When the last tree on Earth is cut down we will lose all our oxygen and have an abundance of CO2. Perhaps some of less common gases in our atmosphere like ozone could disappear due to CO2 emissions. Then ultraviolet light from the sun would burn us.
This article is about helium, one of the most useful and strange elements, which is vanishing off the face of the Earth. Helium is used in everything from balloons to MRI's to liquid fueled rockets. Many of the highest technologies require this buoyant element. It is one of the most plentiful elements in the universe but on Earth it can only be found in great quantities in a few subterranean pockets, many of which are in the US. Due to mindless management it may soon vanish.
Q: Why is this element rare on Earth yet abundant throughout the universe?
A: Earth may once have had an abundant supply too but it was burned up by the sun eons ago. Why most of it is in America is just a random act of nature.
Q: What do we need this element for anyway?
A: MRI's, liquid fueled rockets, optical fibers, particle accelerators, all require helium either to test or manufacture.
Q: What could we do to prevent this problem?
A: The US could stop selling off their reserves and instead keep it for times of need. They should focus on the small scale laboratories. Scientists should work on finding alternatives to helium. Helium balloons not used for scientific study should be banned. Maybe we could figure out a way to harvest helium from space.
Q: How could this issue happen with other elements?
A: Maybe other gases could be lost up in space. When the last tree on Earth is cut down we will lose all our oxygen and have an abundance of CO2. Perhaps some of less common gases in our atmosphere like ozone could disappear due to CO2 emissions. Then ultraviolet light from the sun would burn us.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Evidance of a Chemical Reaction
1. The bromine is corroded by the alcohol at first. The solution turns red and begins to put out red smoke. Alcohol levels decrease. It returns to the original red color.
2. It starts by smoking and fizzing. Then a flame appears, dances around, and crackled. Finally it fizzles out.
3. It sparks and bangs. Yellow, red, and magenta sparks shoot from the solution. Smoke signals the end.
4. Again, it sparks and bangs. A pink flame jets upward surrounded by yellow sparks. Popping sounds come from the sparks.
5. There is smoke then a sudden jet of flame, followed by an explosion..
6. Smoke and white steam rise from the pool. The liquids change to a white gas. This change cools the pool.
7. The dry ice blows up; white fizz and foam is everywhere. A crater in the water forms. Water rushes to fill it.
8. It fizzles up to the top. Smoke rises. The mixture bubbles over the top. Liquids on the inside turn black and the foam becomes gray. It fizzles.
9. The gummy bear flames and smokes. A pulsing fire comes from it.
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