New Lab and Learning Excel

During a lab that we started yesterday and finished today, we had 567 small square pieces of paper or "atoms" that was plain on one side and colored on the other. In this lab we put all of the squares in a cup and mixed them up. After mixing them up we separated the color squares from the plain squares. After separating them we counted the white squares or (radioactive atoms) back in the cup and removed the colored ones (decayed atoms) We did this six times. What this did was taught us about half life. Here is a link that explains what half life is. After the completion of the lab we had to graph the data in excel. Most of us have never used excel before but still we were able to understand it pretty fast.

 Using Excel

 

 

Here is our data from the lab

 

 

Freaking out for nothing

Today we took our first quiz in the unit Atomic Structure and Radioactivity. During this section we learned about how to find the protons, neutrons, and electrons of each element and also learned the formula that helped us calculate the average atomic weight of isotopes. Before this quiz I was freaking out because I thought there were going to be very difficult answers so I study a decent amount last night and this morning right before the test. This studying paid off because I believe I ended up doing pretty well. One thing that helped me study was being able to look back on all of my notes that I took from this unit and last. These notes really help me. Also there are a couple Bohzeman videos that explain the periodic table and show you where to find different things on it. This was also very helpful. Compared to the pre-test that we took awhile ago I feel confident that I have gained more knowledge on this subject.

Bohzeman Videos can be watched here!

Beanium Lab

Today in class we did the beanium lab. During this lab we had to: identify the number of beanium isotopes, determine the mass of each isotope, find the percent abundance in each isotope, and calculate the average atomic mass of beanium. In order to find this we had to use a balance, a sample of beanium, and a calculator. In order to start the lab we had to count the total number of beanium atoms in the sample, which was 44. After counting them we had to separate them out into different isotopes these isotopes included: white beanium (10), black beanium (7), red beanium (5), and pinto beanium (22). After counting the isotopes we had to measure the mass of all of the atoms in that specific isotope. One thing we had to make sure we did before this is zero the balance out. Next, my lab partner and I had to calculate the average mass of this isotope. In order to do this we had to divide the number of atoms of the isotope by the total mas of all the atoms of this isotope. Then, we had to find the percentage abundance of the isotopes. To do this we had to divide the number of atoms of the certain isotope by the number of total atoms. Lastly, we had to calculate the average atomic mass of beanium. This lab is important because it taught us how to calculate the average mass of an individual isotope, the percent of abundance, and the average atomic mass of beanium.

 

Atomic inference activity

Yesterday we completed an inference activity. In this activity there were covered plates with different designs and a marble. What we had to do was roll the marble around and try to infer what shape or design was without being able to see it. After a couple minutes of trying to figure out what shape it was me and my lab partner wrote down our inferences and then uncovered the plate. Most of the time we ended up being wrong. One thing that was hard about this lab was that we couldn't see what we were doing. This is comparable to Ruthfords experiment where he bounced things off the atom trying to find the structure of it.

Atomic theory

Today in class we learned about the atomic theory, law of conservation, and new discoveries of the atom. First, Dalton's theory stated: that elements are made up of tiny particles called atoms, all atoms of a given element are identical, the atoms of a given element are different from those of any other element, atoms of one element can combine with atoms of other elements to form compounds, atoms are indivisible in chemical processes and are not simply created or destroyed. We also learned that points number 2 and number 5 are invalid because of new information that has come about. Next, we learned about the law of constant composition. What this means is that every compound of the same species are always put together in the same order. For example, water is always 2 hydrogen's and an oxygen. Lastly, we learned about new discoveries of the atom. JJ Thomson was the person who discovered electrons by using a cathode ray to show the atoms of any element emit particles with a negative charge. This is shown through the plum pudding or chocolate chip model. Ruthford used the gold foil experiment to prove the presence of a positively charged center in an atom. Finally, the current model is the cloud model where electron location is pinpointed using probability.

http://www.humanthermodynamics.com/Atom_diagram.jpg


Atomic theory song here!
The history of the atom/Crash Course here!
Here is a website that may help with Atomic Theory here!
Atomic theory timeline here!

Nomenclature

For this unit we learned about naming ionic compounds as well as acids and polyatomics. For type one you take off the ending of the anion and add -ide so MgS becomes Magnesium Sulfide. For type two we  learned how to name a compound with a transition metal and non-metal. In order to do this you have to make sure you add roman numerals. For example, CuBr becomes, Copper (I) Bromide. Then for type three it is a compound between two non-metals. For this you have to remember to add the prefixes, such as penta- for five. For naming polyatomics it is mostly memorization. Lastly, naming acids if there is no oxygen in it it gets the prefix hydo- and ends in -ide. If it has an oxygen you have to look at the ending if it has the prefix -ite it changes to (root)ous acid if it ends in -ate it changes to (root)ic acid.

Overall I found this unit fairly easy. Most of it was just memorization. During this unit i have to make sure i remember most of it because we will end up using it throughout the year. In order to improve my knowledge on things such as polyatomics i can review my flashcards and look up different websites that could help me. Most of this i would have to say was my best effort, yes i can work on some things but overall i believe i understood the concepts fairly well and but in my best work.

Frontier Project

During the frontier project we found plants in Eastern Deciduous Forest and Tall Grass Prairie habitat that helped with different maladies. During this project i found it difficult to find plants for each malady such as burns. I found that there are many resources online that help as well as books that can be found at the library. For my project i want people to notice how for some of the maladies i was able to find multiple plants. If i was to do this project again i most likely would start as soon as i got the project so that way i wouldn't have to fit it all in to the last two weeks. Also i would have to make sure what plants were in season because when trying to get my pictures for the project i kept looking for plants that were not even in season.

This relates to the real world because many chemists use these plants chemical properties to make the medicine we use today. Also it is good to have the knowledge of medicinal uses of plants in case they are needed in a survival situation. From here I could continue my research and pass my knowledge on to others.