Week Seven

Inert Gas of the Week - Neon

Neon, atomic number 10, was discovered in 1898 by two Scottish chemists who cooled air until is became liquid then heated it up and captured the gases that resulted as the liquid boiled.  Kryptonite, Xenon, and Neon were all discovered at the same time.  Neon is regularly a colorless noble gas but when it is used in vacuum discharge tubes and neon lamps it has a reddish glow.  Although Ne is the fifth most common element in the universe it is rare on Earth because it is light and inert.  It is found in trace amounts in our atmosphere.  Commercially it is extracted and used in tubes as lighting.  Neon is reddish, so tubed lighting of other colors contains a different gas.  It is used as a refrigerant, in vacuum tubes, lightning arrestors and helium-neon lasers.

Avogadro's Hypothesis

I am inclined to dislike chemistry, math & physics.  I have never understood much about any of these subjects and am fearful that I am just not wired in a manner conducive to grasping the concepts involved.  OK, that being said...I understand Avogadro's hypothesis!  I sort of got it on Wednesday in class, but after reading the link I understand how it came to be and why, even what it is.  I really liked the little questions in the middle of the reading because it helped me to focus.  Ok, I missed one even with the information right in front of me, but I went back and figured out where I went wrong.  I really like the idea that I am sort of making peace with chemistry.  I still swear math will never be my friend....

What Exactly is a MOLE?

I have a pretty good understanding of what a mole is. I think.  I understood what we discussed in class.  I found this link a little heavy for my taste, but I did understand that you use the concept of the MOLE to figure out ceramic glazes.  I definitely do not understand this sentence: "If you have a gram molecular weight of one compound and a gram molecular weight of another compound, there are equal numbers of molecules in the two weights". I thought what I understood was that MOLES of different molecules took up the same volume but weighed differently because their atomic numbers were different.  I guess I am confused by the relationship of number of molecules, weight & volume. Better do the extra credit!

Update on the  The Chikyu

The Chikyu cost a half billion dollars to build.  It was delivered July 29, 2005.  The whole project is expected to be completed by 2012.  On February 5, 2008 it finished drilling 13 holes from a fault zone and extracted core samples.  The Chikyu departed the port of Shingu on February 12th and will deliver 5,000 core samples to the Kochi New Port.  The operation will be then be suspended until the fall. Check the site http://jamstec.go.jp/chiky/eng/CHIKYU/index.html and see a picture of it.  It looks like a pretty regular boat with a tall tower.  

Week Six

Halogen of the Week:  Astatine

Halogen's atomic number is 85, its abbreviation is At.  Because its most stable ion has a half life of just over 8 hours it is the rarest element on earth.  As a halogen, it is one electron short of a full outer shell. Astatine means "unstable" in Greek.  Scientists estimate there is about a teaspoon of it on earth. At results from the decay of Uranium-235 & Uranium-238 but disappears because of its short half life.  It is highly radioactive.  Because At is so scarce not much research has been done with it and there are no practical/commercial applications for it.  It was discovered in Berkeley in 1940 by two scientists who bombarded Bismuth with alpha particles.  It is probably a very dark color that when heated vaporizes in a purplish haze.  Astatine is the heaviest of the Halogens.

Alchemy: Science, Magic, Art or All Three?

In the last two centuries scientists have created things that would have previously been considered miraculous.  The car for example.  I can imagine that people in ancient times might have dreamed of being able to get around quickly without much effort - to be able to go almost anywhere in any direction.  Today with the development of internal combustion engines this is possible.  And still to me this seems magical.  I know that there is a scientific process that makes it simple and easy for me to get around but I am lacking in the ability to really understand how it is possible.  If I were less educated I could definitely see how it would seem purely magical.  I  believe that the art of creation is inspired.  I am unwilling to have this discussion on my blog, but suffice it to say that I don't think that I'm the biggest power in the universe and I believe that at times I am inspired by some sort of outside force.  I think that science, magic & art are definitely linked.  

I think that as Westerners we are indoctrinated with the idea that science operates independently of magic and art, that it is completely rational.  Personally I think that this is an oversimplification... alchemy is probably equal parts science, magic and art.  I am willing to accept the "I don't know".

Electrochemistry Investigation

I made the cannon!  It was very funny!  We had a lot of trouble getting the sparks to fire on the film cannister side of the equation.  I actually shocked myself several times!  It was so funny I couldn't talk for laughing.  I used hairspray for the fuel.  The film cannister is white, so you can actually see the "flame".  It is quite bright.  The film cap shoots quite a distance and is bothersome to the cat, Mr. Lucy, who cannot understand why we have to do this when he is trying to nap on the bed.  The lighter I got was different than the website so we had to figure out to use one of the wires for the ground.  It took longer than 15 minutes, but the $3.00 is pretty accurate.  This is so amazingly cool...I can't wait for the sun to go down to see it in the dark.  I am going to give this to my nieces and nephew.  They will love it.  I will bring it to school on Wednesday in case any of you want to play with it.  I mean experiment....

Week Five

Alkalai Earth Metal - Francium

Francium, atomic number 87, abbreviated as FR is the second rarest naturally occurring element.  As far back as 1870 scientists believed that element 87 exisited, but it wasn't until 1939 that the element was actually found.  Many scientists prior to 1939 observed spectral lines they believed to be evidence of Francium, but all were disproved until Marguerite Perey purified a sample of Actinium 227 and found an unusual decay product.  This is an extremely scarce element - scientists believe there is only about 30 gr. in the earth's crust total.  The largest amount ever assembled in one place is 10,000 atoms.  Although scientists can now synthesize Francium by nuclear reaction they have never made a sample large enough to weigh.  Fr has the lowest electronegativity of all known elements.  It is highly radioactive metal that decays into astatine, radium, and radon.  Fr is less stable than any other element lighter than nobelium.  Francium-223, its most stable isotope has a half life of less than 22 minutes.  Fragile!! Francium is so unstable and rare that there are no commercial applications for it.  It has been used for research purposes in biology and atomic structure.  Scientists explored the possibility of using Fr as a diagnostic aid for cancer but it just wasn't practical.

What Colors Are in My Kitchen?

I work pretty hard to make sure there are many colors in my kitchen.  I do in one week what most people do in three.  So, I sit down Friday or Saturday and plan the next week's meals.  I make a list of what I want to cook based on what everyone wants to eat, shop on Saturday, then cook it up on Sunday so it can be easily heated and ready to go by the time I get in the door around 8 PM.  I lived on a working farm when my kids were little so I am aware of what's fresh at what time of year.  I do use seasonal fruits and vegetables.  Also, I like to mark the seasons with appropriate food - heavier in the fall & winter & lighter, fresher meals in the summer and spring.  Although I'm concerned about eating well from a health/weight point of view, I really just like to eat.  I love that we sit down every night and talk about our day and what we've done and are planning for the next day.  It's the best way for me to check in with everyone since my kids are older and I'm gone so much.  My big goal in life has always been that when my kids grow up and come home they request meals that they really like.  Also, I like to cook but I don't make the same things over and over.  I like to try new things...much to the consternation of the last remaining child who has the ability to identify a pinch of nutmeg in a gigantic stew.  So, we get variety.  Here's what's cooking while I'm writing this:  ham/chicken cassoulet, chicken soup with organic peas & cremini mushrooms.  I am going to make Canneloni for dinner tonight with sauce I made a couple of weeks ago and froze.  I am going to bake and freeze gluten free chocolate cupcakes that I will later dust powdered sugar hearts on for my classmates Thurs. (Valentine's day).  I am going to make white sugar cookies in the shape of hearts frosted with lots of sugary pink frosting and little silver balls for my family. We'll use the leftovers for lunches we pack every evening.  

I've found that eating well takes some doing.  If I don't know what I'm going to eat I'm more likely to spend money and eat poorly.  If I plan it all out, we eat well.  Most of all, eating is one of the very best things in life.  It's a chance to sit down and enjoy people.  For me cooking has always been a way to show the people in my life that I love them.

All that good stuff being said, here's one of the prettiest colors in my kitchen at present:  Jet-Puffed Strawberry Mallows.  Yes, soft squishy light pink marshmallows.  I would like to make a pillow from them! I bought the litte guys last week at the grocery store.  I really like the idea of them and they appeared in lunches last week.  OK, I didn't eat them and I know my son didn't either, but they were very cute and kind of fun for Valentine's.  They are not good for you, but I really can't imagine anyone being able to ingest too many.  As I look on the bag I notice that it comes with a CHOKING WARNING.  Nice!  I should have made Rice Krispie Treats with them....

Link Review

I enjoyed the link with the minerals.  I have spent a lot of time looking at minerals in NYC and Washington DC and always have a great time doing so.  It was enjoyable to read what gives them their beautiful colors.  I couldn't get the elements in a flame to download. I like the last site too, where the minerals are shown under different types of lighting.

Week Four

Catalyst Of The Week - Platinum

Platinum's atomic number is 78.  It can absorb other substances on to its surface and activate them in the process.  Wikipedia says that Platinum wire will glow red-hot in the vapor of Methanol, where it acts as a catalyst, converting it for Formaldyhde.  There are two kinds of catalysis:  homegeneous or heterogeneous.  The example above is heterogeneous because the catalyst, Platinum, is in a different phase from the reactant...Platinum is solid while the Methanol is a vapor.  Platinum makes a good catalyst because it absorbs strongly enough to activate the Methanol, but not so strongly that the Formaldyhde can't break away.

How Close Are We To A Green Economy?

Almost every day I can walk out of my house and harvest a petroleum based white bag full of garbage straight out of the front yard. In my neighborhood the ice cream man appears 24 hours a day, 7 days a week peddling drugs and processed food products to all who care to buy.  Most of the cars here are older and barely operational. Many vehicles do not have current registrations so heaven only knows what they're pumping into our already questionable air. Our grocery store sells far fewer items than the average supermarket.  We are not offered the choice between paper and plastic. We do not have the option to buy from green companies and I highly doubt anyone gives a thought to buying organically grown produce.  People here have much different values than those held by folks in Berkeley.  Overall we're not a forward looking bunch, we survive from government issued check to government issued check and hope for the best.  It takes money to be green.  Green implies options and most of us don't aspire to much.  Besides, the government will take care of the big stuff like bad air and toxic chemicals.  "They will make them fix things". We're not sure who they and them are though. We have neither the inclination nor the ability to fix the problem. Although I highly doubt that any of my neighbors have much knowledge about what a green economy is I believe the idea that the world is going to hell in a handbag is prevalent. It weighs us down and allows us to throw trash on the ground because not much matters anyway.  I wish my neighborhood was an anomaly but I don't think it is.  I bet there are more neighborhoods in this country like mine than those that aspire to a green economy. 

Greener Industry - Atom Economy

I found this site very interesting.  I was wondering in class when we were discussing industry and how it could be greener and now I have a better understanding.  You have to use chemistry to produce goods in a manner that is eco-friendly.  Efficient catalysts create less harmful waste!  Chemistry is easier for me if I can relate it to my life, so I looked at Vanilla.  Vanilla has a drawing like we see in class.  Go figure!