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.