Read the history of the Periodic table, Chapter 2 of Ellen McHenry's The elements course
Look at the periodic table at Popular Science; the elements pop up if you click on them.
Find elements on Web Elements. Here's Magnesium.
You might like some video introductions; the BBC have taken off their programme from Youtube, so until someone puts it back up, try others. This one?
(And you can always laugh at Mr Bean.)
Monday 26 December 2011
Monday 19 December 2011
1 The elements
Look over the next 8-week chemistry course. How many elements can you list from your head?
Do we have, in the house...
calcium
chlorine
copper
flourine
iodine
iron
magnesium
sodium
zinc
Look on the labels for cereal, toothpaste, tinned goods, dried foodstuffs. Check out mama's headache tablets and your Calpol.
See if you can work out or find out what these are:
NaHCO3
SiO2
Mg3Si4O10
Au
FeS2
I can help with one of those. Try gold.
Do we have, in the house...
calcium
chlorine
copper
flourine
iodine
iron
magnesium
sodium
zinc
Look on the labels for cereal, toothpaste, tinned goods, dried foodstuffs. Check out mama's headache tablets and your Calpol.
See if you can work out or find out what these are:
NaHCO3
SiO2
Mg3Si4O10
Au
FeS2
I can help with one of those. Try gold.
Monday 12 December 2011
Review week!
We've reached the end of the course!
Review Carbon Chemistry. Go back through the folder, find an experiment, check out a link, play one of the board games, answer the quiz questions, read the materials, make up a chemical with toothpicks and marshmallows...
Next week we start to explore more elements in detail.
Review Carbon Chemistry. Go back through the folder, find an experiment, check out a link, play one of the board games, answer the quiz questions, read the materials, make up a chemical with toothpicks and marshmallows...
Next week we start to explore more elements in detail.
Monday 5 December 2011
11 Carbon Oxides and the Carbon Cycle
Carbon attached to 1 oxygen makes carbon monoxide.
Carbon attached to 2 oxygens makes carbon dioxide.
Carbon attached to 3 oxygens makes a carbonate ion.
This week you're finding out what each of these compounds do.
Plenty of explanations of the carbon cycle : cartoon video ; with a focus on CO2 ; I liked the crumpled paper background.
And here's a list to research: the limestone caves you'd like to visit around the world. For tours of all types of caves, try here and here.
Carbon attached to 2 oxygens makes carbon dioxide.
Carbon attached to 3 oxygens makes a carbonate ion.
This week you're finding out what each of these compounds do.
Plenty of explanations of the carbon cycle : cartoon video ; with a focus on CO2 ; I liked the crumpled paper background.
And here's a list to research: the limestone caves you'd like to visit around the world. For tours of all types of caves, try here and here.
Monday 28 November 2011
10 Proteins
A protein has a string of carbons as its structural base... it also has the element Nitrogen.
Your starting point for this week's chapter, from which we can meet amino acids, the beliefs of creationists, DNA, and Mendel.
This video covers some of the ground.
I expect you won't be humming this, but I'm quite impressed he kept going.
You can hear the story of Mendel here. Me, I'm brushing up with this.
Your starting point for this week's chapter, from which we can meet amino acids, the beliefs of creationists, DNA, and Mendel.
This video covers some of the ground.
I expect you won't be humming this, but I'm quite impressed he kept going.
You can hear the story of Mendel here. Me, I'm brushing up with this.
Monday 21 November 2011
Lecture: Pick a question...
...and use it to ask some more questions*.
1. What's the impact of burning fossil fuels?
Does CO2 dissolve in salt water?
What's the result of combining CO2 with H2O?
How are chemists looking at ways of storing CO2 underground?
What's your reaction to this method of storage? They seem to have it sorted in Edinburgh.
2. Can you see energy?
Remember watching the chemists mix alcohol with saturated calcium acetate to get a flammable gel? They set this alight and then added various chemicals. What colours would you expect to see from burning lithium, and sodium? What about copper chloride?
In the explanation the Chemists described the 'colour of the burn' as a way you can see the 'amount' of energy produced. Hmm. More explanation here.
3. Can you use hydrogen for energy?
The chemists looked at the H-H bond and broke the bond with the catalyst palladium, showing how hydrogen can be used to release energy.
The benefits of using hydrogen an an 'energy carrier'? It burns 'clean'.
The public perception of risk in using hydrogen is high, but hydrogen cars are already here.
4. Where can we find hydrogen?
i. Methane. (We have a lot of that!)
ii. Water. (By splitting hydrogen from oxygen through electrolysis.)
5. How can we store energy?
The travelling chemists drew your attention to three means.
i Batteries such as those you can make from Coca cola, magnesium and copper.
ii Biofuels, such as ethanol.
iii Solar panels (the panels use SiO2+C).
6. Can we speed up energy production?
One problem is that energy can be produced, but the method of production might take more energy than we get from the output.
The Chemists asked, can the process of catalysis speed up reactions to get them over the 'energy barrier'? A catalyst lowers the barrier, meaning not as much energy is needed to produce the reaction.
What's an effective catalyst? Enzymes, apparently.
For a visual show, watch this combination of hydrogen peroxide, potassium iodide and soap. (Who wouldn't want an oozing pumpkin?)
And remember the Bombardier beetle?
7. What makes a chemical base have a particular property?
Carbon, for example, can take many forms depending on the arrangement of the atoms: diamond to graphite.
Carbon is also readily combined with other chemicals, resulting in many materials and many applications. The Chemists ran through several examples - airbags, fireworks, emergency flares, biodegradable surgical stitches, nappies - and showed you how controlling the structure of polymers allows you to control the properties.
Can you find out the chemistry behind the materials listed above?
The chemists drew your attention to COOH on a benzene ring. I'm out of my depth over here.
It's your job, basically, as a chemist, to explore what materials can be created by altering the composition and structure of chemicals. Temperature is a useful tool: for example, below a critical temperature, a superconductor will have no electrical resistance. Superconductivity can be used to 'levitate' magnets over liquid nitrogen for example, and thus has applications for transport systems.
8. Is there anything a chemist can't do?
No, not really. Because chemistry is totally brilliant. Unless you use it to melt your face off, or destroy the planet, in which case, it was a thoroughly bad idea telling you about it.
*Thank you to the travelling chemists Prof Pulman and Dr Henderson from the University of Edinburgh providing the lecture at the Hong Kong Science Museum. I hope the British Council flew them Business Class.
1. What's the impact of burning fossil fuels?
Does CO2 dissolve in salt water?
What's the result of combining CO2 with H2O?
How are chemists looking at ways of storing CO2 underground?
What's your reaction to this method of storage? They seem to have it sorted in Edinburgh.
2. Can you see energy?
Remember watching the chemists mix alcohol with saturated calcium acetate to get a flammable gel? They set this alight and then added various chemicals. What colours would you expect to see from burning lithium, and sodium? What about copper chloride?
In the explanation the Chemists described the 'colour of the burn' as a way you can see the 'amount' of energy produced. Hmm. More explanation here.
3. Can you use hydrogen for energy?
The chemists looked at the H-H bond and broke the bond with the catalyst palladium, showing how hydrogen can be used to release energy.
The benefits of using hydrogen an an 'energy carrier'? It burns 'clean'.
The public perception of risk in using hydrogen is high, but hydrogen cars are already here.
4. Where can we find hydrogen?
i. Methane. (We have a lot of that!)
ii. Water. (By splitting hydrogen from oxygen through electrolysis.)
5. How can we store energy?
The travelling chemists drew your attention to three means.
i Batteries such as those you can make from Coca cola, magnesium and copper.
ii Biofuels, such as ethanol.
iii Solar panels (the panels use SiO2+C).
6. Can we speed up energy production?
One problem is that energy can be produced, but the method of production might take more energy than we get from the output.
The Chemists asked, can the process of catalysis speed up reactions to get them over the 'energy barrier'? A catalyst lowers the barrier, meaning not as much energy is needed to produce the reaction.
What's an effective catalyst? Enzymes, apparently.
For a visual show, watch this combination of hydrogen peroxide, potassium iodide and soap. (Who wouldn't want an oozing pumpkin?)
And remember the Bombardier beetle?
7. What makes a chemical base have a particular property?
Carbon, for example, can take many forms depending on the arrangement of the atoms: diamond to graphite.
Carbon is also readily combined with other chemicals, resulting in many materials and many applications. The Chemists ran through several examples - airbags, fireworks, emergency flares, biodegradable surgical stitches, nappies - and showed you how controlling the structure of polymers allows you to control the properties.
Can you find out the chemistry behind the materials listed above?
The chemists drew your attention to COOH on a benzene ring. I'm out of my depth over here.
It's your job, basically, as a chemist, to explore what materials can be created by altering the composition and structure of chemicals. Temperature is a useful tool: for example, below a critical temperature, a superconductor will have no electrical resistance. Superconductivity can be used to 'levitate' magnets over liquid nitrogen for example, and thus has applications for transport systems.
8. Is there anything a chemist can't do?
No, not really. Because chemistry is totally brilliant. Unless you use it to melt your face off, or destroy the planet, in which case, it was a thoroughly bad idea telling you about it.
*Thank you to the travelling chemists Prof Pulman and Dr Henderson from the University of Edinburgh providing the lecture at the Hong Kong Science Museum. I hope the British Council flew them Business Class.
9 Fats
Experiment with olive oil, sesame oil, butter, shampoo, stuff from the cupboards and the tap. Change temperature, alter the quantities, and vary the combinations of the stuff you're using. What do you observe?
Fats are insoluble in water but soluble in some organic compounds. True or false?
How are fats broken down in the body? I may need to talk about bile! Bile is similar to a detergent, like soap or washing up liquid.
Your body needs fats, but there's a pressure on people to be scared of them, or to use substitutes: that huge industry in 'fake fats' needs people to be focused on their shape, weight, or diet. This page looks at the manufacturing process of a fake fat. (Interested in giving up your butter?)
And here's an experiment to try. Can you come up with a theory as to why this happens?
More info on oils and fats here, with Your mother.
Fats are insoluble in water but soluble in some organic compounds. True or false?
How are fats broken down in the body? I may need to talk about bile! Bile is similar to a detergent, like soap or washing up liquid.
Your body needs fats, but there's a pressure on people to be scared of them, or to use substitutes: that huge industry in 'fake fats' needs people to be focused on their shape, weight, or diet. This page looks at the manufacturing process of a fake fat. (Interested in giving up your butter?)
And here's an experiment to try. Can you come up with a theory as to why this happens?
More info on oils and fats here, with Your mother.
Monday 14 November 2011
8 Carbohydrates
Almost everything we eat is a carbon compound.
True or false? Find out this week by reading the materials before the session.
Watch this animation about how glucose works in the body.
A diabetes support group is here. This site lists artificial sweeteners and carries some discussion of sugar/carbohydrate.
Read the list of artificial sweetners. Which ones do you recognise from the labels of drinks you see for sale?
Let's start here please for a discussion on different foods to take and different ways you can find 'balance' in what you eat and drink. (HA! It is all my SECRET PLAN to make you talk BELLIES.)
Ahem. Ellen says, Can you find answers to the following?
1. Name 3 ruminants.
2. Name a monosaccharide.
3. What are the symptoms of diabetes? What do doctors look for?
True or false? Find out this week by reading the materials before the session.
Watch this animation about how glucose works in the body.
A diabetes support group is here. This site lists artificial sweeteners and carries some discussion of sugar/carbohydrate.
Read the list of artificial sweetners. Which ones do you recognise from the labels of drinks you see for sale?
Let's start here please for a discussion on different foods to take and different ways you can find 'balance' in what you eat and drink. (HA! It is all my SECRET PLAN to make you talk BELLIES.)
Ahem. Ellen says, Can you find answers to the following?
1. Name 3 ruminants.
2. Name a monosaccharide.
3. What are the symptoms of diabetes? What do doctors look for?
Monday 7 November 2011
7 Rubber & Silicones
Read Chapter 7 with me in advance of the workshop.
Let's do the comprehension puzzle; I enjoy the way you're all brilliant at that.
What items around the house can you identify that are rubber or silicon?
Have you tried chewing gum? Do you want to? Sure, go ahead, that's fine, so long as you don't mind being CUT OUT OF THE WILL.
An alternative is to read here. You can imagine some of the reasons why Singapore banned chewing gum. This site provides a history of Dubble Bubble gum. Sillyputty provides a range of other activities.
Let's do the comprehension puzzle; I enjoy the way you're all brilliant at that.
What items around the house can you identify that are rubber or silicon?
Have you tried chewing gum? Do you want to? Sure, go ahead, that's fine, so long as you don't mind being CUT OUT OF THE WILL.
An alternative is to read here. You can imagine some of the reasons why Singapore banned chewing gum. This site provides a history of Dubble Bubble gum. Sillyputty provides a range of other activities.
Monday 31 October 2011
6 Plastics
Monday 24 October 2011
5 Combining functional groups
Read Chapter 5 with me.
Can you draw a chocolate molecule? Use the notes to help.
Here's an online site devoted to Percy Julian.
This week's challenge was to find out about soap that floated rather than sank. Try here!
Can you draw a chocolate molecule? Use the notes to help.
Here's an online site devoted to Percy Julian.
This week's challenge was to find out about soap that floated rather than sank. Try here!
Monday 17 October 2011
4 Functional Groups
Read Chapter 4 with me in preparation for the workshop.
Watch this video about ethanol. See? Chemistry is politics.
And vinegar... from The Vinegar Institute.
Watch this video about ethanol. See? Chemistry is politics.
And vinegar... from The Vinegar Institute.
Monday 10 October 2011
3 -enes and -ynes
Molecules with double and triple bonds. Read Chapter 4 with me for the workshop.
This week's challenge is to find out about xylene. Here's a place to start.
This week's challenge is to find out about xylene. Here's a place to start.
Monday 3 October 2011
2 Alkane Hydrocarbons
Read Chapter 2 in advance of the workshop.
You're asked this week to find out about oil reserves around the world. A map on Wiki shows who has the most.
Watch the Nottingham periodic video for Hydrogen.
The US Energy Kids site is here.
You're asked this week to find out about oil reserves around the world. A map on Wiki shows who has the most.
Watch the Nottingham periodic video for Hydrogen.
The US Energy Kids site is here.
Monday 26 September 2011
1 Carbon
Read Chapter 1 with me in preparation for the workshop.
Play the Nottingham periodic video for Carbon.
Try these videos: the first shows how diamonds are formed, the second is the process from mine to cut stone.
On the right hand side of your screen you can also see several other diamond videos; choose some and learn about carbon-carbon-carbon-carbon...
Can you find out about coke - the material related to coal. Remember visiting Ironbridge?
Play the Nottingham periodic video for Carbon.
Try these videos: the first shows how diamonds are formed, the second is the process from mine to cut stone.
On the right hand side of your screen you can also see several other diamond videos; choose some and learn about carbon-carbon-carbon-carbon...
Can you find out about coke - the material related to coal. Remember visiting Ironbridge?
Monday 19 September 2011
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