Grading Rubric for Winter Term 20% Project Work

Use this rubric to help you complete your work on the 20% Project for the Winter Term.

Click Here to See the Grading Rubric

The Twenty Percent Project

Use this link to read about the Twenty Percent Project.

Twenty Percent Project Overview

Essay Contest Announcement

The Envelope Please...

What's Your Reaction Type?

I really enjoyed watching you explore the six types of chemical reaction in lab today.  Here are the photos I took during lab.  I appreciate your enthusiasm for this fun lab.

Chris and Danny are trying not to stare directly at the bright light.

Jj is admiring the copper from his single displacement reaction.

Bailey is concentrating on counting drops for her reaction.

Chris and Danny are watching the combustion of ethanol while Austin and Quinn are wrestling with the double displacement reaction equation.

Rachel is not sure about this reaction.

She's not going to get anywhere near the burning magnesium.

Love my neutralization reaction!

Okay, this one is staged, but it's a good pic anyway.

Hydrates Movie

Here's the finished video that you made about the hydrates lab.  Nice work, young chemists.

00:00 Intro to Project by Mrs. Geyer
00:14 Ross and Vincent with the best Introduction Slide
01:28 Sarah and Chris
03:42 Bailey, Jeff, and JJ
05:03  Quin and Rachel
06:34  Quynh Anh and Zeynep
08:06  Danny, Ross, and Vincent
10:38  Jack and Tim
12:39  Quinn and Rachel with the best Conclusion Slide

Another Look at the Atom

During our first week of class we spent a lot of time thinking about the atom.  Even though we have moved on to the percent composition labs (water content in popcorn and now hydrates), I don't want you to forget the basic building block that will be the heart of our study.  We will soon begin to apply our lab techniques to the composition of molecules.

So take a few minutes to think about the Atom.  Try this simulation game to review the subatomic particles, neutral atoms, ions, and isotopes.

Build An Atom Simulation

Nanotechnology is an exciting new area of science that deals with matter on the nanoscale.  A nanometer scale is essentially dealing with matter on the molecular/atomic level.   I want you to watch the video on the following website to get an introduction to nanotechnology.  You can also read the accompanying article  "How Nanotechnology Work" by Kevin Bonsor and Jonathan Strickland. Hopefully this will whet your appetite for more of the exciting developments in nanotechnology.

Introduction to Nanotechnology

Here's a picture from the website that gives some sense of the scale of nanotubes and nanosubstances.

2007 HowStuffWorks

Inspired by Atoms and the Elements

We spent this week immersed in the anatomy of the atom.  But have you ever wondered about the atoms that are in your anatomy?  Your body is composed of a huge number of atoms, all working together to make biological molecules that, when put together in just the right way, make you into a living-breathing person.  Where do all those atoms come from?  It is interesting to consider that nearly all the atoms that are in your body get replaced every year.  So, in essence, you're literally not the person you were just last year because all of your atoms have been replaced by other Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen atoms that you have ingested or inhaled or rubbed up against.

Take a look at this cool video I found that illustrates the connections you have with the stars.

We Are Star Dust

I gave you a brief introduction to the periodic table using ptable.com (my favorite website).  Who can help but be inspired by the layers of information contained in this chemistry icon.   A friend of mine sent me the link for a fun iPad app called Nova Elements.  You can play a game called Essential Elements where you build atoms and molecules in common substances from subatomic particles (protons, neutrons, and electrons).  There's another awesome interactive periodic table to explore on the app too.  You'll also find a video, that I must confess I haven't watched yet.  Take a look if you have an iPad. (it's a free app!)

Nova element app

Let me know what you think about the video, the app, or another interesting site you have found related to the atom or the periodic table.  Or, you can post your favorite element and why.