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Chem 201: Pink Slime

I will be discussing the chemistry of this article in class on Monday. You might find it interesting…

http://www.straight.com/article-599346/vancouver/mcdonalds-stops-use-ammonium-hydroxide-pink-slime-hamburgers

Chemistry 201: Prep for Quiz One

Here is a check list to help you prepare for the first quiz on Monday:

1. Be able to state the difference between a hypothesis and a theory and a law.

2. Be able to determine if a change is a physical change or a chemical change (hint: chemical changes involve the making and/or breaking of chemical bonds).

3. Know the following metric prefices: Giga, Mega, Kilo, milli, micro, nano, pico (and you should also know centi- for centimeters).

4. Be able to do density problems. There is a drill sheet on density in the review section of the handouts.

5. Review the rules about significant figures but I will not be taking points off for errors with sig. figs. in this first quiz.

6. Be able to describe electrons, protons and neutrons (charge, location, relative mass) and also be able to describe the three main types of radioactive decay products (alpha particles, beta particles and gamma rays)

7. Review isotopic notation. Pay special attention to the equation 2.2 on page 45 and Example 2-3.

8. Be able to convert grams to moles and moles to grams.

9. Be able to determine how many particles are present given the mass of a compound.

10. Be able to calculate percent by mass of an element in a compound e.g. what percentage by mass is oxygen in water.

 

Chemistry 201: Rusty Squirrels

Here is a photo taken in Duluth, MN. This is an area full of iron ores – so much so that the land is the color of rust.

Iron Rich Terraine

You can see evidence of iron by the color of the river and rocks.

Here are the rusty squirrels I mentioned in class. The squirrels have figured out how to blend in with their lovely coats that are a perfect match for iron oxide.

Rusty Squirrels

Rusty Squirrels Blend in with Iron Rich Terraine

Taconite is the most common ore in this area.

Chemistry 201: A new semester begins…

Because of the holiday Chemistry 201 met only once and spent a fair amount of that first class taking a test. Why? Because in order to be successful in Chemistry 201 it is critical to have a good foundation in Basic Chemistry – names of the elements, basic structure of matter, simple chemical equations, nomenclature of inorganic compounds, the metric system and it is also critical to have a good foundation is basic algebra – rearrange equations of solve for an unknown, carry out conversions, use proportional reasoning. Any student who is not very comfortable with these skills should immediately seek out support and hit the books! (and the Internet – there are so many useful videos, worksheets, explanations)

On Monday we will have our first lab so be sure to download and print it! We’ll be analyzing an unknown white powder – one of several common household white powders: sugar, baking soda, etc.

Having a laboratory notebook is very, very important! Please bring it to every class.

CSI:Truman – Course in Instrumental Analysis

Introduction to Instrumental Analysis offered at Truman College

65576 Chemistry 217 LM 8:30 – 2:30 PM Friday (Prof. Abrams) 4 credits

Prerequisite: one semester of Organic Chemistry

Going into Pharmacy? Nutrition? Physical Therapy? practical experience with instrumentation is a great addition for your resume. This course is also part of an A.A.S. degree in Chemical Technology.

Learn to use state-of-the-art scientific instrumentation in a brand new lab/studio. Create a portfolio of real-world laboratory reports suitable for job interviews. Use IR, GC-MS, 2D-NMR. Email Professor Charlie Abrams, cabrams@ccc.edu, for more information.

New Semester Begins in 26 days…

It seems a long way off but now is the time to being to prepare for your new classes. Early preparation can consist of light review, reading and media viewing that is more fun than work, browsing around the Internet following your interests. The idea is to keep your mind active and develop your curiosity. Once the semester begins you will not be able to control the pace of the learning you are expected to achieve – but you can now!

Chemistry Grades Submitted

All grades for both Chemistry 201 and Chemistry 203 are posted in Blackboard and have been submitted in PeopleSoft. I will be on campus on Wednesday afternoon if you wish to pick up your lab books. Otherwise I’ll hold on to them until June. Please stop by and collect them. Have a wonderful holiday.

Chem 201: Final Grades are Posted in Blackboard

Please take a look.

Chemistry 201 and 203: Grading Update

Dear Students,

It is Friday late afternoon and I am still grading lab reports and lab notebooks. It takes time and I ask for your patience. I will keep you posted and let you know when the grades are posted to Blackboard. This will not happen before Monday.

Chemistry: Summer Internship at Northwestern

Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates at Northwestern University

The Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) at Northwestern University offers a 9-week, paid summer research experience for undergraduates. The students are paired up with some of the leading research professors in science and engineering fields. Research areas include ceramics, nanocomposites, photonics, nanoparticles, and molecular electronics.  While there are many REU programs, the NU-MRSEC stands out in offering students an interdisciplinary research experience. Students currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in science or engineering who are US citizens or permanent residents are eligible. The program dates this year are June 18 to August 17, 2012; Applications are due Feb. 15, 2012. Participants are paid a $4500 stipend and a travel allowance and on-campus housing is provided. For more information,
please visit our website:

http://www.mrsec.northwestern.edu/content/educational_programs/reu.htm

If you have any questions, please contact our program assistant, Nic Tat
at mrc-reu@northwestern.edu, 847-491-3606.

Chem 201: Molarity/Molality Conversions

Here is a link to some very good practice problems with answers on the topic of solution concentrations:

http://www.chemteam.info/Solutions/Molality-from-density-and-percent.html

Also I’ve created two handouts which summarize the steps in these conversions:

1. Conversion from molarity to molality

2. Conversion from molality to molarity

 

Chem 121: Review for Exit Exam

Professor J. Walker will hold two review sessions for the Chemistry 121 exit exam. These sessions will be held in room 3175 on Monday November 28th. The first one will be from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. All students in any Chem 121 section are invited to attend. The second one will be from 5 to 6 pm. Please direct any questions to jwalker@ccc.edu

Early influences: scientific jargon in comics

Recently I was asked how I became interested in science. One of the earliest influences was through Superman comics. Ironically these very unscientific tabloids often used the vocabulary of science – so when I was exposed to terminology in science class it was familiar. This gave me confidence to learn more about real science.

Superman at 3000 degrees farhenheit

calm in a crisis

other dimensions

other dimensions and mineral power

Chem 201 and 203: Pre-exam office hours

Since both classes have exams this week I’ll be available for questions and problem solving practice as follows:

9:00 – 11:00 Monday – focus on Chem 201

11:00 – 12:30 Monday – focus on Chem 203

5:00 – 6:00 Monday – focus on Chem 203

Chem 203: Radioactive Levels in Japan – Please Read

Vic found a story that is very timely to our current discussion. Please read it on the Chicago Tribune website:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-fg-fukushima-radiation-20111120,0,4008193.story

or you can access a pdf file I created…

Chem 203: Exam Three Outline

The exam will cover material beginning with:

Chapter 21

21.4
Calculate K, ΔG and Eocell from each other.

Calculate the potential of a concentration cell.

21.5 (no test questions on this section)

21.6 (no test questions on this section)

21.7

Predicting the products of electrolysis
Diagram an electrolysis cell
Apply the relationship between current, time and amount of substance

Chapter 22 will not be on the test.

Chapter 23

All sections are covered in this chapter.

Chapter 24

As mentioned in class – problems referencing p. 1076 will not be included.

24.3 (no test questions on this section)

24.6 (no test questions on this section)

Very little from 24.7 will be included but you need to know the basic difference between fusion and fission.

Sections not excluded above are included on this exam.

*********************************************************************

Chem 201: New Practice Exam Available

I’ve posted a fourth practice exam under student resources/exams on my website that covers solution concentrations and colligative properties. There is also a key to this exam. Happy studying!

Chem 201: Key to Solutions Quiz Posted

Solutions Quiz Key

Chem 201: Outline for Exam Three on Monday

1. Review section 4.2 Concentration Units: ppb, ppm, Molarity.

2. Review section 4.3 Dilutions: M1V1=M2V2

3. Review section 4.4 Electrolytes vs. Non-electrolytes

4. Study Figure 10.2 regarding sizes of ions.

5. Be able to put compounds and molecules in order of increasing intermolecular interactions: ion-ion, ion-dipole, H-bonds, dipole-dipole, dipole-induced dipole, dispersion

6. Related intermolecular forces to physical properties such as mp and bp.

7. Identify all the regions of the phase diagram.

8. Know more ways of expressing solution concentration: molality, percent by mass.

9. Be able to interconvert concentration units.

10. Carry out calucations for all colligative properties: vapor pressure lowering, boiling point elevation, freezing point depression, and osmotic pressure.

11. Use the van’t hoff factor correctly.

Chem 201: Problem Solving Session

Solutions problems and collegative properties problems take lots of practice. I will be in my office tomorrow at 9:00 ready to solve problems for whomever arrives!


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