Atomic Theory Reflection

Here is the link to the website containing the video:

http://www.101science.com/Chemistry.htm#Chemicals_and_Interactions

Reflection On What I Learned

In my opinion, this video was very interesting and really helped me sum the information we learned in 21 minutes. Here are some factors that I really picked up during his video presentation.

Firstly, the main factors, such as the protons, electrons and neutrons were explained in great detail. The great diagrams and pictures also helped me stick the basics into my head.

The other important aspect I learned was the one with the organization of the atom. He drew where the protons,neutrons and electrons were. He also greatly defined the orbits and orbitals which really helped me understand the electrons job in the atom.

Next, he really deeply explained the mass, number and weight which allowed me to combine and see how they all connect with each other. One example of this would be the atomic number and mass. He demonstrated how they both are used to fond the amount of neutrons.

After that, he stated some very intriguing facts and comments that I have not heard before. What blew mine and his mind is that actually all the things we look at are not really solids but empty space. They just look the way they are because the way lights reflects on them. There were some other interesting comments along the way.

I also enjoyed how he was using philosophy and the philosophers mind. His thinking and explaining made you ask a lot of inquiry question regarding the topic. I also adored how he kept everything steady and mysterious. This aspect really made me eager to watch the 20 minute video.

In conclusion, I want to state that this video had a positive effect on me and hopefully my classmates. This video also helped pound in the swirling information that was orbiting around my head. After all, this video helped me sum up all the information we have learned about chemicals.

Current Events-Most Penguin Populations Continue To Decline

Summary

This interesting article I read was about how the penguin population is decreasing. Not long ago, over 180 penguin biologists, officials and zoo professionals have come together to discuss this fearing problem. They have come to a conclusion that 10 out of the worlds 18 species have had a decline in their population over these couple of years. There are four main reasons of this intimidating happening. Firstly, the population has decreased because of climate changes. One example of this would be the blockage of cold water currents. These cold currents have brought many schools of fish for the penguins to eat. But now, the cold water currents are permanently blocked. Therefore, the penguins do not have enough food to live. The massive icebergs also cause problems for the helpless penguins.

The second main reason on why penguin population has gone down is because of overfishing. The large amount of fishing going on has prevented the penguins from getting their food so now they are fighting for their own food. The catching of fishes means that the penguins do not have anything to eat so lower breading success and vulnerability is a big problem. Penguins are also caught in various fishing nets.

Thirdly, oil spills and chronic pollution have killed many penguins over this time. This oil usually comes from sunken ships and ships crossing the sea.

Lastly, mammalian predators are also a problem. Till now, penguins have lived in remote areas where there has been no animal predators. But now, the introduction of weasels and foxes in different areas has a had a huge impact on small population of penguins.

In conclusion, penguins are in great danger and this is what the biologists are trying to stop.

Reflection

I chose this intriguing article because of my love for animals. I think I learned a lot from this article. It taught me how small aspects that don't really matter to someone, in this case people, can affect other beings, in this case the helpless penguins. Another valuable aspect I learned is actually how much attention is faced toward this problem. I am actually very glad to see that there are many people out there that want to help these penguins. I am also hoping that this article will raise awareness of the endangered animals, not only penguins. I my opinion, people have faced so much to the natural world and forgot all about the beautiful animals that roam through earth. I personally really enjoyed this article and learned quite a lot form it. I am sure that I will keep all the information about monkeys and endangered animals. People should worry about Global Warming or Water Loss, but they should never forget the beauty inside the animals. Remember people, animals have feelings too. They can feel anger, pain, sadness and happiness.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100906145115.htm

5 New Facts Regarding Water

1. Once evaporated, a water molecule spends ten days in the air.

Honestly, I did not know this fact about water and I found it very helpful. The moment I read this article I thought of a way it could help us gather water. If we knew how much time the molecules stayed in the air, we could predict where the rain would go and how strong it would be. Maybe be could build some sort of machine who could collect the rain and we could have fresh water. In this way water supply could increase. I think that this perfectly connects with the water video due to the fact that it can help the increase of fresh water. It also can connect with Macedonia. My country could take some risks and try to use this useful fact.

http://www.mamashealth.com/water/waterfacts.asp

2. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily can decrease the risk of breast cancer by 79 %, and one is 50 % less likely to develop bladder cancer.

I chose this fact because I found the information very interesting. I could not believe that drinking water can actually decrease the likability of getting cancer. I am really curious why this information is not so known because I believe it can help many people that fear these types of cancers. I am really interested in how the water banishes these cancers. I personally think this is a very important fact and sooner or later it should appear on the news. This can connect to the video because it is one way fresh water is wasted but it used for good deeds. Macedonia could also acquire this fact and start putting it into use.

http://www.all-creatures.org/health/inter.html

3. A human being can go without food for a month, but can go without water for a week.

This fact really sums up the whole problem with water. It basically states that food is much less important than water and sadly, we have much more food than water. Our water resources are slowly going down by the numbers and soon finding water will become an impossible task. This is why the conservation of water is a crucial thing in the world. I my opinion this fact is basically what the whole movie is trying to tell you, to preserve the water!!! This information should also quickly spread through Macedonia and more people should value water more than anything else.

http://www.strange-facts.info/interesting-water-facts

4.There are about 70000 contaminants of water.

This article was very interesting it blew my mind with what I actually already knew. Its complicated to explain. As we all know, there are many pollutants of water but no one would say there are 70000!!! I think this is absurd and whoever those pollutants are, they should be stopped. Awareness of these contaminants should arise and people should start paying attention to the water. I think this is also a perfect match with the topics we are learning in class. I think that Macedonia should also raise awareness and pay more attention to the Macedonian bodies of water.

5. 70 % of the worlds fresh water is devoted to agriculture.

I finally chose this one because I wanted to state how the fresh water is not organized. As we all know, water is a necessity to life. Now if we use this water for agriculture, there is not gonna be enough for the world. Due to this fact, the fresh water should be divided into proper groups so their is enough for everything and everybody. I think this fact connects to the video in a way of organization and how the fresh water of the world should be divided. Macedonia also has many farms and agriculture and this fact is pointed toward my country. People should start thinking of how they treat the FRESH water.

http://water.org/learn-about-the-water-crisis/facts/

5 Things I Didn't Know About Water

http://discovermagazine.com/2010/may/20-things-you-didn.t-know-about-water

1. Water is everywhere—there are 332,500,000 cubic miles of it on the earth’s surface. But less than 1 percent of it is fresh and accessible, even when you include bottled water.

I thought this fact was really intriguing but at the same time fearful. I chose this fact because this fact has many changed aspects than what we learned in class. Firstly, it states that only one percent of the earths water is fresh, including bottled water. I found this very interesting because many people have been stating that there is only 3 % of fresh water. This relates to our class because we are currently learning about water and how it has affected the world. This fact also relates to my country, Macedonia. Many people do not know these type of facts and in my opinion this is a really important one on the conservation of drinkable water.

2. Cheers! The new Water Recovery System on the International Space Station recycles 93 percent of astronauts’ perspiration and urine, turning it back into drinking water.

I also chose this fact because I thought of it being quite innovative and it brought up a fact I didn't know before. What surprised me in this fact was that I did not know that urine can be turned back into drinking water!?!? I was totally stunned by this comment. I never knew you could turn urine into water. Believe it or not, I am really curious on how they do this. This fact sort of connects with the unit we are studying but could be a real hit on the astronomy unit. Although Macedonia doesn't have much astronauts, the conversion could be widely studied and it could bring us fresh water.

3. Good gardeners know not to water plants during the day. Droplets clinging to the leaves can act as little magnifying glasses, focusing sunlight and causing the plants to burn.

I was personally really amazed by this fact. It added information to my head that would have almost never come to my brain. I did not think of this "formula" this way in the past but his comment really lit up my brain. I am sure many farmers have asked themselves why their plants were burning but its too bad for them, they did not go to a good science class :) But now that I think of it I ask myself, can plants survive the day with no water? We all know that plants need water to survive so this is the only question I have. I also think this fact relates to our topic and it can help the farmers in Macedonia keep the business going.

4. Although many doctors tell patients to drink eight glasses of water a day, there is no scientific evidence to support this advice.

I also chose this fact because the actual message of it was very interesting to me. I have been told many times to drink eight glasses of water per day and I thought the doctors were of it. I guess this fact states the opposite. I am really curious on how many doctors have come to the same conclusion due to the fact that their is no proof. I guess after reading this very persuasive fact I will doubt some other specific thing in life. I think the only connection this fact has is with the world. I think that it is fatal for doctors to be giving such prescriptions if they do not know the outcome over time.

5. Recent evidence suggests that when the solar system formed 4.5 billion years ago, comets had liquid cores. If so, life may have started in a comet.

As soon as I read this miraculous fact it totally blew my mind. I have always been told that life had started on earth after the big bang, but turns out it is a possibility that life started in a comet. If this was actually true I believe that research and investigations would be all over the place. Maybe dinosaurs weren't the first creatures. I really have a lot of questions to ask about this fact and I am sure many people do to. Once again this fact would totally fit in the astronomy unit more than the chemical unit. I really look forward to reading some more information about this fact.

Glogster For Pottasium

My poster on Glogster:

http://dave9.glogster.com/pottasium/

This online Glogster really helped me understand pottasium and the world of elements. Firstly, it explained to me how elements combine on order to form compounds. Finding all the compounds for my element showed me combination and how the valence electrons mix. Secondly, this poster taught me a lot about the whole basic chemical point. I learned how they interacted and their use and chemical properties. Most importantly, I learned about Potassium which was my element. In conclusion, I want to state that making this online poster allowed me to understand the secrets of the chemicals.

Robotics breakthrough: Scientists make artificial skin

Summary

In this fascinating article, it explains how biotech wizards and engineers have successfully created electronic skin that can sense touch. Many people state that this invention will be a great step in the field of robotics. This exuberant new invention reacts the same like human skin when put under different pressures.

Along with this, come very challenging boundaries along the way. One of them is producing a robot with more sensitive arms so I can do everyday tasks and throw away the clumsy robots. “Humans generally know how to hold a fragile egg without breaking it”, said Ali Javey, an associate professor at the University of California. These are the types of things we want to get robots doing to. Another problem of robots is smell and taste but touch is one of the greatest problems every scientist faces.

The “e-skin” made by Jarvey’s team was made by germanium and silicon rolled onto a sticky polyimide film. Using many types of measurements and machines, they have created an invention that can detect pressure enough for daily activities such as typing.

Another aspect that many engineers want to change is the ability to connect the skin to the nervous system. Because of that, we can pain and pressure and this is the ultimate goal for the future.

This is a very intriguing invention that has astounded the entire world. Now I will tell you the major uses this robot may have. Firstly, these robots may help us in the future and in everyday life. For example, robots may do the house work and help you defeat everyday tasks. The second reason for why this e-skin is very effective is because it can send information from nature. For example, we could send one of the robots into space and the information sent back is actually how a person would feel. Remember this e-skin can also feel pressure, humidity and temperature. In fact, it can feel much more than that.

In conclusion I think this invention will really affect society and is a great step in the field of robotics as well as electronics.

Reflection

After all I have read, I am very curious and amazed how much technology has advanced. Although this topic doesn’t have much to do with chemistry, chemistry is a big aspect of the creation of this fascinating invention. As I mentioned earlier, the e-skin was created by mixing germanium and silicon which are to elements on the periodic table. This explains that although the elements are not the center focus, without them, there would be e-skin. What I wan to say is that there is not only the main factor but the secondary factors. This article can also be used as a morale point. Never look at the big, but also look at the details. There is always something more, more detail. I really learned a lot from this article, scientifically and logically.

Finally, I want to state that I am very impressed by this invention and using this article my view towards chemicals and their reactions changed. I am very impressed and I look forward to learning more about the world of chemicals.

Further Inquiry

Here are some questions that I am still curious about.

• How do the filters successfully clean the polluted water?
• What are the major pollutants of the clean lakes and rivers?
• What do people do in order to stop this evil polluting?
• Does polluting kill the food chain as well as plants and how?
• Are there any options that factories can use instead of dumping everything in the lakes and rivers?

Macedonia's Bodies of Water

• What rivers flow through your country?

The main river that flows through the land of Macedonia is Vardar. This lake is also the longest lake that runs through Macedonia. Another river that flows through Macedonia is the Black Drin and is the closest to the border with Albania. Treska is another river that can be found and covers the western part of Macedonia. The Radika also covers western Macedonia and is a tributary to the Black Drin. These are some of the most important rivers but along with them, Macedonia has many artificial lakes. The Ohrid Lake is obe of the most famous and a tourist attraction. This lake is the deepest lake of the Balkans and covers an area of 358 km². Believe it or not, Ohrid Lake covers most of the underwater food-chain.

• Where do the rivers come from? (Include the countries that it flows through)

The Vardar river rises in Vrutok, north of Gostivar, passes through most of Macedonia and finally empties into the Aegean Sea. The Black Drin is a river that runs through Albania and Macedonia and empties in the Adriatic Sea. This river runs out of the famous Ohrid Lake. Treska is a tributary to Vardar. This river rises in the mountain Stogovo and flows through Kicevo to get to Vardar. The Radika rises in the Vraca mountain and flows into the Black Drin. This river is also found in Southern Kosovo.

• Are there any blockages? (Dams, hydroelectric plants

Although Macedonia doesn't have many blockages, a small number of dams can be found in Macedonia. A more known dam in Macedonia is the one on Mavrovsko Ezero or lake. This lake was created when the dam was built up. Another dam that can be found is the one in Matka. Although Macedonia doesn't have much dams, it does have plenty of water conservation laws. The Law on Water protects the rivers and lakes and states the causes of water contamination. Although many factories still contaminate the water, I hope that this law will prevent this ugly cause of water contamination.

• What forms of industry are located on the rivers?

The types of industries that lay near Macedonian rivers have not been specifies yet but I am sure that many factories and even homes pollute the river. At this point, not even the Law of Water can prevent these factories to pollute. In my opinion, it is just a matter of time when factories realize there is less drinking water by the day.

• What springs/natural reservoirs are there in your country? (Lakes, aquifers, watershed)

As I mentioned earlier, Macedonia has a wide variety of lakes. Starting from the Ohrid lake to Prespa. From all I have heard and seen, the lakes have turned out to be more important than the rivers. As I have mentioned earlier, the Ohrid Lake is the most famous lake in Macedonia and maybe in the Balkans. It is well preserved and thousands of tourists visit this famous deHow do you get water to your house?stination. Another important lake is Prespa, and reserve for animals and plants. This lake has been preserved by all the countries it can be found in, Macedonia, Greece and Albania.

• Where does your country get their water supplies from? If it's from your country, do you ship/export water to different countries?

Each city in Macedonia get its own water. When the river water enters the filter, the water is being tested. When the water reaches the certain level of cleanness, the water is let go and flows through pipes into peoples homes.

• How do you get water to your house?

As most of the other people in this community, I get the water to my house using pipes.

Evidence of a Chemical Reaction

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVK9Om4wzBM

In order for this chemical reaction to you have to wait for a couple of seconds. After that, you cam see the chemical reaction developing. First you can see a red eruption on the bottom of the glass. After that the liquid inside turns red. After that, bubbles start forming and an interesting sort of gas is released. This is a chemical reaction because the Bromine and Alcohol combine and make a specific reaction that cannot be replaced.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ypUVpwgcAA&feature=related
When the lithium is put into the water it instantly lights on fire. After it has made its drastic way through the base, the fire goes and way and the lithium helplessly floats on the top. This is a chemical reaction because the atoms mix and no physical change is located. It also cannot be replaced, therefore its a chemical reaction.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=896vJj6eWYw&feature=related
The minute the cesium is put into the water, there is an instant explosion, sort of like a firework. At the very instant the cesium falls in the water, there is a firework explosion. In the picture at the end you can see how the cesium exploded and it separated into bits. This is an chemical reaction because the change occurs on the inside. It cannot be described in "physical language".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRmNPKVEGeQ&NR=1
This chemical reaction is very similar with the lithium one its just this is potassium. When it firsts catches on fire there are a few sparks and the fire continues making its way on the water. Its stays on fire for a little while and the fire disappears. The same like the rest, this is also an example of a chemical reaction.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJslbQiYrYY&NR=1
At the beginning you can see a small fire building up in the bottle. After the fire comes a massive explosion which is why they had protection. After the explosion everything calms down and you can notice only the disturbed water. This is once again a chemical reaction.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2mj-Sq2oeo&feature=related
This video is my favorite. There is this person with a bowl filled with liquid nitrogen. Now this person pours the nitrogen into the pool. And a sort of cloud forms but disappears and all is left is a very thin layer of liquid nitrogen. As all the rest, this is a chemical reaction.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5n7kBkBcXgo&NR=1

At the beginning of this video there is a long wait. After that you can actually see some bubbles start to form and the bubbles start rising and at one point the jar overflows. The really interesting thing i noticed the more time passed by, the darker the color got of the overflowing liquid. After that there were overflows but instant ones. Like bubbles popping. This is also a chemical reaction because this cannot be returned into original state.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Pk6s1MbszA&feature=related
This video was kinda unclear so I will do my best to explain it. The moment he puts the gummy bear the gummy bear next to the tube lights on fire. This intense fire lasts for a pretty long time and finally calms down and returns to its starting position. This is once again a chemical reaction.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrNA8-eipGE&feature=related

fter the glass was put under the light and all the needed materials were included (salt crystals, turpentine, food dye) you have to wait 2-5 seconds for the chemical reaction. When it actually happened, I was startled. To me, it looked like some magical moisture and you could actually see the water moving magically. I also noticed there was a sort of gas released from the top of the glass of water. This is once again a chemical reaction, a magical one.

What I Learned:

• I learned about the Lewis Dot Diagram and what they represent. Which is the valence electrons of an element or atom.
• About the attachment of chemicals and how chemicals combine.
• I learned the condition the atoms have to be in order for them to be able to combine. For example, -1 can only combine with 1.
• How many electrons each shell should contain. And what is the best fit for shells.
• I also learned what a val ant electron is and how it is expressed in the Lewis Dot Diagram.
• The biggest reason that I learned many points is because all the diagrams we drew in class.

Whats Still Not Clear:

The only thing thats not clear to me is the periodic table itself. I just need a little more help on the translation of the periodic table.