Chemistry fact number 1

The only two different elements that are liquid at room temperature are:

Bromine (Br) - Red/brown liquid
Mercury (Hg) a very toxic metal (silver appearence)

 

Image taken from www.periodictable.com



Image taken from www.periodictable.com



Education is it the key?

Visit education in a flash to find out more on what it is meant to be educated, how technology and science may offer us a greater of an advanced future. Finally looking at how traveling around the world will help to maintain ones ability to learn and love life.

What is chemistry? (Part 1)

Frost, in ‘Learning to Teach Science’ had made an attempt to describe Chemistry, stating that “Chemistry is about two stories:

The macroscopic world of bulk materials and the invisible world of atoms and molecules.” 

When talking about Chemistry there is always a transfer of information from both sides and when summarised, Frost said:

"It is the story of the flow of energy that accompanies chemical change that links the two.”

Chemistry is seen as the one of the ‘big three’ of the sciences (Wellington & co.) Chemistry fits neatly between the macro world of biology and the largely micro world of physics and in a sense, they both depend upon Chemistry (Stacey Bretz, 2008, p.15). 

Bretz an editor of “Chemistry in the National Science” had been quite determined to make it clear that physics and biology would not be able to function without the ‘world of chemistry.’ She had gone on to say that its language provides the products that people use and that can directly have an influence on everyday lives.

Did you know? (Water - Part 1)

Water is fantastic!

It is the compound that no one or any living thing can do without, life depends on this simple molecule. The larger portion of our earth is covered in water taking up most of our earths mass (around 70%). In us humans water makes up over 50% of our body mass some suggesting it could be over 60% which indeed is remarkable. Water is our life force and it is abundant in every form, Water is able to exist as the 3 states of matter being solid, liquid and gas.

So what about its physical and chemical properties?

Water (H₂0) is made up of 2 hydrogen atoms and one oxygen
atom. They are bonded to each other by covalent bonds. These covalent bonds are produced when two separate atoms share electrons with each other (covalent bonding is known as the sharing of electrons). Ionic bonding (the formation of Ions) is the other type of bonding found in the world of compounds and molecules. Thes best way to look at ionic bonding is the transfer of electrons.

So why does the water share its electrons with both the two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom?

The oxygen atom has a much greater affinity for the electrons than either of the hydrogen atoms, although it does not exert that much of a force to completely pull all the electrons away from the two hydrogen atoms to form Ions.

Basic chemical reactions

 Who says chemistry needs to be complicated?

Reactions can be very basic, in fact cooking an egg is an example of a chemical reaction, these reactions are seen as non-reversible. The properties at an atomic level have change and thus meaning that it cannot change back into the structures the atoms had previously. Another good example would be a firework, the rapid oxidation is an example of a chemical change.



Then there is the example of a physical change, this is an example of where something can be reversed. A good common example that I use in my classes is the changing of water into ice and vice versa. The structure of H20 molecules are kept the same (untouched) and thus can easily change states. 

So to summarize, there are two types of reactions:

Chemical reactions - irreversible, for example fireworks or frying an egg

Physical Changes- Reversible, for example Melting ice.

Who is considered to be educated?

Target the heart first and then you have the mind.

Trying to understand the best way to educate the next generation would always be a challenge, if we had already discovered how to do this we would have no problems, but it is clear to see that there are still problems in in our worldly education systems.

How important would you say knowledge is?

Some consider it vital.

‘An investment in knowledge pays the best interest’ Benjamin Franklin
 

We are living in a very hypocritical world, preachers who preach charity but yet drive around in cars worth thousands, to their homes with over 10 rooms; oh the irony. Is this what an ‘educated’ world has to offer?

For now let’s just come to this conclusion, when we look at education, as educated people we should be the ones listening first, so that we can come to a steady reasoning to help those who need to be correctly educated.

Motivation is key!

 

I have found that to have real success at something you have got to have a hard work ethic. There is no easy way to get through something you want to be successful at than by putting hours of hard work into it.

Don’t give up, do not look at your mistakes and wish that had not happened, but look back and reflect, ask yourself what can I do better next time to improve? Once you have done this, look forward, implement what you have learned to improve your work ethos and overall you as a person.
I have had bad days where I just feel like I want to move on, change my line of work and try something different; however these are the days where you realise just how strong you are. How you deal with it from this point can make or break you next time you encounter a bad day.
Pain is temporary and it will pass.