Chemistry September 22

Students massed their copper carbonate and completed the straggling duties from the previous lab.

Each student shared their science article with the class. Special attention was drawn to the resource from which their article was taken. There was much discussion about what makes a reputable resource, and how to find them. There was considerable discussion about some of the topics of these articles. Lots of very good questions came up, all pertaining to chemistry of course.

Students were reminded that their information concerning the Earth Boxes is due Wednesday, 9/28.

Sugar/sand labs that were turned in last Friday were graded and returned.

We discussed both the sugar/sand and the copper sulfate labs.
Because the quiz is Friday, students were allowed to keep their lab paperwork for study purposes. All lab work is due Friday before the quiz. This is actually a “late” due date, but some operations did not go as smoothly as others. Consequently, a bit of a grace period was added.

We worked on reviewing some of the math that is important to chemistry.
First quiz is Friday, 9/24. It covers safety, three labs, the outline material, the first 25 pages of reading in te textbook.

Chemistry September 17

Today we started going over our complete outline (aka study guide). We also discussed how the labs on differential solubility and recrystallization relate to separating mixtures into pure substances. We discussed the research students did on additional techniques for separating mixtures. The online text:

http://www.chem1.com/acad/webtext/virtualtextbook.html

should be very helpful in reinforcing the ideas covered to date. Chapter 2 – Getting started in chemistry – is most applicable.

Homework:
Two handouts: dimensional analysis; metrics and measurements
for practicing chemistry math. Due Wednesday. A very helpful website is:

http://www.chemtutor.com/numbr.htm

Science in the news article – bring the article to class for discussion. Be sure and know the question, method, and result of the research discussed in the article. Also know the resource information for citation.

We will have a quiz on Friday, Sept 24. The quiz will be on all material covered by the end of class on Wednesday.

Chemistry September 15

Today students performed another physical separation of substances in the lab. They separated copper II sulfate from crude copper sulfate. They also created some copper carbonate. We were interrupted by a fire drill, so the copper sulfate is still drying in the lab.

Questions from both this lab and last week’s differential solubility lab will be discussed on Friday. Students should have all questions answered.

We will have a quiz on Friday, Sept 24.

Chemistry September 10

Students completed the differential solubility lab activity.
Homework:
Read pg 3 – 25 in text
Complete lab report.

Chemistry September 8

Students discussed and reviewed the Scientific method (Alka-seltzer) lab.
We reviewed:
adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing exponents
decimals
We practiced more scientific notation.
Introduced significant figures.
Began a laboratory investigaton of differential solubilities of compounds in a mixture.
Homework:
Read pg 3 – 25 in text
Complete lab report for Weds. Sept 14.

Chemistry September 3

Students were assigned one of the new Chemistry in Context books.
We went over the scientific notation practice worksheet.
Participated in an activity regarding accuracy and precision. Some students had “tools” that were “modified” in order to stress the difference between accuracy and precision.
Students received practice worksheets on significant figures and dimensional analysis.

Chemistry August 27

We watched a power point created by students from another school on laboratory safety, and completed our discussion of the scientific method.
Handout for Scientific method/Measurements/Unit Conversions. This is the first page of the outline that will serve as the students’ study guide. Viewed portion of a power point on chemistry math.
Discussed scientific notation and practiced some examples.
Homework: Pathfinder

Chemistry August 25

Welcome back!

Students participated in “What is Chemistry?” activity.
Students received course syllabus. syllabus chemistry hanna
Students received laboratory safety contract.
Students participated in a “What is Chemistry” activity.
Students performed a laboratory investigation stressing the importance of the scientific method.
Homework:
Complete the lab write-up so that we can discuss Friday.