Blog 01/21/2014

Boyle’s Law P1V1 = P2V2

Charles’s Law V1 / T1 = V2 / T2

Gay-Lussac's Law P1 / T1 = P2 / T2

Avogadro's Law V1 / n1 = V2 / n2

The Combined Gas Law P1V1 / T1 = P2V2 / T2

The Ideal Gas law PV = nRT

Dalton's Law of Partial Pressures Ptotal = Pa + Pb + Pc + …

Density of a Gas D=m/V

Graham’s Law r1/r2= sqrt (M2/M1)

Partial Pressure Pa= (P total)( mole fraction)

The average kinetic Energy of a Single Gas molecule KE=(½)mv^2

Molecular weight M=mRT/PV

Speed of molecules V rms=sqrt(3RT/M)

All of these formulas and laws basically make up the study of ideal gases. When we uses these formulas with the right variables. It allows scientists to find out the characteristics of different gases. However, sometimes it's difficult to find out which formulas and variables are provided in the question. In our class discussions over the past couple weeks, we basically went over lots of "dingle" worksheets. Everything was very straight-forward, however, it's super important to think about the concepts and how to apply the formulas into real world applications.

I felt very strong in understanding the concepts behind the gas laws. I am very confident about the upcoming test, mechanical calculations, and logics of ideal gases. If I am given all the needed variables. I am still confused on multiple step problems. On the taskchain and chemistry worksheets, I do not know what to do because there is no clear path (By clear path I mean it is not as straightforward like finding V2 if T1, T2, and V1 is given). I think to fix this, I should just do more problems to get more experience. Sometimes I still have couple mistakes when I am solving problems. I get lost very easily when the question gives out multiple variables in just one or two sentences. It distracts me from spotting out what variables are given to me and to determine which formulas should be use.

Although I get very confused sometimes in class. The moodle quizzes and lectures available for us online really helped me greatly. It gives me an understanding through just examining the components and step-by-step solving method. All I have left to do is basically just review and practice the worksheets and taskchains once again online to help me refreshing my memory. Practice! Practice! Practice! Hopefully I will do well on the test, or at least better than the last test that I took.

Reflective Blog 12/15/2013

   I am finally done with the first trimester! Although, I didn't start off the school year as well as I expected. It starts all over again. This upcoming trimester, I am starting to have more confidence now and I feel way more ready than last trimester. The new topics we learned in chemistry is very confusing.It's about basically the laws of thermodynamics and using equations to solve these problems. There are plenty of equations to memorize for this unit, although the concepts are by far way more important than just memorizing these formulas.
    We've done multiple labs and pogils over the past two weeks. We invested precipitation, enthalpy,laws of thermodynamics,and entropy.Precipitation is really straight forward and self-explanatory.Basically, we memorized couple elements/ polyatomic ions that will dissolve in water within its aqueous state. We then apply these knowledge to solve what is the precipitating in a solution and write it down as a net ionic equation. We did a simple lab over this, using our prior-knowledge about precipitation, we figured out which element is presented in the unknown solution. Later in the week, we went over multiple pogils and class discussion over enthalpy and entropy. It really helps me to understand better as we talk about these topics in class, because sometimes it's just too confusing to learn everything on the lecture quizzes alone. Together as a class,I can learn more from just listening to people. In the upcoming week, we are also doing a lab to figure out the heat of combustion of a certain chemical, given with just a couple hints and we have to come up with the lab ourselves.
    Despite the fact of it's sometimes difficult to understand, I find this unit very interesting. I learned lots of fancy words from this class, just simply listening to what we say in class, I feel very smart. I think if I review over the materials on moodle, I will be very prepared to the upcoming test.Other than chemistry class, I am doing pretty well in all of my classes. I really don't like having English class at the beginning of the day because it makes me even sleepier just to read in the morning. I am still overwhelmed with the fact that I have three tests on Thursday, which is an awful thing to do to students the day right before Christmas break.

Blog Reflection 11/9/2013

    I cannot believe the trimester is almost over. Junior year flies by. I really don't remember what I've been doing that past three months. My grades are still horrible right now, but next trimester will probably be better since I don't have football. This week of chemistry, we basically just reviewed everything and learned about the different characteristic of phases of matter. It's pretty easy. I just need to review and be ready for the test next week. Next week is going to be stressful because I'll have basically tests in all of my classes, and they determine my grade for the trimester.
    Here is my basic knowledge that I learned from the week. Liquid is basically when the molecules spread out but yet still attracted with one another, allowing liquid to freely flow around and take in any shape. Solid is when molecules are tightly compacted in a volume, the electrons are vibrating like a "sea" which is why it's very electric and heat conductive. Whereas gas, the molecules are way far apart from each other, going everywhere. We also learned about vapor pressure in the past week. The greater the intermolecular bonds the greater the viscosity. As viscosity increases, the boiling point increases because the intermolecular bonds are greater. Lattice energy is all based off form Couloumb's law, so really self explanatory to see the lattice energy of a molecule. Ionic solids is the strongest and trump all of the other kind of solids. Vapor pressure is basically how easily the molecules in liquid can break apart due to the attraction force within the molecule. Vapor pressure and boiling point are inversely related. On the test, I need to focused on how I word my explanation which is really important to show that I know the concept thoroughly. I am a little bit stressed out right now for the finals as well, along with all of my tests coming up. I need to find a stress relief for myself in order for me success in life I guess.
    Overall, these are my general summary of what I learned this week from chemistry. I was sick on Friday, so I didn't really know what we learned on that day. I still have lots of studying to do for all of my other classes. Especially math, I really need to do well on the next test otherwise I'll be in trouble. Although I didn't begin my junior year with a strong start, I am very determined to get good grades for the rest of the years. Lastly, I can't wait for robotics season to start. It's time to put my hands on the machines once again and make cool things. I hope that we will make nationals again this year, where we can skip a week of school and just have fun.

Blog Reflection 11/2/2013

    Over the past week, we finished our test from last week about the basic structures of molecule. Now we transitioned into basically the intramolecular and intermolecular bond in molecules. Since football season is finally over, I can finally go home after school and get some rest. On Monday, I joined a new club that my friend made which was the "rock climbing" club. It was really fun, we had pizza, we climbed and got really sore afterwards. Last weekends, I remembered we were assigned with two moodle quizzes online about the basic inter- and intramolecular forces.
   We did lots of lecture quizzes online and they were really easy. Intramolecular forces are forces that keeps the bond together within a molecule. Whereas internmolcular forces are forces between molecules. We went over lots of pogils in class throughout the week. We discover basically the trend of boiling points of molecules comparing to its molecular size/ charges. We also went over the different kinds of LDFs (London Dispersion Forces) within a molecule. Hydrogen bonds can only happen between hyrdrogen and nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, also known as, NOF. Out of all the LDFs, hydrogen bond is the strongest out of all. Then it moves on to dipole induced to dipole-dipole. Its pretty simple. In simple words, the bigger the size of the molecule, the higher the boiling point. Then, the information is not provided, then we compared the charges of the molecule to see how polarizable the molecule is.
   It all makes sense, if the molecule has a closer together due to its stronger intramolecular force then it would take more energy to dissolve it in water, so higher boiling point. Then over the weekend, we were assigned with a lecture quiz about solids and liquids. It shows basically the intremolecular forces difference between the different kinds of solids, which were molecular solids, covalent network solids, ionic solids and metallic solids. We also went over the viscosity of molecules. The more viscous a molecule is, the thicker it is, the harder it is to boil. I still can't believe the trimester is almost over. Time really flies by, in a blink of an eye and my high school is almost over. One more year, then I am pretty much done. I am really stressed now about all the standardized tests, college, and my grades. My grades are very "disappointing" right now. I am trying to do my best to bring them up. I am now very determined to get all A's next trimester. Also, I am interested in joining the research program that Dr. F sent to us. It's pretty cool though, to live in a college campus over the summer and just study science the whole day. Lastly, I dissected a cow eye on Friday which was pretty excited. It was interesting to see the different structures of our eye. It really is amazing how our body works. 

Blog Reflection 10/25/2013

    At the beginning of the week, my schedule was jammed with tests and projects. I had a math test on Monday, a chemistry test on Tuesday, and a 7 pager English project due on Wednesday. After football practices, I barely have any time to do any of my homework,so there was no way I could prepare for these tests and projects.Monday was mole day in chemistry class, we had cookies and hot chocolate which were amazing for the morning.Also we were assigned with a reading about paintball. Dr. F. instructed us to write a paper about the reading explaining polarity and I really no idea what I was supposed to write, but somehow when I was writing the paper. Ideas just kept flowing at me so I finished it in a really short time.It was really a great way to start off the week then I realized that I have too much homework on that day and I won't be able to finish them. So I decided to skip practice and went back home to study for my chemistry test on the next day. It all went really well.
    Since the past week, I've been starting to skype with my classmate and study together. It's really efficient and helpful. On the next day, I took my chemistry test. The test was a piece of cake. The free response was the easiest test section that I ever taken. The multiple choice, I find them relatively easy when I was taking it. For some reason, the hour right after the chemistry when I turned my chemistry test in. I was discussing the test problems with my classmate and all of a sudden. I realized all of the stupid mistakes that I did on the multiple choice section of the test. They were really stupid! I knew all of the concepts and idea but I guess I just had a "brain fart". I hate it when that kind of things happen. Somehow,all of my tests that I've taken during this trimester I do the same stupid things over and over again.It really makes me mad. I'm not exactly sure why but I think it's because of tiredness from football.
    After all these tests and projects early on the week. I was very tired and drowsy from the stress. During chemistry class on Thursday, we took the pretest. After I finished my pretest,I felt really weak and fatigue all of a sudden.I slept right after the pre-test.Later on that night, I played my last football game of the season. I was really tired and stressed from school.As a result, I performed pretty poorly and coach was upset with me during the game.All I had to say is life is full with memories and regrets.Thursday night was a regret for me. On Friday, we finished a pogil on ionic compounds and we were assigned a lecuture quiz online over the weekend. Everything was easy for me.

Reflective Blog 10/20/2013

    Over the past week, we've focused mainly about the electron domain geometry and molecular domain geometry. First, we had to became very familiar with drawing Lewis structure in order to get our basic foundation down. We then practiced on finding out the polarity and dipole moment. It's pretty simple overall, basically we just find out the lone pair of electron around the central atom, then we can figure out how the atoms in the molecule are bending. Therefore it allows us to know which way the dipole moment is going by finding out the polarity bond between the outer atom to the central atom and which way they are pointing.  
    We spent about two days worth of class time doing both the balloon and gum drops activities, basically building a molecule ourselves. The balloons simply represent and explain the electron domain geometry, as well as the gum-drops activity shows us a visual representation of the molecular domain geometry. Later on the week, Dr. Finnan instructed to do the WebMo program which is simply a computer program that draws the dipole moment and shows the space filling molecule for us. It was a lot of fun! I enjoyed it a lot with the program because you get to physically handle the atoms yourself. We were also assigned to do the HotPot quizzes over the weekend, as well as finishing up the lab report for the WebMo. At that point, I was still very confused between the difference between the electron domain geometry and molecular domain geometry. As a result, on Saturday, I spent almost the entire day searching for online resources and struggling on the quizzes. I still am a little bit confused on some of the concepts but I am a lot better at it now since I spent pretty much the entire weekend studying for chemistry. The WebMo report took forever to finish. I spent about almost 5 hours trying to figure things out on Sunday for the lab report. It's a really simple concept, but the report asks you for a lot of things to do, such as drawing the Lewis structure, which means you have to draw the Lewis structure physically by hand. Then take photos of each one of them, edit, and post them unto your data table. It's really annoying. The most difficult part was typing the paragraphs for all of the thirteen molecules. I'm pretty positive about all of my concepts and answers, but it's just very exhausting trying to explain them typing thirteen paragraphs in a row. Finally, I even had difficulty converting my computer file so overall my entire weekend was taken away by chemistry.
    I also have a math test tomorrow and an English project due on Wednesday, but I have not even started it because I was planning on finishing them up over the weekend then chemistry became a struggle to me. Everything to me right now is just a hassle. I am taking the ACT as well on Saturday. I have no time to study for it and any of my other classes. It really sucks. The good thing is that this week is actually the last week of football, which means by the time this week is over. I finally can have time to come home before night and finish up my studying for school.  

Blog Reflection 10/13/2013

   Over the week, we've done many moodle quizzes and lots of class discussion about the Lewis structure including hypervalency. We also went over the polarity in the shape of our molecule. I find the polarity overall easy, basically if there's a lonely pair then it would "bent" the shape of the molecule due to the change in repulsion. There was also another note on the bond strength, length, and order. Basically, these laws are all based off from the Coulumb's law. As the length of two nuclei increases, the force of attraction decreases so the force of repulsion would be greater because the electrons of the atoms. Also, all of the elements in period 3 or greater can have more the eight electrons around the central atom because of the empty d orbital available for them. Specifically for Boron and Beryillum, the two special cases where boron can only have three covalent bond and beryllium can form two covalent bond.

   I think all of the notes were easy to understand once I am used to what I am doing, but honestly I find the lecture videos extremely hard to interpret because there really that much step-by-step examples shown in the video. In the video, it talks a lot about the theories and laws using these fancy and complicated words, especially in an online setting where students can’t ask about their confusions of the video and everything goes in a really fast paste. So I find it difficult to understand the lecture videos sometimes whereas if the teacher discusses the notes in the classroom, students are able to have a chance to ask questions on the things that they don’t fully understood. This is also the reason why some of the moodle quizzes took me a while to finish and fully understood the material. I find the whiteboard discussions in class very interactive and helpful to my learning style.

Other than that, it's been a great week in fact. I still cannot believe we are halfway done with the trimester. I really need to pick up my grades though. I guess this is the reason why people say junior year is so stressful because all of the stuff just comes on you all at once. Where in one hand, you have all of these extra-curricular activities and the other hand, you have an extra amount of work and studying you have to do for school. Especially the fact that, I'm taking the ACT in less than two weeks puts me onto an enormous amount of stress. I am already lacking a lot of sleep and a little behind in some of my other classes with the fact that I have not yet started my studying for the ACT. I think I'll just have to see how it goes and practice a couple more times. I am really jealous now of the middle school life, no stress and no worry. It's all part of growing up.