Chemistry 1-31-12 Blocks of the Periodic Table

CHEMISTRY: Great job playing with blocks today! Did you realize there was such incredible organization on the periodic table? And are you starting to get the hang of using the location of elements to tell what the electron configuration is? Now you know how I did it! Tomorrow, let’s take it a step further. 🙂


Cartoon by Nick D. Kim, lab-initio.com

Hon Chemistry 1-30-12 p-block Elements

HON CHEMISTRY: You get a bonus! Since I chased so many rabbits over the last two days, I went back and found an old vodcast on the p-block elements in just one vodcast. And you get a bonus – it has the f block on it as well! Make sure you go back and practice getting period, block, group, and type of element from the electron configuration. And don’t forget to go back and look at the nitrogen cycle.

Chemistry 1-30-12 Electron Configuration Notation

CHEMISTRY: Just when you were getting the hang of drawing arrows, I go and change it! But don’t you think writing electron configuration notation is a whole lot shorter than doing orbital notation? Don’t get me wrong, knowing how to do orbital is great for seeing how the electrons are paired, but this way is waaaay shorter! Here’s the lecture from Monday.


flickr photo by Andy.Schultz

Chemistry 1-27-12 Orbital Notation

CHEMISTRY: Great work with orbital notation today! Are you starting to see arrows everywhere? Be sure and practice. Things to know: how many types for each orbital and the Aufbau chart! And be sure to practice, practice, practice! Let’s take it a step further tomorrow


flickr photo by coba

Chemistry 1-26-12 Quantum Numbers

CHEMISTRY: How’re you doing? Confused yet? Don’t worry – today you learned all the background information about quantum numbers, tomorrow we’ll put it all together and it will begin to make sense. If you didn’t hear the lecture today, this is for sure one that you want to watch!

Hon Chemistry 1-26-12 s-block Elements

HON CHEMISTRY: Here are the notes on the elements of the s-block – everything from bananas, to bones, signal flares to street lights. Don’t forget to pay close attention to properties (physical & chemical), occurence, and uses. If you want to see some really interesting videos on some of the more “explosive” elements, check out this link – http://periodicvideos.com/

And guess what I found out today – chalk isn’t really chalk! I mean, just like pencil lead isn’t really lead, blackboard chalk isn’t made of calcium carbonate anymore, it’s made of calcium sulfate (commonly called gypsum) instead. Who knew!

Hon Chemistry 1-25-12 Periods & Block of the Periodic Table

HON CHEMISTRY: Isn’t the periodic table an amazing thing? It will surely prove to be a very valuable tool for you! Are you starting to get the hang of using electron configuration to determine the ID of an element, and vice versa?

And what about Noble gas notation? This vodcast from last year will go back and explain how you were able to figure it out using the periodic table. Don’t forget, practice, practice!