Hon Chemistry 1-23-18 Orbital Notation & Electron Configuration Notation

HON CHEMISTRY: Wow, you did a great job today! Did quantum numbers begin making more sense when you started using them? Good work today on orbital notation. I think you’re going to be seeing arrows and numbers in your sleep!

And then, 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!

Be sure and practice with the homework tonight, and don’t forget to use the Aufbau “chart”!!!

Chemistry 2-8-16 Orbital Notation & Electron Configuration Notation from Tammy Skinner on Vimeo.

flickr photo by Iguana Jo

Chemistry 1-23-18 Radioactive Decay & Half Life

CHEMISTRY: Today has been all about arrows and where to put them! So how are you doing with the nuclear equations? Feeling better about them now that you know what side of the arrow to put the particle on? Also, make sure you memorize the nuclear symbols for alpha particles, beta particles (electrons), positrons, neutrons, and protons – those are just as important as the arrow!

Great job today on tackle half life problems! Practice them tonight and we’ll practice them again in class tomorrow. Bring your calculator! πŸ™‚

Need extra help? Help session Thursday morning, 7:20ish A.M.


Photo by Gaelle Marcel

Chemistry 1-22-18 Properties of Radioactive Isotopes

CHEMISTRY: So ordinarily it looks like just any old hunk of rock, but this is a picture of uranium ore under UV light. Pretty cool, huh?!? Here’s our beginning discussion of the unique properties of radioactive nuclides, and a head start at looking at nuclear equations.

Have you looked over the half-life simulation lab? It’s one of easiest labs you’ve done, but it does require that you READ the instructions on the syllabus and the website. If there is something you don’t understand, I’ll be glad to help!

Hon Chemistry 1-22-18 Quantum Numbers

HON CHEMISTRY: Great start on quantum numbers today! Wow, it was a lot. 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.

FYI – in case you didn’t catch them earlier, here are the video clips that we watched in class last week. You really may want to watch them again as you study for the test.
The Electromagnetic Spectrum (not the song!)
Emission Spectrum of Hydrogen
Animated Quantum Video is the one that explains all about why scientists began to believe that electrons could be acting as waves
Quantum Mechanics explains more about the role of the men we studied today in the development of the quantum model of the atom

Hon Chemistry 1-17-17 Quantum Numbers from Tammy Skinner on Vimeo.

Cartoon courtesy of nearing-zero.net

Hon Chemistry 1-19-18 Spectroscopy Lab, Pt. 3

Hon Chemistry: Oh you know, just analyzing the emission spectra of excited gases…

Thanks for test driving the new lab with me! Don’t feel like your results on the Emission Spectra of Elements lab have to be perfect! (And yes, I do realize who I’m talking to!!) If you need another look at the results – here’s a not perfect, but do-able solution!

Image by Michael Richmond from the Royal Institute of Technology

Chemistry 1-19-18 Intro to Radioactivity

CHEMISTRY: Great start to a new chapter! I think you’ll be surprised how much nuclear chemistry is already a part of your everyday life. Also now you know where E=mc2 came from!!

By the way, you ought to read about the life of Marie Cure when you get a chance. Fascinating woman of science with an incredible story!

Hon Chemistry 1-18-18 Bohr Model of the Atom

HON CHEMISTRY: I figured anybody who ditched his honeymoon to finalize his work on atomic theory deserved to have his picture on our website. (And, by the way, great job making like electrons today – way to role play!)

Here are a couple of other links to some great video clip that begin to show the connection between our lab on spectroscopy, the hydrogen emission spectrum, and how we can identify elements. They’ll be very helpful as you study!! Spectrum of the Stars, The Emission Spectrum of Hydrogen

Hon Chemistry 1-13-17 Bohr Model of the Atom from Tammy Skinner on Vimeo.

Image source www.atomicarchive.com/Images/bio/B23.jpg

Chemistry 1-18-18 Isotopes & Average Atomic Mass

CHEMISTRY: Isn’t God awesome to give us minds to understand the world around us – even the parts we can’t see!

Be sure and get the 2nd Snow Updated syllabus. Things got changed around again!! Be sure and notice the special instructions for Thursday night’s homework!

Here’s the lecture from Thursday on isotopes and average atomic mass. How are you doing on writing nuclear symbols? Also make sure you can use them to determine the number of protons, neutrons, electrons, etc., AND be sure you can use the formula to find average atomic mass!

Can you believe atoms are that small – and the nucleus even waaaaaay smaller! The thumbnail is a picture of atoms from the IBM Almaden Research Center. These are iron atoms on top of copper. Being able to move atoms around like this was a giant leap in the field of nanotechnology! (Sorry about that, bad pun! πŸ™‚ )

Chemistry 12-7-15 Isotopes & Average Atomic Mass from Tammy Skinner on Vimeo.

Image source IBM Almaden Research Center

Happy Snow Day!!

Hallelujah! God is good! I hope you’ve enjoyed your snow day!!

Here’s the revised scheduled for all classes – pretty much we’ll just take up on the syllabus where we left off:

HON CHEMISTRY: Bring your Spectroscopy lab – we’ll finish it in class on Tuesday. Also bring your colored pencils! We’ll begin Friday’s lesson next Wednesday.

CHEMISTRY: We’ll just take up on the syllabus where we left off. No new homework, we’ll just pretend that this coming Tuesday is last Thursday! πŸ˜‰

HON PHYSICS: Conservation of Momentum lab moved to Tuesday!

Enjoy your day off!!

snow day

Hon Chemistry 1-11-18 Spectroscopy Lab, Part 2

HON CHEMISTRY: How’d you like playing with light?!? Here’s the intro to Part 2 of the lab.

Are you clear on how to turn in the lab report? Observations from Part 1 and the diffraction grating will be in two parts: 1) the written observation – answers to those four questions for BOTH types of light on notebook paper, and 2) your drawings of both kinds of light on card stock or heavy white paper, and then both drawings mounted together on one sheet of construction paper. Be sure to label everything.

Observations from Part 2 with the spectroscope will be answered on the actual lab sheets/packet. Be sure and read ahead so that you can double check to make sure you answered every single observation and question. We’ll finish the last part of the procedure the next time we have sun. Check the syllabus for the due date!