August 31, 2010

Class today started with Mr. Henderson speaking on the subject of our blogging. We viewed the blog posted by Will and Mr. H spoke on logging into the blogging site with our school email.

Then we reviewed our homework in our unit 1 packet. Our homework was on chapter 1.1 of our textbook on the subject of types of matter. But before we got to look at the answers, Mr. Henderson covered them and reviewed some key terms and points of the section first. Some of these points were the learning progression of our year in chemistry, which will hopefully end with us being enlightened on the subject. We also reviewed some key terms such as matter, a mixture and a compound. After the review, we finally checked our work.

After reviewing our homework, the class turned to page 2 of our packet. Then Mr. Henderson helped us fill in the chart were we identified whether the drawing was showing an element or a compound, and if it consists of atoms or molecules. The class learned that if a substance is made up of only one type of matter it was an element, and if a substance is made up of different types matter it was a compound. Also if a substance is a compound then it only consists of molecules. But if a substance is an element then it can be made up of either atoms or molecules. As Mr. Henderson was teaching he was always referring to the giant periodic table on the wall to help get us a more visual idea of what makes an element an element. Then the rest of the page was assigned for homework.

The rest of class was dedicated to us finishing our Observation and Experimentation Lab. In this lab we were supposed to observe the changes which occurred when we mixed the chemicals calcium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, and a solution of phenol red indicator. When the chemicals were mixed some of the different mixing of chemicals had reactions such as the inflation of the bag which showed fumes were released, the bag getting hot, and/or a color change. Then time ran out and the rest of the lab was assigned for homework.

Today's fifty minutes of class was very educational and productive.