Copper(II) Chloride and Iron lab

This lab was quite interesting even though I was absent for the second day of it. It was a little frustrating to try to catch up, and understand the measurements that my group members took. All in all it wasn't too hard to understand what we needed to find or calculate before the end of class. It was a little bothering tho that my group didn't tell me half the measurements.

Understanding Why Theoretical and Actual Yields Are Important

The difference between Theoretical and Actual yields are important because if you get them mixed up, or accidentally mistake one for the other your answer will be completely off. To simply put it the Theoretical yield is any amount that you use stoichiometry to solve or find the mass. An actual mass is something that you find from measurements, and does not have a chance of error.

Percent Yield

When we learned about percent yield it really wasn't a complex matter. The only park I didn't like was the x100 part. I thought it was implied if it was a percent then the decimal would move 2 places. Besides this it only got complicated when you had to make sure if you were using the correct element and if it was this element as a theoretical or actual value.

Stoichiometry

When it comes down to it Stoichiometry really isn't that complicated. There is 3 simple steps to getting the right answer and the only way to get it wrong is if you don't know how to do these three steps. You saw it in class too, the 3 simple steps can be seen here by using PT (Periodic Table) > BCE (Balanced Chemical Equation) > PT. Using these steps has never failed me.

Oxidation Reactions

In this reaction there are 2 agents. One agent is called the reducing agent, and ironically this agent is the element that is being oxidized. This element is donating an electron that actually makes the charge of this element have a charge that is not negative. Likewise, the other agent known as the oxidizing agent is the element that is being reduced, but it is actually gaining an electron. This donated electron changes the charge of the element to be negative.

Complete Ionic Equations

Ionic Equations the way I see them is for us to better see and understand how chemicals react and interact in a reaction. We see this from things like aqueous chemicals breaking into their two separate parts, and when solids and liquids are not separated or canceled out in the Ionic Equation. Overall I actually like them but I could really use to understand them better.

Solubility Lab

To start off this is the first time a easily passed the pre-lab quiz but from the looks of it I didn't have to! Everyone got in even if they failed it. I thought this lab was quite interesting except for the fact that I felt more like a factory shooting out chemicals and it wasn't easy to actually observe. However I did gain better understanding of the solubility rules and reactions.

Solubility Rules

So now we all know about those super hard to remember Solubility Rules. At first I had no idea how or what to do, but as I researched them on my own I found them less and less confusing. I soon found a very simple photo, but the problem was is that it was missing some of the rules. So I used the rules Mrs. Frankenberg gave us and used them to add on what was missing. The end result is the picture below.

Balancing Equations

Finally something I enjoy! Balancing equations for me has always been super fun and easy. I personally don't find it confusing at all. I like how we have to make sure there is an equal number of each element on either side of the yield sign. In the end it feels very satisfying to have the equation balanced. I also like how each element sometimes make you change the entire formula. It may be frustrating for others, but not for me!

Formula of a Chloride Lab

This lab was my first to actually participate in. It was very fun and the whole lab was quite easy also. For measuring the watch glass I did one measurement with the watch glass and without and with the zinc inside to make sure there is no change in mass because of the watch glass. I found that there was only a .0002 difference so a very negligible amount.

Failing pre-labs is not fun...

We had a prelab where we had to choose A or B a seemingly unimportant choice but for me it was certain failure. I did not understand the math so much and so when I chose B my partner got the easy A question with words. I got the not so fun math portion and sealed the fate of my group. I failed the question and ended up ruining the lab. I felt really bad and even more so confused and grustrated because I didn't understand the question.

Empirical and Molecular Formulas

Empirical Formulas are really nice. I like how they are the factored version of Molecular Formulas. Empirical formulas being the lowest number ratio of elements is more of a unit of the Molecular Formula. This helps you to understand the chemical better and understand how the elements act with each other. I also realize a common connection between the two types of formulas is the common % composition which is kinda a given.

Acid Base Reactions

In an acid-base reaction the driving force is the creation of water. This is pretty neat because you wouldn’t (or at least I wouldn’t) of thought water be a part of an acid-base reaction, I just find water to be a little mundane and acids and bases a little more complex. Anyways, for acids and bases to do certain things they need to be either strong or weak acids and bases. I have a feeling this factor is not going to be fun to understand.

Moles

We learned about moles in class to and I find them quite interesting. They create a unique bridge to allow us to easily convert from mass, atoms, and volume. However annoying this is to do in class it is without a doubt very helpful. I also love converting so maybe its just me.

Converting Units

For me converting units has not been a hard thing to do. However to do it in the way Mrs. Frankenberg asks us to do it I am not as familiar with. The whole converting one unit at a time is kind of confusing. Now that I see how it works with sig figs it makes a bit more sense why it is used. I even find the method pretty satisfying.

Significant Digits

When significant digits were gone over in class I was actually absent and so for the first test I kinda just had to wing it... Today however I finally got it down. So here I am going describe a couple ways I have figured a couple ways to understand significant digits. One way is to understand that the only way a zero could be a significant digit is that it is to the right of a number between 1-9. Examples would be like 29 has 2 sig figs while 29.000  has 5 sig figs. The exception to this would be if there wasn't a decimal.

Stuffed Mole Project

The Stuffed Mole Project while quite unaffiliated with chemistry actually has to do a lot with following procedure and understanding instructions. For me I was not fully prepared or equipped for this project. I didn't have much stuff to use so I did my best. What came out of my project is not exactly what was supposed to so I just used what I had. The end result is what I like to call The Abomination because well... Its pretty bad... Haha.

Physical and Chemical Changes

In class we went over what is the difference between physical and chemical changes and how each is different. Physical changes happen and they are easily seen. An example of a physical change would be like changing state or color. While chemical changes tend to be a lot less visual. Chemical changes are when one chemical is turned into a whole new one. An example would be like wood burning or rust on metal. I find it very easy to discern the two and I don't really see how you could get them mixed up.

Star Log Review

Doing the Star Blog was actually very interesting and fun at CERTAIN points. Other times it was quite frustrating when you are looking for a certain aspect and nothing you search gives you what you want. I have spent quite a while doing just this. Eventually I found a way around the question or something and found what I needed. Overall I actually enjoyed this project.

Atomic Structure and Radioactivity Review

On this exam I did see a couple set backs. I was sick the day before and still not a 100% on Friday the day of the test, and this did not help at all! I was also unable to finish the test. Because of these reasons I feel that it is unfair to judge my test score on this test to my actual growth. I do feel however that I knew most of the questions it was just the problem of keeping my self on track to actually complete the question. I hope this does not happen again!

Test Review

The test was not that challenging, but I was unprepared and did not study enough. I would have done better if I would have better memorized Dalton's, Ruthaford's, and JJ Thompson's theories. I had the horrible luck of somehow mixing their theories up and that especially did not help my grade! I wish I could jsut take it again and fix all of my silly mistakes.

Beanium Lab Review

This lab was meant to teach us how to calculate percent abundance and other calculations made on isotopes. Doing this helped me understand what each formulation did to help me understand the element. The ability to not only visualize but interact with the so called isotopes actually kept the formulas and the idea of isotopes in my head that much more. This really helped out for the test we took.

Atomic Theory and Nuclear Chemistry

Dalton Theory really makes you think about the past and how much information was actually possible to find out with out the equipment we have today. Although Dalton was not accurate on some of his ideas, he was actually fairly on point. JJ Thompson however got a little closer with his availability to use science. He discovered negatively charged particle that we know as an Electron. Then his student Rutherford discovered the positively charged center that we know as the Nucleus. While these finding may be a little far from our current model the Cloud model they were major breakthroughs in their time.