CHEMISTRY SHENANIGANS

In today's Chem class, we had to clean up the cupboards and lab areas for the winter break. Also, we watched videos of parking fails and a swing fail. For homework, we were given a two page booklet about balancing equations.

If you're still a bit confused, take a look at these helpful hints!





And here's a video of a car reverse fail in case you missed out:


Have a Merry Christmas and enjoy the break!

In today's class, we discussed balancing chemical equations. Mr. Doktor reminded us of two key things: in order to balance a chemical equation, you must first have the correct unbalanced equation, and specify the state of matter, i.e. (g) for gas, (s) for solid.

To balance a chemical equation correctly, you must have the same number of atoms (or moles) of one element on one side as well as the other.

ex. (in-class) Mg_(s) + 0_{2 (g)} -> MgO
2Mg_(s) + 0_{2 (g)} -> 2MgO

*note that 2Mg + 0₂ are the reactants and 2MgO is the product.

ex. (in-class) AlBr₃ + SrCO₃ -> Al₂(Co₃)₃ + SrBr₂
2AlBr₃ + 3SrCO₃ -> Al₂(Co₃)₃ + 3SrBr₂

ex. CO₂ + H₂ -> CH₄ + H₂O
CO₂ + 4H₂ -> CH₄ + 2H₂O

ex. Mg + P₄ -> Mg₃P₂
6Mg + P₄ -> 2Mg₃P₂

If you want more practice on balancing equations, click here.

Also, keep in mind that in order to make the correct chemical equation, you will need your Peridoic Table of Elements. If you're feeling hungry, this might help.. it's the Periodic Table in cupcake form!!



And if you need some more help, here's a video!

Today, we had a first look into our new unit on chemical reactions. Mr. Doktor showed us 3 different demos on chemical reactions, one involving the bunsen burner and magnesium. We also learned a very important lab safety tip: never light a match when there is gas in the room. Towards the end of the class, Mr. Doktor told us to write out 6 ways in which we could tell a chemical reaction has occured. We came up with these: smell, bubbles, taste, colour, a precipitate is formed, gas, smoke and when new substance is formed.

Here is a video explaining the five major chemical reactions:

We had a chemistry test

Giving Directions

• find the mass you need
• con'c > moles > mass

Directions of Solutions

• when you add water, the con'c decreases
• if the volume is doubled, the con'c is halved
• when the water is heated and evaporates, the volume decreases and the con'c is doubled

Volume 2x = con'c 1/2 (when water is added)
Volume 1/2x = con'c 2x (when water is heated and evaporates)
Formula for both concentrations and volume:
C1 x V1 = C2 x V2
(concentration 1 muliplied by volume 1 = concentration 2 multiplied by volume 2)

• this formula is basically like math, isolating to get the variable by itself