Stoichiometry Websites

Stoichiometry (balancing chemical equations) can be hard. However, things that come with difficulty can often reap the greatest rewards. Some examples:

• Hardship: The San Francisco Giants endure over 50 years of heartbreak and losing. Reward: Last night, they overcome this history and win the World Series.
• Hardship: Scandinavian immigrants settle in the Midwestern US. They suffer through famine, disease, freezing temperatures, and death. Reward: They live in, and represent the strength of, a country built on individual freedom and liberty.
• Hardship: You don't get how to balance chemical equations. Reward: Through hard work you figure it out. You have a head start in high school chemistry, and you understand more about chemical equations.

Try these websites below to help you balance chemical equations:

Chem Balancer Element Balancing

Do you get it? Let me know, please.

Independence Day Chemistry

Ever wondered why some fireworks burst one color, while others explode and show a completely different color? What is responsible for this observation? Watch this video (shot this past summer) and also the video embedded below from "Science Friday". These will be good resources for answering the questions for your blog response.



If the video above doesn't work, try this link.

1. Why do some fireworks glow different colors?
   
2. What does this have to do with chemical composition, properties, and electrons?
   
3. (Optional) What are some of your experiences with July 4 Fireworks?
   

Static Electricity!

Below is a picture of Clara (about 2 years ago). She briefly turned her soccer goal into a fort/tent with a blanket on top, and (as you can see) some serious static electricity was produced!

After reading the short article AND contemplating some of your own experiences with static electricity, answer the following questions in a comment on this blog post:

1. What causes "Static Electricity"?
2. What does static electricity have to do with chemistry, atoms, and an atom's structure?

Drawing Ions

Want to know how to draw an ion of Oxygen? I thought you might. Let Imrann and Ben explain. (Sam is the illustrator.)

Defining Atom

Answer the following question in your comment below:
An atom is the smallest particle into which an element can be divided and still be that element. Now that scientists have learned that an atom is made up of even smaller particles (like protons, neutrons, and electrons), is this definition still accurate? Why or why not?
Upon the completion of this blog response, go to Ediscio and complete the "Atoms" cardbox. That way, you shall ace the standard check we have tomorrow. Then, on Thursday, we shall compete against other classes in the famous Human Bohr Model event. More details are to come.

2010 Chemistry Games

Before participating in the 2010 Chem Games, please fill out this survey. Consider it the Opening Ceremonies of this all-important event. This survey is being used to measure the level of technology use in classrooms across South Dakota.

I am challenging all Crazy 8s (and other Earthlings that have access to our blog) to achieve greatness in the 2nd Annual Chem Games. Use the following links to earn (as many points possible) and learn (about the individual elements and their chemical symbols, subatomic particles, and placement on the periodic table). These websites can help reinforce your knowledge of atoms and the periodic table, concepts that we have started (and will continue) to learn about during our chemistry unit.

Here are the links:
Element Flash Cards (set up the game so that it tests you on the 33 elements you are supposed to know) Non-Crazy 8 visitors can view this link to find out what those elements are.
Element Math Games
Periodic Table Activities
Setting the Periodic Table
Element Matching Game
Fun Brain Periodic Table

Feel free to share your high scores, along with the game and its conditions, in the comments section of this post. Post your scores with honesty and integrity. As always, these are virtues required of Crazy 8s and others that visit our blog. Gold medals in the 2010 Chem Games are at stake! Good luck!

Periodic Table Preparation

We have a "Periodic Table" Standard Check on Monday. I'd like you to know the difference between a period and a group, the characteristics of metals, nonmetals, and metalloids and where to find them, and the names of the groups and where they are found. The info from everyone's VoiceThread presentations should be helpful. Here are some other things that might help you prepare:

1. Periodic Table Ediscio Flash Cards: Mark all of these cards for learning at Ediscio.
2. Do the sample standard check embedded below.

Grouping the Elements: Day 3

Goal: Record your VoiceThread.

1. Practice speaking your information – then record it on VoiceThread
2. Once you have finished your comments and ARE READY TO PRESENT as an expert on your group, you may visit the following websites:

Periodic Table Activities

Fun Brain Periodic Table

Setting the Periodic Table

Element Hangman

Meet the Elements, Everyone

Grouping the Elements

Day Two: Research uses for the elements in your element group and create your PowerPoint

1. Go on the internet and do a search for some or all of the elements in your group.
2. List 4 everyday uses for at least 5 of the elements in your group.

Here is a list of websites that you may choose to use:

Web Elements: Click on the element from your group that you want to research. This will take you to a page that provides essential information on the element. Read this. Scroll down the page and you will find the "Uses" link. This page should have the info you need.

It's Elemental

Chemical Elements

3. You should also complete your group's PowerPoint which includes:

• Title Slide
• 5 Characteristics
• Simile/Metaphor
• Everyday Uses

Once your PowerPoint is complete, have Mr. Hoegh upload it onto VoiceThread. Then, develop a plan for recording the group VoiceThread.

Crazy 8 Chemistry Labs

This video is also on YouTube with a higher resolution. Click here to view it.

Recipe for Iron Sulfide

5 grams Iron Filings (Fe)
5 grams Sulfur (S)
HEAT (from Bunsen Burner)

Add iron filings and sulfur together, and place in test tube. Add heat from the Bunsen burner. Simmer for several minutes. Let reaction occur in a fume hood to prevent the aroma from going around the whole school.

Here is a view of what happened as our mixture of Iron and Sulfur became Iron Sulfide:



Some questions for the Crazy 8s:

1. What were some signs that a chemical change took place? (What did you observe as the mixture in the test tube was heated?) Be descriptive!
2. Did the properties of the original components change when the new substance was formed? How? Which ones?
3. The mass of your new substance was less than the mass of the individual components that went into the reaction. However, in a chemical reaction, matter is neither created nor destroyed. What explains the change in mass?
   

Chemistry Jeopardy

Go back to "slide 2" after each question in order to see (and select from) the main game board.

Chemistry Jeopardy

Chemistry VoiceThread

This VoiceThread presentation, brought to you by the some of our Crazy 8 Scientists, describes some of the concepts they have learned about during the chemistry unit.

Bonding and Matter Standard Check tomorrow...

Things to know for the standard check tomorrow:

• Key terms, such as Matter, Element, Compound, and Mixture
• How can the components that make up compounds be separated? What about the components of mixtures?
• How many different types of substances are needed to make elements, compounds, and mixtures?
• What happens to the properties of substances when they form compounds? Do they remain the same, or are they different? What happens to the properties of substances when mixtures are formed?
• Examples of physical properties and chemical properties
• Examples of physical and chemical changes: For more practice on physical and chemical changes go to this site, where there are 20 changes you can identify as being physical or chemical.
• How can you illustrate what occurs in an ionic bond? Here is a video, if you need a refresher....

• How can you illustrate what occurs in a covalent bond? Here is another video. Feel free to view it if you're not sure how to draw covalent bonds.

Let me know if you have any questions on this stuff. As always, I hope that all of you do a great job on the standard check tomorrow. Can you believe that it is the end of the 1st Quarter already?

Human Bohr Model

Here is some video footage from last week's "Battle of Bohr" with the other 8th grade teams. It was a fun day! Sorry if each student/class is not present in the video -- You all did a great job.

Static Electricity

Below is a picture of my daughter from last fall. She briefly turned her soccer goal into a fort/tent with a blanket on top, and (as you can see) some serious static electricity was produced!

After reading the short article AND contemplating some of your own experiences with static electricity, answer the following questions in a comment on this blog post:

1. What causes "Static Electricity"?
2. What does static electricity have to do with chemistry, atoms, and an atom's structure?

Drawing a Neutral Atom

Noah and Jenny show us how it's done!

2009 Chemistry Games

I am challenging all Crazy 8s (and other Earthlings that have access to our blog) to achieve greatness in the 1st-ever Chem Games. Use the following links to earn (as many points possible) and learn (about the individual elements and their chemical symbols, subatomic particles, and placement on the periodic table). These websites can help reinforce your knowledge of atoms and the periodic table, concepts that we have started (and will continue) to learn about during our chemistry unit.

Here are the links:
Element Flash Cards (set up the game so that it tests you on the 33 elements you are supposed to know) Non-Crazy 8 visitors can view this link to find out what those elements are.
Element Math Games
Periodic Table Activities
Setting the Periodic Table
Element Matching Game
Fun Brain Periodic Table

Feel free to share your high scores, along with the game and its conditions, in the comments section of this post. Post your scores with honesty and integrity. As always, these are virtues required of Crazy 8s and others that visit our blog. Gold medals in the 2009 Chem Games are at stake! Good luck!

For the Standard Check tomorrow....

You might want to answer some of these questions. The correct answers will be visible to you when you click on the "comments" link of this post. Good luck to all.