Blog Archives

nuclear waste storage

3/26/2016

Many of you had a three-day weekend – I hope it was enjoyable!

Most school budgets are depleted for the 2015-2016 class year. The book Chemistry on a Budget contains inexpensive chemistry labs that could be useful. You can buy this lab book for $23 at amazon.com or lulu.com. Check it out!

http://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Budget-Marjorie-R-Heesemann/dp/0578129159/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389410170&sr=1-1&keywords=chemistry+on+a+budget

http://www.lulu.com/shop/marjorie-r-heesemann/chemistry-on-a-budget/paperback/product-21217600.html

There are two versions of each lab, one with a ten-question conclusion and one with directions for a full lab report. This way the teacher has the option! Each lab is two pages to allow for one two-sided handout.

It will take a week or so to get to you, so Order Now!

*Some of you have purchased my lab book – be sure to check out Page 141 !

One concern about nuclear energy is the waste produced and the long half-lives involved for the radioactive decay.

A Newsweek article dated 4/20/15 states, “Researchers have discovered new properties of the radioactive element californium that may someday help the United States store and recycle its spent nuclear fuel.”
http://www.newsweek.com/2015/05/01/researcher-discovers-how-recycle-nuclear-fuel-radioactive-element-323453.html
“Thomas Albrecht-Schmitt, a researcher at Florida State University, has discovered new properties of californium that may someday help the United States store and recycle its spent nuclear fuel.”

“The cost of the element, however, could be a limiting factor. The 5 mg of Californium used for the experiments cost $1.4 million (R15million).”
http://www.infrastructurene.ws/2014/03/27/californium-has-potential-to-store-radioactive-waste/

“Several groups initially succeeded, only to be met with several subsequent problems down the line, rendering the solution unfeasible. Meyer and his team, including Chris Dares [at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill], who spearheaded the project, have found a way to remove the radioactive element without encountering downstream problems that have hindered progress.”

http://phys.org/news/2016-03-year-old-nuclear-problem-storage-safer.html
“In the americium project, Meyer and Dares adapted the technology to tear electrons from americium [Am], which requires twice as much energy input as splitting water. By removing those three electrons, americium behaves like plutonium and uranium, which is then easy to remove with existing technology.”

Perhaps you could have your students attempt to write the nuclear reaction of Americium (atomic number 95) changing to Plutonium (atomic number 94) and Uranium (atomic number 92) by loss of electrons (beta radiation).

*Remember, this Blog contains several entries that would be helpful to your chemistry classroom. Remember, you can check out the Topic List to help you to find past Blog entries.

Also, Write To Me about your successes, challenges, or questions in the Chemistry Classroom.

Remember, buying a copy of the lab book Chemistry on a Budget can be very useful to your Chemistry classroom with labs and class article ideas.

Have a great week!

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Microplastic Polluting Our Oceans

3/19/2016

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I hope that the month of March is going well for you and your students!

Most school budgets are depleted for the 2015-2016 class year. They book Chemistry on a Budget contains inexpensive chemistry labs that could be useful. You can buy this lab book for $23 at amazon.com or lulu.com. Check it out!

http://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Budget-Marjorie-R-Heesemann/dp/0578129159/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389410170&sr=1-1&keywords=chemistry+on+a+budget

http://www.lulu.com/shop/marjorie-r-heesemann/chemistry-on-a-budget/paperback/product-21217600.html

There are two versions of each lab, one with a ten-question conclusion and one with directions for a full lab report. This way the teacher has the option! Each lab is two pages to allow for one two-sided handout.

It will take a week or so to get to you, so Order Now!

*Some of you have purchased my lab book – be sure to check out Page 141 !

I had previously posted about a possible cleanup scheme for the large garbage patches in the ocean on 06/25/2015.

“The first comprehensive effort to estimate how much plastic pollution is going into the world's oceans has come up with a staggering figure: As much as 13 million tons flow into the sea every year, and the annual pile could get 10 times bigger over the next decade.”
http://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/millions-tons-scientists-tally-plastic-pollution-oceans-n304956
This article contains a brief (41 second) video clip titled, “What Is an Ocean Garbage Patch?”

Recently, an article came to my attention about smaller pieces of plastic affecting the health of marine life:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/23/plastic-ocean-pollution-fish-health_n_6923872.html
“Over time, waves and sunlight break down large chunks of plastic, leaving the remnants of discarded packaging, bottles and bags nearly invisible to the naked eye. These so-called microplastics, particles under a millimeter across, may pose big troubles, experts warn. …How all this translates into potential harm to wildlife or human health remains unclear...Some plastics are manufactured with chemicals known to mess with hormones. Perhaps even more concerning is that plastic can act as a sponge for other toxic pollutants such as flame retardants and pesticides. Even DDT, long banned in the U.S., still lingers in coastal waters and can hitch a ride on plastic particles. “

“Plastic waste could find its way deep into the ocean through the faeces of plankton, new research from the University of Exeter and Plymouth Marine Laboratory shows.

The study is further evidence of the widespread impact plastic pollution could have on the marine environment. Researchers have found tiny marine creatures called zooplankton readily ingest "microplastics", plastic debris smaller than one mm in size. This plastic is later egested within their faecal pellets. …
This new study showed plankton that ate polystyrene microplastics produced faeces that were lighter than normal and therefore sank more slowly. Because these pellets sink slower there will be greater opportunity for them to be eaten by animals. “
http://phys.org/news/2016-02-plankton-feces-plastic-pollution-ocean.html

Here is a 4 minute video clip explaining impact of microplastics on sea life:

"When researchers analyzed fifteen brands of common table salt bought at supermarkets across China, they found among the grains of seasoning micro-sized particles of the common water bottle plastic polyethylene terephthalate, as well as polyethylene, cellophane, and a wide variety of other plastics (Env. Sci.& Tech. 2015, DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b03163).
The highest level of plastic contamination was found in salt sourced from the ocean: The researchers measured more than 250 particles of plastic per lb of sea salt. “
http://cen.acs.org/articles/93/i43/Tiny-Bits-Plastic-Found-Table.html

“A new study linking microplastic pollution to low reproductive rates in Pacific oysters underscores the need to overhaul the use of petroleum-based plastics, according to a leading American ecotoxicologist.
‘The reason why we study these species is because we know they’re indicators for what is happening to us,’ said environmental chemist Sherri Mason of the State University of New York at Fredonia, whose work has documented widespread microplastic contamination in aquatic ecosystems. ‘People are ingesting microplastics when they eat shellfish and other seafood.’ “
http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/02/07/new-microbead-ban

This article includes a 3 minute description of the problem and possible solutions
http://ecowatch.com/2015/02/27/marcus-eriksen-microplastics-invade-oceans/

“The best solution is to prevent more plastic from reaching the ocean. Trash traps and litter booms can snag garbage before it enters waterways. Even better: Reduce plastic waste at its source. Be aware of packaging and buy items that use less of it, Law suggests. Skip the plastic bags, including zippered ones used for foods. Invest in reusable water bottles and lunch containers. And say no to straws.”
http://commonlit.org/texts/tiny-plastic-big-problem

This article's focus on plastics might be a good additional or Extra Credit article while covering Organic Chemistry.

*This Blog contains several entries that would be helpful to your chemistry classroom. Remember, you can check out the Topic List to help you to find past Blog entries.

Also, Write To Me about your successes, challenges, or questions in the Chemistry Classroom.

Remember, buying a copy of the lab book Chemistry on a Budget can be very useful to your Chemistry classroom with labs and class article ideas.

Have a great week!

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Deflategate and the gas laws

3/12/2016

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I hope March is going well for you!

Most school budgets are depleted for the 2015-2016 class year. They book Chemistry on a Budget contains inexpensive chemistry labs that could be useful. You can buy this lab book for $23 at amazon.com or lulu.com. Check it out!

http://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Budget-Marjorie-R-Heesemann/dp/0578129159/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389410170&sr=1-1&keywords=chemistry+on+a+budget

http://www.lulu.com/shop/marjorie-r-heesemann/chemistry-on-a-budget/paperback/product-21217600.html

There are two versions of each lab, one with a ten-question conclusion and one with directions for a full lab report. This way the teacher has the option! Each lab is two pages to allow for one two-sided handout.

It will take a week or so to get to you, so Order Now!

*Some of you have purchased my lab book – be sure to check out Page 141 !

Last year’s blog post dated 01/21/2015 was titled Gay-Lussac's law demonstration and discussed the relationship of Pressure and Temperature in a gas sample. At the end of the post, it mentioned “Deflategate” as an area for students to research.

“Deflategate” involved the claim that the New England Patriots deflated the balls used in the 1/18/15 Superbowl to make them easier to grip.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deflategate

“The NFL spent millions trying to nab Tom Brady and the Patriots in the Deflategate saga. They should've just called [Ben] Goodell.
The 7th-grader from Lynn, Boston (not related to the NFL Commissioner) decided the punishment given Brady (four games, still racking up dollars in the court system) wasn't fair, so he created a science project to figure out if weather affected the PSI of footballs.”
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25510170/a-7th-grader-named-goodell-used-a-science-project-to-solve-deflategate

Ben Goodell, a 7th grade student, completed a science fair project examining the pressure of the football inflated at room temperature and then exposed to the outdoor conditions.

“[Ben] Goodell began his experiment with a football inflated to the NFL standard and then exposed it to different weather conditions, including humidity, snow, wind chill, cold and ice.
‘Every time, it dropped two PSI [pounds per square inch],’ [Ben] Goodell, a Patriots fan, told the Item. ‘The lowest PSI recorded during deflategate was 2 PSI under proper inflation.’ ”
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/03/09/469803287/goodell-disproves-deflategate-no-not-that-goodell

“MIT professor John Leonard [states] ‘As someone who’s sort of studied every experiment, every data posting I can find, Ben Goodell’s experiment, as sort of straightforward as it was, just adds to the evidence in my own mind that the Ideal Gas Law is pretty tried and true,’ Leonard says. ‘And if you believe it, which I do, there was no deflation.’
… This whole saga arose from the NFL and its staff having no knowledge of the Ideal Gas Law.”
http://onlyagame.wbur.org/2016/03/12/deflate-gate-science-goodell

Here is a very simple experiment showing that as the temperature is changed on the football, the pressure changes directly:

This is an example of the power of the Scientific Method in answering a question; and, the importance of testing hypotheses versus acceptance of ideas without proof.

There are many ideas presented in this world, and your students need to be critical thinkers and seek out evidence based on scientific testing that proves a claim.

*Remember, this Blog contains several entries that would be helpful to your chemistry classroom. Remember, you can check out the Topic List to help you to find past Blog entries.

Also, Write To Me about your successes, challenges, or questions in the Chemistry Classroom.

Remember, buying a copy of the lab book Chemistry on a Budget can be very useful to your Chemistry classroom with labs and class article ideas.

Enjoy your weekend!

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science in "the Martian"

3/5/2016

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Wow, it’s March! The snow may be starting to melt by you. More than half of the school year has past! Yay!

Right now, most school budgets are depleted for the 2015-2016 class year. My book, Chemistry on a Budget, contains inexpensive chemistry labs that could be useful. You can buy this lab book for $23 at amazon.com or lulu.com. Check it out!

http://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Budget-Marjorie-R-Heesemann/dp/0578129159/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389410170&sr=1-1&keywords=chemistry+on+a+budget

http://www.lulu.com/shop/marjorie-r-heesemann/chemistry-on-a-budget/paperback/product-21217600.html

There are two versions of each lab, one with a ten-question conclusion and one with directions for a full lab report. This way the teacher has the option! Each lab is two pages to allow for one two-sided handout.

It will take a week or so to get to you, so Order Now!

*Some of you have purchased my lab book – be sure to check out Page 141 !

“The film adaptation of Andy Weir's breakout novel "The Martian" isn't just awesome, it might also be one of the most realistic space exploration movies that's ever graced the silver screen. - See more at: http://www.space.com/30831-the-martian-most-realistic-space-movie-ever.html#sthash.LOciwmjh.dpuf “

I don’t recommend the entire film for classroom use because of its PG-13 rating – be forewarned, for those who haven’t seen it, the length is 2 hours and 20 minutes!

The websites that follow contain spoilers of the movie – it’s up to you if you want to see it first! I borrowed mine from the public library. Right now, it’s very popular, so you might have to wait in line to get it at the library.

“A scientist — as portrayed in most big-budget movies — usually resembles a robot more than a human. These caricatures of scientists show them as dorky, calculating, anti-social, almost never cool or confident, and rarely funny (and if they are, they usually crack jokes about ‘Star Wars.’)

Mark Watney, the lead character in ‘The Martian,’ is an antidote to that tired trope. He's funny, and his humor may be what saves him from losing hope — and his mental stability — when he gets stranded alone on Mars. “
http://www.space.com/30831-the-martian-most-realistic-space-movie-ever.html

According to “The Guardian”:
“Overall it’s a very good movie, and while there are mistakes in it, it is the first genuine Mars movie. It is the first movie that attempts to be realistic and that is actually about human beings grappling with the problems of exploring Mars, as opposed to various movies set on Mars that are essentially either shoot ’em ups or horror films. It does not engage in fantasy: no monsters, no magic, no Nazis. However, there are a number of technical mistakes.”
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/oct/06/how-scientifically-accurate-is-the-martian

Here is a 24 minute video showing the accuracies and mistakes in the science of “The Martian” :

(Excuse some of the PG-13 language.)
This narrator does say that the book has useful chemistry, and so reading the book and reporting 3-5 chemistry facts in it could also be a useful Extra Credit assignment.

NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) apparently likes it because it has a page at its website to cite current technology portrayed in the movie:
http://www.nasa.gov/feature/nine-real-nasa-technologies-in-the-martian
Some of the captioning is not accurate.

Here’s another article examining the “hits” and “misses” of the movie “The Martian” :
http://space.gizmodo.com/science-of-the-martian-the-good-the-bad-and-the-fasc-1734726471

I noticed during my initial viewing of “The Martian” that gases move to equalize pressure in a few scenes (the explosion on the planet, releasing gas from his spacesuit to accelerate toward the spaceship).

“That rockstardom for NASA science was on full display this summer as Green walked San Diego’s Comic-Con… Newly named astronaut Victor Glover speculated about the first humans to walk on Mars. And Space Launch System manager Todd May talked about what it will take to get there.”
http://www.astronomy.com/bonus/martian
“In October [2016], NASA will host the First Landing Site/Exploration Zone Workshop for human missions to Mars at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Texas. Green says it’s very likely the places they choose will be where future Mark Watneys land and begin the next step in the evolution of humankind.”

*Here is a 54-minute documentary from the series “NOVA Science Now” hosted by Neil DeGrasse Tyson, “Can We Make it To Mars?” first aired on August 1, 2012:

Your students might recognize one of the astronauts interviewed, Mike Massimino, who appeared in television show, “The Big Bang Theory”.

( I’m amused by the use of the song from the 60s, “These Boots are Made For Walkin’ ” in the background music. )

Students could report 5 facts from the video, especially about Pressure, to stay on task while watching. This might be a good activity for sub-plans.

*Remember, this Blog contains several entries that would be helpful to your chemistry classroom. Remember, you can check out the Topic List to help you to find past Blog entries.

Also, Write To Me about your successes, challenges, or questions in the Chemistry Classroom.

Buying a copy of the lab book Chemistry on a Budget can be very useful to your Chemistry classroom with labs and class article ideas.

Have a great week!

0 Comments

nuclear waste storage

Microplastic Polluting Our Oceans

Deflategate and the gas laws

science in "the Martian"

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