Nicolas Reed Science Blog

Summary:      This week in science what we learned about was types of chemical reactions. What I now know is each type of reaction and what each is. The reactions I learned about and now know are synthesis, decomposition, single displacement, double displacement, endothermic, and exothermic reactions. I know that a synthesis reaction is when two or more element or compounds combine to form a more complex compound. I know that a decomposition reaction is when a single compound breaks down into its component parts or simpler compounds. I know that a single displacement reaction is when a more active element takes the place of another element in a compound and sets the less active one free. I know that a single displacement is when the anions and cations of two different molecules switch places, forming two entirely different compounds. Since ions are involved, it is sometimes called ionic. I know that an exothermic reaction is when the reaction releases energy. In exoth...

Summary:      This week in science we learned about chemical reactions and how to represent what happens in a chemical reaction through using a chemical equation. We learned that in a chemical reaction atoms are not destroyed or created, they are just rearranged to make something new. We also learned what each part of a chemical reaction represents. For example, we learned that the (+) symbol represents that there is a new molecule and that letters S, G, and L represent what state the molecule is in. So if you see an S that represents a solid state, a G is a gas state, and L is a liquid state. Another important symbol we learned about was the arrow symbol, the arrow symbol represents the direction of the chemical reaction. Another thing we learned about was what a balanced chemical equation and reaction is. An example of a balanced chemical reaction is fire, an example of a not so balanced chemical reaction is an explosion. What we learned about balancing chemical eq...

Summary: Covalent Bonds Link      This week in science what I learned about was how to count atoms, phase changes with states of matter, and covalent bonds with atoms. What I learned about counting atoms was what all the types of numbers (in terms of what they mean and do not actual numbers) and what they mean. The first type of number I learned was the subscript, now the subscript represents how many of the element before the subject has in the molecule. The next type of number I learned was the subscript after the parenthesis, this number represents that all the amounts of each element in the parenthesis is actually whatever the answer is to multiplying each element's amount of atoms by the number after the parenthesis. For example, if you have Zn(MnO4)2 (both numbers represent subscript) this means that you have 1 Zinc atom, 2 Manganese atoms (1 x 2) and 8 oxygen atoms (4 x 2). The last type of number I learned about was the coefficient. The coefficient is the...

Our Project Summary:      This week in science we have just finished our periodic table project. What we had to do for this project was with a team (of 3-4 people) you must create a periodic table of any subject (we chose all-time basketball players) and make it have all the components that the real periodic table has (atomic mass, atomic number, families and family names, periods, element name and symbol, and even more). The biggest thing I learned from this project is that periodic tables have to be clear and easy to understand for it to be amazing. I also learned that in order to make everything about it understandable you do need to show and have the key components that I mentioned above. Another thing I learned was that you need to accommodate and change the way the periodic table was built based on the subject you are doing. I learned that some things in the periodic table just don't make any sense for you particular subject. For example, basketball players ...

     Summary: Link      This week in science we learned more about the periodic table and other topics we could make a periodic table out of. We learned that the key components in the periodic table are that the things being shown ( such as mass, atomic number, etc) must be clear and understandable. Also that all periodic tables should have a mass, atomic number, organized periods and families, and a name for each family. Another thing we learned is that you can make a periodic table for any topic. For example, you could do a periodic table of candy, basketball players, army tanks, all of these things have been done. What I learned from these things is that you need to think very hard and investigate, research, and find all pieces of information possible in order to make your own periodic table. The last thing I learned is that a good periodic table can be looked at and be seen as something that is understandable. Right when looking at the real perio...