Intro: Today in class we did a instructed lab where we learned and experimented with atoms. We learned the structure of a atom which are made up of subatomic particles. In the structure there is a proton with a positive force and significant mass. We learned about this by seeing the reactions take place when water, citric acid, and magnesium are combined.
What I learned: A electron that is negative, orbits around the nucleus and has a insignificant mass. Lastly the neutron which has a neutral force, with significant mass. The electron has a positive center with energy levels on electrons going on infinitely also six atoms on the outer shell. In class we also learned about more about how to understand a element by looking at a periodic table. I saw the hydrogen was at the top left hand of the periodic table and was the only element in white. It shows the atomic mass which is 1.0079. You can see almost exactly how elements are going to react with each other just by looking at the periodic table. I learned that hydrogen moves to the H atom and the O atom has it's outer shell. Then it's atoms forms into a 'Micky mouse shape' with six atoms on the outer shell. Bellow I will have a picture of my notes so that you can visualize. Another thing Iearned in the second part of this lab was what causes explosions to happen. In this case the explosion happened because the heat of the candle popped the ballon but not only that it released the helium at a very quick speed because it is a chemical gas.
The Process: We got to visualize this with the lab where we made hydrogen with a reaction using citric acid, water, Rxn and magnesium. My group put all of those ingredients into a flask with a balloon covering the top. We observed the experiment we noticed that bubbles began to form on the magnesium and would float up releasing gases, heat and energy making the beaker warm. The balloon began to fill up with air and continued for as long as the bubbles popped. The reaction that take place is basic thermodynamics. I knew that the magnesium is combined with the citric acid and water, energy is slowly released from the Rxn which makes helium. Energy stays at a constant rate unless it is effect by another force or reaction. Eventualy the bubbles began to slow down and the balloon stopped inflating. Andrew took the balloon off the beaker and tied it shut and then cut off the knot so that it would be lighter. He let it go for a second and to our surprise the balloon floated quickly up into the air. This reaction had made helium. I was not expecting that the gasses in the bubbles would be helium. When every one had there helium balloons ready we turned of the lights and got some candles. I was the one who got to hold the balloon over the flame on a yard stick and explode it and see it's gasses release. Causing a really cool looking orange flare and a loud sound louder then a regular halon popping.
Reflection: My experience in this lab was very good over all. At first during the begging of class when Andrew was explaining the notes he wrote in the board I was very confused and didn't understand it much. I was just trying to write down notes and copy what was on the board. But after finishing this fairly simple lab it helped me understand what the notes I took where about. When I looked back at them I realized the purpose of the notes I took and why this lab helped us understand atoms and how reactions happen with them. It was also just very exiting and surprising to see the ballon float into the air. It is really interesting to know how you could make helium and then turn the helium into water. It was exiting to see the balloons explode but also know why the explosion happend.
What I learned: A electron that is negative, orbits around the nucleus and has a insignificant mass. Lastly the neutron which has a neutral force, with significant mass. The electron has a positive center with energy levels on electrons going on infinitely also six atoms on the outer shell. In class we also learned about more about how to understand a element by looking at a periodic table. I saw the hydrogen was at the top left hand of the periodic table and was the only element in white. It shows the atomic mass which is 1.0079. You can see almost exactly how elements are going to react with each other just by looking at the periodic table. I learned that hydrogen moves to the H atom and the O atom has it's outer shell. Then it's atoms forms into a 'Micky mouse shape' with six atoms on the outer shell. Bellow I will have a picture of my notes so that you can visualize. Another thing Iearned in the second part of this lab was what causes explosions to happen. In this case the explosion happened because the heat of the candle popped the ballon but not only that it released the helium at a very quick speed because it is a chemical gas.
The Process: We got to visualize this with the lab where we made hydrogen with a reaction using citric acid, water, Rxn and magnesium. My group put all of those ingredients into a flask with a balloon covering the top. We observed the experiment we noticed that bubbles began to form on the magnesium and would float up releasing gases, heat and energy making the beaker warm. The balloon began to fill up with air and continued for as long as the bubbles popped. The reaction that take place is basic thermodynamics. I knew that the magnesium is combined with the citric acid and water, energy is slowly released from the Rxn which makes helium. Energy stays at a constant rate unless it is effect by another force or reaction. Eventualy the bubbles began to slow down and the balloon stopped inflating. Andrew took the balloon off the beaker and tied it shut and then cut off the knot so that it would be lighter. He let it go for a second and to our surprise the balloon floated quickly up into the air. This reaction had made helium. I was not expecting that the gasses in the bubbles would be helium. When every one had there helium balloons ready we turned of the lights and got some candles. I was the one who got to hold the balloon over the flame on a yard stick and explode it and see it's gasses release. Causing a really cool looking orange flare and a loud sound louder then a regular halon popping.
Reflection: My experience in this lab was very good over all. At first during the begging of class when Andrew was explaining the notes he wrote in the board I was very confused and didn't understand it much. I was just trying to write down notes and copy what was on the board. But after finishing this fairly simple lab it helped me understand what the notes I took where about. When I looked back at them I realized the purpose of the notes I took and why this lab helped us understand atoms and how reactions happen with them. It was also just very exiting and surprising to see the ballon float into the air. It is really interesting to know how you could make helium and then turn the helium into water. It was exiting to see the balloons explode but also know why the explosion happend.