I spoke with my family about ozone today and they had not known that ozone was created at our atmospheric level. I didn't know that until our class read about it. I find this to be a slightly disturbing and curious situation; why don't we know about toxic substances that are in our environment? What can we do to become more aware and to work to remove and prevent the proliferation of such thing in our environment?
Education for everyone.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Element of the Week: Palladium
Palladium - Pd-46
Atomic Weight 106.42
Density 12.023 g/cc
Melting Point 1554.9°C
Boiling Point 2963°C
known for;
- being more far valuable than silver but has a distinctly yellow hue and never tarnishes
- used in a variety of industrial applications including: autoclasts, dentistry, automobile parts, jewelry, fuel cells, oil refining, chemistry, polyester, photography water treatment and more...
- it is used to make fine objects such as this royal coffee-maker:
- http://periodictable.com/Elements/046/index.html
- http://www.stillwaterpalladium.com/uses.html
- http://www.nwtmintbullion.com/palladium_uses.php
The Secret of Scent - Smell is Chemistry
Biophysicist Luca Turin explains the 'magic' of scent in his book The Secret of Scent,
"Molecules are what we smell: smell is our chemical sense, and we are so used to it that we do not stop to think about how amazing it is. Consider this: a bit of brain grows downwards through a bone shot through with holes and dangles in the breeze somewhere up your nose. Smells, unlike sound and light, do not act at a distance: if you smell something, it is because pieces of the smelly stuff are evaporating from whatever it is you are smelling - whether it is Ruis de Nuit or frying bacon - flying through the air and ending up in your nose. The fact that they are colorless makes it look like a mysterious agency is at work, but if you were to add perfume to colorless smoke you would soon realize that you only smell the stuff when the color reaches you. A complex smell is just what it says: a complicated mixture of different molecules, each adding its own odor, the sum total of which is the thing we call the smell. But what are these smelly molecules? ...molecules are assemblages of atoms. Atoms come in different flavors, or elements, and the elements differ in their ability to connect with each other. As was figured out about a hundred years ago, atoms are not unlike tiny solar systems, with a central sun (the nucleus) and planets around them (electrons). The nucleus is made up of positive charges and the electrons are negative. Equal numbers of negative and positive charges are required to give a nice neutral, well-behaved atom. The negative planets don't simply stack up in increasingly larger orbits, but instead form groups - groups of eight to be exact. It's as if in each orbit there was room for eight planets, then when that orbit is considered filled up, you start with the next one.
What is important about all of this is that the social behavior of atoms - the branch of science known as chemistry - depends largely on how many atoms there are in the outer orbit. It is as if atoms are more comfortable with filled orbits, and are constantly searching for partners to swap electrons and achieve peace. For example, if one atom has seven electrons in its outer circle, it behaves like a collector trying to fill that yawning gap on its shelf and snaps up any electron around. Similarly, if an atom has just started the next electron orbit, and has only one electron in it, it is quite happy to give that up to go back to the neat arrangement of a properly filled eight-electron orbit. As you can readily imagine, when this generous soul meets the manic collector, it's Love."
And so on.... a more scientific explanation of Luca Turin's theory of smell can be found here.
"Molecules are what we smell: smell is our chemical sense, and we are so used to it that we do not stop to think about how amazing it is. Consider this: a bit of brain grows downwards through a bone shot through with holes and dangles in the breeze somewhere up your nose. Smells, unlike sound and light, do not act at a distance: if you smell something, it is because pieces of the smelly stuff are evaporating from whatever it is you are smelling - whether it is Ruis de Nuit or frying bacon - flying through the air and ending up in your nose. The fact that they are colorless makes it look like a mysterious agency is at work, but if you were to add perfume to colorless smoke you would soon realize that you only smell the stuff when the color reaches you. A complex smell is just what it says: a complicated mixture of different molecules, each adding its own odor, the sum total of which is the thing we call the smell. But what are these smelly molecules? ...molecules are assemblages of atoms. Atoms come in different flavors, or elements, and the elements differ in their ability to connect with each other. As was figured out about a hundred years ago, atoms are not unlike tiny solar systems, with a central sun (the nucleus) and planets around them (electrons). The nucleus is made up of positive charges and the electrons are negative. Equal numbers of negative and positive charges are required to give a nice neutral, well-behaved atom. The negative planets don't simply stack up in increasingly larger orbits, but instead form groups - groups of eight to be exact. It's as if in each orbit there was room for eight planets, then when that orbit is considered filled up, you start with the next one.
What is important about all of this is that the social behavior of atoms - the branch of science known as chemistry - depends largely on how many atoms there are in the outer orbit. It is as if atoms are more comfortable with filled orbits, and are constantly searching for partners to swap electrons and achieve peace. For example, if one atom has seven electrons in its outer circle, it behaves like a collector trying to fill that yawning gap on its shelf and snaps up any electron around. Similarly, if an atom has just started the next electron orbit, and has only one electron in it, it is quite happy to give that up to go back to the neat arrangement of a properly filled eight-electron orbit. As you can readily imagine, when this generous soul meets the manic collector, it's Love."
And so on.... a more scientific explanation of Luca Turin's theory of smell can be found here.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Review of Site
I chose to review Elements, Compounds and Mixtures
I find it to be very simple, concise, and relatively easy to understand. My only criticism is the aesthetic or lack thereof, and slightly unclear design of the information. I can imagine the same information appearing in a much more clearly defined diagram, but for a website, this works.
It is a great review tool.
I find it to be very simple, concise, and relatively easy to understand. My only criticism is the aesthetic or lack thereof, and slightly unclear design of the information. I can imagine the same information appearing in a much more clearly defined diagram, but for a website, this works.
It is a great review tool.
Element of the Week - Bismuth
Bismuth
Atomic Weight 208.98038
Density 9.78 g/cc
Melting Point 271.3°C
Boiling Point 1564.°C
known for;
- has the interesting physical property of being less dense as a solid than it is as a liquid
- naturally forms beautiful crystals
- poorly conducts electricity and heat
- used in producing malleable irons
- bismuth is non-toxic
- as a catalyst for making acrylic fibers
- the metal is used as a thermocouple material (has highest negativity known)
- carrier for uranium fuel in nuclear reactors
- fire detection, extinguishing systems
- cosmetics
- medicine
Sources
- http://www.webelements.com/webelements/scholar/elements/bismuth/uses.html
- http://periodictable.com/
- http://www.mii.org/Minerals/photobis.html
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Quiz?
The Quiz
I scored perfectly until I assumed that table salt was pure Na. forgetting the Cl and all the other micro-minerals.
I then assumed Sugar, CHO?, was impure but this site says that it is pure. I don't know about that.
I then made one ore mistake by not knowing that water's boiling point is a physical property, rather than chemical.
Jargon uchmay?
I scored perfectly until I assumed that table salt was pure Na. forgetting the Cl and all the other micro-minerals.
I then assumed Sugar, CHO?, was impure but this site says that it is pure. I don't know about that.
I then made one ore mistake by not knowing that water's boiling point is a physical property, rather than chemical.
Jargon uchmay?
Periodic Table of Elements
The periodic table has so many variations and with the interactivity of the computer/Internet, there are wonderfully rich tables like this one at Periodictable.com.
I really like the interactivity, pictures, roll-over information-display, and the written descriptions have a lovely sarcastic wit to them.
Other tables of interest (Periodically-speaking of course):
- A collection of interesting tables; I especially like the spiral
- A table showing the increasing atomic radius
- A fun Flash-animated song to learn with
- A basic Periodic Table with great detailed information
- This one is from the The Omnificent English Dictionary In Limerick Form:
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Alchemy - The Root of Modern Chemistry Knowledge
The root of chemistry is alchemy, the 'art of the dark earth'. I find this extremely beautiful and poetic;
Alchemy and it's child, chemistry carry their meaning from the Egyptian work 'Khem', which, according to th University of Bristol School of Chemistry's website, "was used in reference to the fertility of the flood plains around the Nile."
The earth, our Mother, Mater... is the ever fertile dark earth = dark matter. Symbolically, and perhaps quite literally, dark matter is the inner and non-physical aspects of reality which is in constant and unending fluctuation and transformation. We study the universe to understand ourselves. The sciences/arts of alchemy and chemistry are the creative and intellectual pursuits of knowledge and understanding; alchemy being the more subtle/symbolic/spiritual expression (more yang within yin), while chemistry is the more intellectual/material/rationalist approach to the same understanding and yearning (more yin within yang). No matter how we go about and eventually explain our experience of searching for knowledge, we explore in the darkness filled with light through our energetic mind/body/spirit aspects.
Please enjoy this living alchemical video that is, in many ways, the inner spiritual-scientific process of transmuting energies within ourselves:
The dual nature of reality, so rooted and basic to many of the Eastern Philosophies and their applications (such as Traditional Oriental Medicine), is understood in the tradition of alchemy and explained through the symbols of the Sun and the Moon;
"The first way of knowing is the rational, deductive, argumentative, intellectual thinking that is the hallmark of science and our patriarchal Western culture. The alchemists called this kind of consciousness Solar and assigned it many code words, such as the Sun, Fire, Sophic Sulfur, the King, the Father, Spirit, and ultimately, the One Mind of the universe. Throughout this website, whenever the material involves left-brain activity like lists, linear thought, schematics, formulae, arguments and logic, the icon used will be the Sun symbol to the left." (1)
"The alchemists called the other way of knowing Lunar. This intelligence of the heart is a non-linear, image-driven, intuitive way of thinking that is an accepted tool of the arts and religion. Among its many symbols are the Moon, Water, Sophic Salt, the Queen, the Holy Ghost, Soul, and ultimately, the One Thing of the universe. Throughout this website, whenever the material involves right-brain activity dealing with drawings, paintings, mandalas, symbols, music, and meditation, the icon used will be the Moon symbol to the left [on their website]." (2)
In my experience, the more balanced and poetic knowledge systems have a fuller and deeper understanding of reality. This is part of what attracts me to Eastern medicines and philosophies, as well as the science/art of alchemy.
Alchemy and it's child, chemistry carry their meaning from the Egyptian work 'Khem', which, according to th University of Bristol School of Chemistry's website, "was used in reference to the fertility of the flood plains around the Nile."
The earth, our Mother, Mater... is the ever fertile dark earth = dark matter. Symbolically, and perhaps quite literally, dark matter is the inner and non-physical aspects of reality which is in constant and unending fluctuation and transformation. We study the universe to understand ourselves. The sciences/arts of alchemy and chemistry are the creative and intellectual pursuits of knowledge and understanding; alchemy being the more subtle/symbolic/spiritual expression (more yang within yin), while chemistry is the more intellectual/material/rationalist approach to the same understanding and yearning (more yin within yang). No matter how we go about and eventually explain our experience of searching for knowledge, we explore in the darkness filled with light through our energetic mind/body/spirit aspects.
Please enjoy this living alchemical video that is, in many ways, the inner spiritual-scientific process of transmuting energies within ourselves:
The dual nature of reality, so rooted and basic to many of the Eastern Philosophies and their applications (such as Traditional Oriental Medicine), is understood in the tradition of alchemy and explained through the symbols of the Sun and the Moon;
"The first way of knowing is the rational, deductive, argumentative, intellectual thinking that is the hallmark of science and our patriarchal Western culture. The alchemists called this kind of consciousness Solar and assigned it many code words, such as the Sun, Fire, Sophic Sulfur, the King, the Father, Spirit, and ultimately, the One Mind of the universe. Throughout this website, whenever the material involves left-brain activity like lists, linear thought, schematics, formulae, arguments and logic, the icon used will be the Sun symbol to the left." (1)
"The alchemists called the other way of knowing Lunar. This intelligence of the heart is a non-linear, image-driven, intuitive way of thinking that is an accepted tool of the arts and religion. Among its many symbols are the Moon, Water, Sophic Salt, the Queen, the Holy Ghost, Soul, and ultimately, the One Thing of the universe. Throughout this website, whenever the material involves right-brain activity dealing with drawings, paintings, mandalas, symbols, music, and meditation, the icon used will be the Moon symbol to the left [on their website]." (2)
In my experience, the more balanced and poetic knowledge systems have a fuller and deeper understanding of reality. This is part of what attracts me to Eastern medicines and philosophies, as well as the science/art of alchemy.
Bio - Greetings
As an Sino-astrological Earth-Rabbit, I am the Brown Rabbit.
I am also known as Michael Eugene Brown Jr., the eldest son of a gardener/real-estate appraiser/mechanist and a Master-mother/accountant/chef. I am an unfolding of their endless Love and I have only just begun to flower.
I now begin my studies at AIMC in Berkeley, California where I have chosen to dedicate myself to the healing profession through a rigorous and focussed study of Traditional Oriental Medicine complimented and enhanced by the supplementation of Integrative Perspectives/Methods.
This Blog is the living document of my experience of learning and education in the Basic Science course entitled 'Integrative Chemistry'. This course is a fundamental requirement for me in my studies of medicine and I look forward to exploring the practical, philosophical, and integrative depths of chemistry through this Blog. We also have a class blog that can be found here.
Please enjoy my ruminations and explorations as they joyously and deeply unfold.
To the truth that is yet to be told,
Cheers.
I am also known as Michael Eugene Brown Jr., the eldest son of a gardener/real-estate appraiser/mechanist and a Master-mother/accountant/chef. I am an unfolding of their endless Love and I have only just begun to flower.
I now begin my studies at AIMC in Berkeley, California where I have chosen to dedicate myself to the healing profession through a rigorous and focussed study of Traditional Oriental Medicine complimented and enhanced by the supplementation of Integrative Perspectives/Methods.
This Blog is the living document of my experience of learning and education in the Basic Science course entitled 'Integrative Chemistry'. This course is a fundamental requirement for me in my studies of medicine and I look forward to exploring the practical, philosophical, and integrative depths of chemistry through this Blog. We also have a class blog that can be found here.
Please enjoy my ruminations and explorations as they joyously and deeply unfold.
To the truth that is yet to be told,
Cheers.
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