The halogens

The halogens are a group of five elements of the periodic table. They are Fluorine, Chlorine, Bromine, Iodine, and Astatine. They all have seven outer electrons except for astatine. Their compounds and ions are called halides. Let's take a look at these elements.

This one is Fluorine. Alone it is F2.It is the most reactive of the halogens and it reacts with almost all the elements. Its atomic number is 9 and its atomic weight is 18.99. It is a pale yellow-green gas and is very poisonous. It is never used in school laboratories because it attacks glass, but it can be useful in substances like toothpaste. It is found in xenon tetrafluoride (XeF4), freon (CF2Cl2), fluorospar (CaF2), and cryolite (Na3AlF6)as well as many other compounds.

  After fluorine is chlorine. Chlorine's atomic number is 17 and its atomic weight is 35.45. In the picture it is shown on its own but it only occurs naturally in compounds. As with fluorine it is a gas but it is greener. Its most well-known compound is salt (NaCl). It is also found in sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl)which is used to make paper white. Hydrogen chloride (HCl) is a colorless gas that is made by burning hydrogen in chlorine. It dissolves in water to form hydrochloric acid which is used to etch metals.

Next is bromine. It is one of the two liquids on the periodic table (mercury is the other) and it gives off toxic fumes. Its atomic number is 35 and its atomic weight is 79.91. Alone it is Br2 but, like chlorine it is only naturally found in compounds. Its most common compound is sodium bromide (NaBr) which is found in sea water. Another compound, silver bromide (AgBr)is used in photography, while yet another compound, hydrogen bromide has the same properties of hydrochloric acid.

This one is Iodine. Its atomic number is 53 and its atomic weight is 126.90. It is found in foods such as seaweed, seafood, cod liver oil, and fruits and vegetables. Don't panic about that because it it healthy. When heated it gives off a purple vapor. Like the other halogens it is paired up with sodium, this time in sodium iodate (NaIO3). Iodine dissolved in ethanol (C2H5OH) is called tincture of iodine and is dabbed on cuts.

There is not much to say about astatine besides it is a radioactive, unstable element.

carbon is also in water (an expansion of the previous post)

Remember the post about carbon? Carbon is also in water. Just joking! This little fishy's name is Carbon (and you can tell why). But really there is carbon in Carbon. If you look in the molecules of DNA in any animal you will see carbon. Also there is carbon in that plastic treasure chest. Carbon is used in plastics such as polyvinylchloride. In the blue paper backdrop there is carbon. Paper is made from trees which in turn, has carbon (like every living thing). One more thing. The filtration system (not shown) has a carbon filter. It helps clean the tank for Carbon, and all the other fishies in the tank (also not shown) but sometimes we have to clean the tank.

Carbon-It's Everywhere!

Carbon is element #6 on the periodic table. It is a member of group IV. Its symbol is C. Its atomic weight is 12.0. It is simple yet- it's everywhere! It's in you, it's in me, it's in your computer, it's in almost anything! in fact It's in well over 2,000,000 compounds! I will show six.

First on the list is Carbon Dioxide (CO2). For those of you unaccustomed to science, the Os are oxygen and the C is carbon. Carbon dioxide is a poisonous gas that we exhale. Luckily, trees neutralize the CO2 in the air. CO2 is used in fire extinguishers, because it prevents oxygen (O2) from reaching the fire (fire needs oxygen just like us). CO2 makes up a minute quantity of the air.

Methane. CH4. Here the H's are hydrogen. Methane is also a poisonous gas. It is found mostly on the planet Uranus but is also found on earth.  It is a member of the alkane  family. The alkanes are molecules with just carbon and hydrogen. Methane is the simplest of the alkanes, having one carbon atom. It reacts with the halogens (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine).

The alkene family is kind of like the alkane family. Ethene is from the alkene family. It is written as CH2=CH2. The "=" means a double bond with the carbon atoms. Ethene is a colorless, sweet-smelling gas and is used in plastics.

This is ethyne. It is a member of the alkyne family. It cannot be written with this Mac I am using because it is written as CH(three lines above each other)CH. It has a triple bond between the two carbon atoms. It is also a gas and is the only common alkyne. It reacts very explosively with chlorine. It is used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and other vinyl compounds.

Freon is a halogenoalkane (an alkane but instead of hydrogen, there are halogens present). Freon is also a chlorofluorocarbon (a compound of chlorine ( Cl), fluorine (F), and carbon). Freon used to be used as an aerosol propellant, but when holes in the ozone  layer were discovered they started using other propellants.

Calcium carbonate or if you prefer CaCO3. It is a crumbly, insoluble powder. This is chalk. Kiddies use it on your driveway (sidewalk chalk). It is used to obtain calcium oxide. It is also used to make cement and is used in building.


What would we do without carbon? Luckily, It's everywhere!!!!!

Michigan v.s. Illinois, the think I think about it

On Saturday Michigan played versus Illinois at the Big House. Michigan won in triple overtime but it was  very close. Final score, 67-65. 


On the first play from scrimmage Denard (or Shoelace) passed to Roy Roundtree, who scored on a 75 yard TOUCHDOWN. Michigan 7-0. Illinois' turn. They drive but are held to a FG and we're still up. Uncle Jeff counted that as half a stop. Illinois fumbles, Denard throws a pic and once more Illinois settles for a FG. Michigan 7-6. Another pic from Denard leads Illinois to a TOUCHDOWN. 2-point conversion is GOOD. 14-7. This game is so crazy that I can't keep track of all the scores but I'll show some highlights.


4th and 9 for Michigan on the Illinois 33. They go for it and TOUCHDOWN!!! ROY ROUNDTREE!!!!!


3rd down for Michigan Denard passes to Hemmingway, Houdini play on the sideline, Illinois forgets to tackle and TOUCHDOWN!!!!


Illinois 3rd and 6, Sheelhaase on the run, and Avery just kills him short of the 1st down. Illinois then MISSES A FG


Forcier throws a few yards into the end zone and TOUCHDOWN!!! MICHIGAN, STONTUM  with an in the air catch to tie this ballgame up.


Scheelhaase going for the 2-point conversion... And he's SACKED BY MOUTON!!!! MICHIGAN WINS!!!!! AND MICHIGAN WILL GO TO A BOWL!!!!!






There were more adventures on Saturday.  Here are a few:


#5Alabama lost at home to #12LSU, 24-21. 'Bama is only 7-2 compared to last year's 14-0.


#4TCU hammered #6Utah 47-7. Utah snapped a 21-game home winning streak(In my dream it was the Mormons v.s. the other Christians).


No one cares about the MAC but Akron is 0-10 after their 2OT loss to Ball State 37-30


#16 Michigan State whooped up Minnesota 31-8. State is #1 in the Big 10.


#15 Iowa squeaked past the Hoosiers 18-13.


JoePa had his 400th career victory over Northwestern 35-21. Backup QB Matt McGloin threw for 4 touchdowns.


The Big 10 standings are here:

1. Michigan State (5-1 Big 10 9-1 overall) 313 points scored all season, 188 allowed.
2. Wisconsin (4-1 Big 10 8-1 overall) 319 points scored all season, 175 allowed.
3. Ohio State (4-1 Big 10 8-1 overall) 378 points scored all season, 122 allowed
4. Iowa (4-1 Big 10 7-2 overall) 291 points scored all season, 129 allowed
5. Penn State (3-2 Big 10 6-3 overall) 218 points scored all season, 181 allowed
6. Illinois(3-3 Big 10 5-4 overall) 280 points scored all season, 201 allowed
7. Michigan (2-3 Big 10 6-3 overall) 350 points scored all season, 305 allowed
8. Northwestern (2-3 Big 10 6-3 overall) 234 points scored all season, 197 allowed
9. Purdue (2-3 Big 10 4-5 overall) 158 points scored all season, 249 allowed
10. Indiana (0-5 Big 10 4-5 overall) 248 points scored all season, 253 allowed
11. Minnesota (0-6 Big 10 1-9 overall) 213 points scored all season, 338 allowed

Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World

Note: I did not draw this or take this but it is one of Frank Hurley's photos that I scanned from the book.

I finished an interesting book called "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World".  It was a true story.

It was 1914.  WWI was starting in the heart of Europe, but the drama isn't there, it's at the bottom of the world.  It takes place in Antarctica.

So there was a man named Ernest Shackleton.  He was in London and was planning to be the first to cross the Antarctic.  He finally picked his men and left for the Antarctic aboard his ship Endurance (an Australian ship named Auroa was to be a rescue ship at the other end of Antarctica).  

They sailed south to South Georgia island and stopped at Grtviyken whaling station for a few supplies and went on. As they were on their way, their ship got stuck in the pack ice just 25 miles away from the coast of Antarctica. They had to just wait for the ice to break up and let them free. Instead of breaking up, the ice actually tried to destroy them. Their ship creaked and groaned and finally broke down (see the picture). 

 They started marching on the ice floes (with their lifeboats) and headed north. They made camps on the ice and gave them names like  Dump Camp, or Camp Patience. They finally got to the edge of the ice and sailed to Elephant Island. Life in their lifeboats, the James Caird , the Dudley Docker , and the Stancomb Wills , however was very uncomfortable and their stowaway , Percy Blackboro had lost all the feeling in his feet. When they did get to Elephant island Shackleton picked a few men and set off in the James Caird towards South Georgia island. They got to South Georgia island but they had to trek across unexplored mountains to get to Grtviyken. They encountered a terrible slide down the mountains, a frozen waterfall, and bitter cold on their trek. When they did get to Grtviyken they got a rescue ship and saved the rest of the crew back at Elephant island.

I think this is amazing because they encountered so many obstacles and lost no men.  

  

Some Shapes

A few weeks ago I started this addicting project. I got a compass, straightedge, and a pencil and started creating these. I felt bummed out when I was all finished because I wanted to do even more. Maybe I will learn to do some more sometime.

By now you might be thinking "I really want to do these but I dont know how to". If you look in 

"A Beginner's Guide to Constructing the Universe" by Michael S. Schneider, then you will see the instructions for creating perfect shapes (but the heptagon is approximate).

You can vote in your comments for which shape I'll demonstrate (only one vote please).

WARNING! IF YOU PURCHASE THIS BOOK YOU WILL SOON SEE SHAPES AND PATTERNS ALL AROUND YOU

P.S. It is fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

cabbage science

The other day I did a science experiment but did'nt post because I posted "flags of the nations" .Well anyways the experiment went as follows:
 You soak a purple cabbage leaf in boiling water and let it sit. You then get 3 cups all apparently containing pure water. In fact only one contains pure water, the others containing white vinegar and the other containing biocarbonate of soda (baking soda) mixed with water. You pour the cabbage water into each cup and strangely the water becomes pale purple, the vinegar turns red, and the biocarbonate of soda turns green.

The cabbage juice has the property of turning red in acid and green in alkaline liquids. The water which is neutral just waters it down.

P.S. If you are wondering about the second picture I did a real experiment like I mixed soapy water with the cabbage juice. As you can see in the picture it was neutral.

flags of the nations

Once in July 2007 I was sitting in my room gazing at a laminated sheet of paper which had pictures of every international flag on it. I don't know when or where it came from especially because it had Yogslavia and didn't have East Timor and most Oceanian flags. So anyways I was in my room and suddenly I thought "In case this paper gets lost I'll draw all the flags that are on it". I started drawing Andorra (for some reason the paper thing skipped Afghanistan, Albania, and Algeria) and was satisfied. Then to my horror I saw that the next one (Angola) had tons of black and I didn't have a black crayon. I used a pencil and to this day it looks kind of odd. At the end of the day I had it up to Azerbaijan (#8 for the day). I kept going and to celebrate Cinco de Mayo (2008) I did Mexico even though I was only on Kenya and went in alphabetical order. A few odd things were 1. I did Antarctica and Greenland, 2. I did north and south Korea as Korea (north) and Korea (south), 3. I spelled Israel like I-s-r-a-l instead of I-s-r-a-e-l (I fixed that), and last of all 4. I did Nepal like I cut a piece of paper into the right size and then did it.

Remember I said the paper thingy skipped a few countries? Well I did them like we got this world map with all the world flags at the bottom. I then did them and scooted all the other flags over and put them in (Then I was on Tonga so that was a nightmare). Here is a list of all the flags I had to make late;
East Timor,
Kiribati,
Kosovo,
Montenegro,
Naru,
Serbia,
Taiwan,
Tuvalu,
Vanuatu
(I already did the 3 "A"s)







P.S. Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia are breakups of Yogslavia and the following: Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Naru, and Kiribati are in Oceania

P.P.S.  This project took me 2 2/3 years, 3 sets of crayons and 3 pencils, 2 binders, 99 clear protector sheets and 198 sheets of paper.

A gospel poem

When I was baptized down in the water

I made a covenant to Heavenly Father

To Follow Jesus and remember Him

And also never again to sin

Everyday I do my best

To pass off all my earthly tests

Discouragement and trials make it hard for me

But I rely on the Savior for the best I can be

Remember the Savior everyday

So He will help you walk your way

I wrote this poem for my Faith in God award.   

It was discouraging to write but I did it anyways and I felt very happy when I completed it.  I hope it inspires you.

colors

I used to think that the color wheel was like the one in sixths until I checked this website. 

It taught me that cyan, magenta, and yellow were the primary colors and not red, yellow ,and blue because cyan, magenta, and yellow mixed made black better than the original primary colors.

Most people think that colors are tangible substances but really they are wavelengths of light reflecting into our eyes. For example, my green IKEA couch only reflects green light into our eyes. But if all of a sudden blue light reflected off of it then it would be a blue IKEA couch (and maybe the IKEA company wouldn't recognize it). 

P.S. Today is my 124 month birthday!

something's bothering me!

Zero dimensional is just any given point any where.

One dimensional is a line that goes on for infinity. Or I'll just say infinity for short.

Two dimensional is a geometric shape that has no thickness but is a  shape, such as, semicircles.

Three dimensional  is an object that "takes up space". Everything in the Universe is 3D

Four dimensional is simply, time.

So, what's bothering me?

Clue: It has to do with the above words.

Answer: I can't imagine how something's thickness can be zero.

I could'nt get it out of my mind so I just blogged it.

a sentence with the alphabet

THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPED OVER THE LAZY DOGS

If you look closely at the above sentence you might see that it has all 26 letters of the alphabet.

I don't know how it came to me this morning but I decided to blog it. Now try to think of another. First find Xs, Js, Qs (which adds a U), and Zs. Then ones like, Ls, Ks, Ns, Ys, Vs, Cs, Bs, Ms, and so the likes. Then common consonants such as Rs, Ss, Ts, Ps, and the likes. Then make sure you use all the vowels. Then last but not least, grammarize it.  tip:  Use a few long words but mostly simple.

(unoxygenated would be great)

P.S.  Sorry I didn't post in months.