Video Links for Radioactivity and Nuclear Energy

Radiation and Radioactive Decay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFdR_yMKOCw
This Bozeman Science video helps further explain chapter 19.1. Bozeman Science got me through biology, and now it is a lifesaver in chemstry!

Nuclear Chemistry Crash Course
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU6y1XIADdg
Crash Course videos are my new favorite studying tool

Half Life Calculation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAsmY4ocWSA
The guy in the video has a skinny arm, but he is very helpful with clearing up confusion on how to calculate half life

History of Atomic Theory
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thnDxFdkzZs
Another Crash Course video, helps clear up confusion on which scientist discovered what in regards to atomic theory

Other Links:

Radioactive Decay
http://edtech2.boisestate.edu/lindabennett1/502/Nuclear%20Chemistry/types%20of%20decay.html

Weighted Averages for Isotopes
http://www.800mainstreet.com/33/0003-003a-0-isotopes.htm

Atomic Structure Quiz

The quiz I took on Wednesday was not difficult in the first section of average atomic mass calculations and isotope identification, but it was difficult in the section where I had to match the scientists with their contributions and findings about the structure of an atom. I mixed up my scientist names and it really messed up my answers. I did well on all my other sections, but I will need to study up on the scientists before the next quiz or test.

This is J.J. Thompson's "plum pudding model". He thought that an atom consisted of a spherical cloud of positive charges with electrons evenly distributed throughout. This is later proved to be wrong by Rutherford's gold foil experiment.

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This is Rutherford's gold foil experiment where he discovered that there is a small, dense positively charged nucleus (I didn't know this on the test and got it wrong haha).

Beanium Lab

The Beanium Lab consisted of weighing and calculating the atomic weight of the newly discovered element beanium, There were four different isotopes of beanium, white, pinto, black, and red. The average mass of the isotope was calulated, and using this information, the % abundance of the isotope was calculated as well. With the % abundance, the average atomic mass was calculated. This lab helped me apply what I learned so far in this unit, and it helped me practice finding average atomic mass.

The data table used for the lab

Weighing the white isotope

Colette working on the lab

Atomic Structure and Radioactivity Pre-test

I took the pre-test last week and honestly knew none of the material covered. I had fun making patterns in the scantron sheets. Taking the test at the end of the unit and realizing that I learned all of that material in a few weeks is so satisfying, especially seeing how much progress I've made throughout the unit. Hopefully by the end of the unit I will not feel as lost taking the test as I did taking the pre-test.

Nomenclature Unit Recap

Polyatomic ions are difficult to memorize, but once I got them down, the rest of the unit was easy. Type I and II nomenclature was much more difficult than Type III, but the concepts were not overwhelmingly difficult. Acid naming was the most difficult on the test because it was the last concept I learned, and I was not as comfortable with it as I was with Type I, II, III. Overall, the Nomenclature Unit had difficult and easy parts that became easier with the more I practiced and studied.

Frontier Chemistry Project

This project took so long. It was not a difficult project, but it was so time consuming. Having to make blog pages for 15+ plants takes a long time in itself, and with having to go out to find medicinal plants in the wild, this project took me about 15 hours. This project ruined my life. My friends are mad at me because I decided to work on this project instead of hang out with them. They don't understand!!! IT TOOK SO LONG!!!!!!!!

Introduction Page

I am Laurie. I am 15 years old and a sophomore at Francis Howell. I play soccer, run cross country and participate in scholar bowl.

Scholar bowl