Homegoing! and Equilibrium

3/26/10

What is equilibrium? Basically, the forward rate of an equation is equal to the reverse rate. Equilibrium resists change. Molecules also need to overcome activation energy in order to start a reaction. Activation energy is the minimum amount of energy needed (in the collision) for a reaction to occur. Molecules react by colliding with sufficient energy and with proper orientation. Catalysts speed up chemical reaction, but they aren't consumed and don't mess up with equilibrium.



2/19/10

Today was the Homegoing Rally. :D Instead of electing princes and princesses, we elected teachers as the Homegoing King and Queen. Mr. Williams and Ms. Dove won! LOL. I voted for Mr. Williams and Mr. Olson. XDD

The Academy of Villains performed for us at the rally today. Compared to what I've seen, they were outstanding. Some of the guys did backflips and frontflips...and just amazing breakdancing moves. I don't even know how to describe them. But they were on America's Best Dance Crew. :D and they're going on America's Got Talent soon! LOL, since Krystina and I were sitting on the floor, they were hecka close to us. O_O We got a pretty good view. During the rest of the rally, our view was obstructed by some people's fatty legs. XD

The teacher's dancing was pretty funny too. That little kid was really cute! Who was he anyway? And the singers of the National Anthem were pretty creative and nice sounding as well!

MONDAY'S A HOLIDAY! <3333 AMERICA!
got to go, bell rang.

Decomposition and Balancing Equations

I really hope we do the elephant toothpaste experiment in class! According to this website about the uses of hydrogen peroxide, elephant toothpaste can be made by decomposing (with the help of catalyst)...well, hydrogen peroxide!


A viscous liquid with strong oxidizing properties!

Hydrogen peroxide decomposes into oxygen and water. The oxygen rapidly tries to escape the container, thus provoking the fast explosive reaction of elephant toothpaste. The soap that was mixed in with the water in the experiment begins to foam. The oxygen further promotes the bubbles to foam.

And ta-da! Elephant toothpaste.

Food coloring adds to the mystery!

On a lighter note...balancing equations is also something I enjoy!
This is a great guide for helping.

For example,
2NaCL + H2So4 -> Na2So4 + 2HCl
That's balanced! Before it looked like:
NaCl + H2So4 -> Na2SO4 + HCl
That's not balanced. x_X See?

Chemistry Lab: Predicting the Formula of a Precipitate

So, my friend, what IS a precipitate?
The answer? An insoluble solid coming out of a solution.



In this lab we performed, double replacement reactions occurred. Reaction 1: Silver nitrate and sodium chloride form silver chloride and sodium nitrate. In the other reaction, silver nitrate and sodium acetate formed silver acetate and sodium nitrate. (Remember, metals replace metals!) A precipitate formed in reaction 1, but not in reaction 2. In reaction 1, AgCl (silver chloride) was the precipitate.

Silver Chloride:

Has a very low solubility in water!

PAUSE: Someone keeps playing the ukulele. -_-; It's kind of annoying, but they play well. lol.

Anyway, in single replacement reactions, metals can be arranged in order of how reactive they are. Metals high in the reactivity series usually displace metals lower down.

REACTIONS!

There are five types of reactions:
1. Synthesis: two elements combining into a compound
2. Decomposition: a compound being separated into elements
3. Single Replacement: metal/H switches with metal/H or halogen switches with halogen
4. Double Replacement: the cations swap anions; sometimes a precipitate is formed.
5. Combustion: CxHy + O2 -> CO2 + H2O + Heat.
Basically, heat is always a product.

(Sorry, Mr. Olson, I plagiarized your reactions worksheet).

Speaking of combustion, the idea of spontaneous combustion fascinates me. Apparently, Robert Francis Bailey was a homeless man who suddenly - well, spontaneously combusted. And thus, he died in the flames.

So I guess the spontaneous reaction combustion that affected poor Mr. Bailey was an exothermic reaction. x___X

Other reactions include oxidation and reduction reactions. In oxidation, electrons are stolen by the electron-hungry Oxygen. In a reduction reaction, electrons are gained. Any reaction where electrons are transferred is called a redox reaction.

Stoichiometry!

The definition of stoichiometry is the relation between the quantities of substances that take part in a reaction or form a compound.



To calculate...

Basically, given gX x (mol X/g of X) x (mol Y/ mol X) x (g Y/mol Y)= g Y.

Moles, or Avogadro's Number, are a key component in stoichiometry. Also, balancing the equation when writing it, is essential. This is how you balance an equation: click here!

To solve, first of all you write the units. And you simply have to write the given! (Do you write the given?). And then cancel your units.

It seems complicated, but after completing a few practice equations, I eventually mastered the art.