Rotell,+Michael

I found it interesting how the HF’s property of being a weak acid allows it to remain a stable compound which is an important key to the acids deadliness, allowing the compound to pass through the fatty surfaces of the membranes in the skin. However I found it strange that after entering the cells that would leave its hydrogen in search of a new atom to bond to such as CA or Mg. What is the reasoning behind bonding with other atoms other then hydrogen (are the Ca and MG possibly more reactive then the hydrogen atom). I also thought that the treatment of injecting calcium to replenish the bodies calcium supply was an interesting route to help the patient.
 * HF Article**

I found it interesting how newer elements, being found within the last century or so are still using Latin and Greek derivatives in the naming of the different elements or compounds. You would think that a more modern language would be used to help people learn the names of the elements more easily. I also found it interesting how they decided which Greek or Latin derivatives should be used to name the elements. I especially found the naming of Ta because of the relation between it not being able to take in water, and the myth of the Greek god Tantalos surprising. Finally I was surprised to see how many applications of the Greek and Latin language has affected science. Not only are the elements named using these languages but many of the pieces of equipment and terms that we use to describe scientific events(such as the terms exothermic and endothermic) are named using these ancient language.
 * Chemical Terminology Article**

Mike,

Well done! Good question on languages and good relating tantalum to the curse of tantalus. MW

I found the new developments being made by Ausra on the use of solar power as a countrywide energy source. It is obvious that over time the quality of solar panels will increase in the future making panels that can collect more energy during more times of the day, however if found their idea of how to collect and distribute all this power to all corners of the country. Making one large plant in the South West to create all the energy needed for the entire concept sounds like a ludicrous idea, however reading through the article I found myself believing it was possible more and more. I also thought that storing the energy collected by placing steam under immense pressure to recondense it into a liquid while it is still retains its heat is ingenious even though it might as yet be unproven. Michael, Never underestimate human creativity. As long as petroleum is the cheapest option we will continue to squander it. Things will change in your lifetime...but no doubt slowly.
 * Alternate Energy Article: Sunny Outlook**

This article was full of interesting scientific information that we can see just at our own athletic field. I found it interesting how many of the same processes are used in the construction of both the turf and the track but the final result is completely different. The process of vulcanization used to strengthen the polymers making them solid rather then viscous liquid was also interesting. The comparison of the polymers of chewing gum and the polymers in rubber bands was surprising how they are both in simpler form very much alike, but the use of vulcanization creates such a radical change in the polymers physical characteristics. The information on the temperature differences between regular grass and turf was also surprising as this is something I have personally experienced.
 * Polymers in Tracks and Fields**

Michael, Many people have commented on how hot the field gets in direct sunlight. Makes hydration all that more important! MW

Things I Knew ** -I knew that water gains many of its properties from its ability to create hydrogen bonds -I knew that nonpolar molecules make use of dispersion forces to hold themselves together -I knew that the hydrogen bonding present in water is the force which keeps it as a liquid when other substances with similar polarities remain gases
 * Oil and Water

Things I Learned -I did not know that oil was more attracted to water molecules then to other oil molecules -I did not know that oil will not dissolve in water because water will not allow such a molecule to be dissolved because it would rather bind with itself -I did not know that fixed polar molecules are more capable of creating induced dipoles

Michael, Looks good. MW

This article is a good real world connection between what we are learning in class and how it is used. I found the it interesting in which salt is used in two completely different ways, first to prevent buildup, and second to melt the snow, using different process but still the same properties are the driving force which makes it work in the first place. However I questioned if using salt is harmful to the environment and is not as effective as CaCl2 why don’t we switch to using this instead of the salt. Is it expensive enough that it could not be commonly used or is their other factors that make it an unacceptable chemical for use? Finally why don’t they use these chemicals in the areas in which salt is not “powerful” enough to melt the snow and ice?
 * Salting the Roads**

Mike, I think it is the cost that limits the use of CaCl2 and MgCl2. Some areas are so cold nothing works! MW

Things I Knew -I knew that hand warmers are activated when they are exposed to air as it begins a reaction that releases heat -I knew that increasing the surface area of a chemical can be a means of causing a certain reaction to occur at a faster rate -I knew that the actual material used to create the pouch of the hand warmers is an important component in the entire process of how the hand warmer operates
 * Hand Warmers**

Things I Didn’t Know -I did not know that hand warmers were first created by the Japanese centuries ago using hot stones -I did not know that hand warmers contain iron powder, salt, and water and leaves only rust as a product after the reaction occurs -I did not know that a reusable hand warmer can be created using a supersaturated liquid that crystallizes releasing heat, but can then be returned to the supersaturated state by boiling the packet

Things I Knew -I knew that water must be removed from the tree sap of the maple tree in order to make maple syrup -I knew that as more of the water in the tree sap is removed the concentration of the different solutes increases, and that if all of the water in the sap is to evaporate you would be left with solid sugar compounds -I know that the evaporation of water in he process of turning the sap into syrup would be take a large amount of heat the addition of a highly nonvolatile substance, such as sap, to water will increase its boilong point by a high magnitude
 * Chemical Composition of Maple Syrup**

Things I Did Not Know -I did not know that most consumers use an imitation of maple syrup, made using corn syrup, rather then the real thing -I did not know that other trees are used to create syrups, many of which have sugar contents due to fructose and glucose in the sap, rather then the sucrose found in maple sap -I did not know that sap is acidic due to the number of different acids found in the original tree sap

Michael, Good commentary! 5 stars!! MW

Mike, Good job! 5 stars. MW

Things I Knew ** -I knew that iron is the main component of steel that corrodes making rust -I knew that water allows the iron to rust by allowing it you react with air, and that salt water speeds up the corroding reaction -I knew that by using paint you can separate the iron in the car body from the water on the car and oxygen in the air
 * Flaking Away

Things I Did Not Know -I did not know that you could reverse the corroding process by put energy into the rust -I did not know that high tech paints existed that release rust inhibitors when a breach in the paint is made, and other paints which close gaps made by scratches on its own -I did not that the United States loses a total of $276 billion dollars per year

Michael, Good thorough post! 5 stars. MW