Monday, October 19, 2009

Molecules


Hey Class!!

As we finish talking about the smallest particles that make up matter, we begin talking about the substances that are made from different combinations of atoms. A molecule is a combination of at least two atoms that form a strong chemical bond. A molecule might consist of a single element (O2) or of different elements (H2O).

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Go to the following website: All About Molecules

Read the whole introduction to what a molecule is.

Then, pick one molecule and, in your own words, describe the molecule in a post.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Elements


Hello class! This week we started to learn about atoms and how they are structured. We know that atoms have three parts: protons, neutrons, and electrons. Atoms make up everything in the universe (except nothing). Are all atoms the same, though? The answer to that is "no." Have you ever heard of the periodic table of the elements? Well, that complicated chart is a list of all of the different types of atoms in the world. Scientists have identified approximately 90 types of atoms that exist in the natural world and have created synthetic ones in laboratories. This list of different types of atoms are called elements.

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You and everything around you is made of elements. Write a list of 5-10 elements that you can find in your house. This link might help you figure out what elements are around you. WebElements

For example: In my classroom the radiator is made of iron.

For fun, you can watch this video for a song by a sciencey band called They Might Be Giants.