S103 Discovering Science Diary

Block 8


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26th May

I actually finished this block some weeks ago (slow in catching up with these webpages). I thought it was better than Block 6, but that was only because of the Organic Chemistry, which is much more straightforward than the other stuff! I have a few problems with pharmaceuticals though, so hopefully that won't crop up all the much in the future! TMA06 just needs a tiny bit of tinkering to the last question and then it will be ready to go. (I have to admit though, that I've forgotten half of this block already ... )

27th March 2003

I've just turned to the opening page of this block. Can't wait to get into it! :) There is absolutely plenty of time though, as the next lot of materials don't get sent out until May. Good job too, by the look of it! (By the way, this is the worst book cover so far!)




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Block 8: Building with atoms Contents

Electrons in atoms: a look forward and a look back

Electron configurations
Building atoms
Explaining the Periodic Table
An electronic tour of the Periodic Table
The mini Periodic Table for the typical elements

Chemical bonding: ionic compounds and molecular substances

Ionic compounds
Molecular substances
Ionic compounds, molecular substances and the Periodic Table

Explaining chemistry through electron structure
Simplified electron structures
The noble gases revisited
Ionic bonding
Covalent bonding
Electronegativity

Chemical reactions and energy changes
Chemical change and internal energy
Chemical reactions that release or absorb heat
Quantitative information: enthalpy changes
Enthalpy changes: delving deeper

Water
Solubility in water
The melting and boiling temperatures of water
Acidic solutions

Chemical equilibrium
Le Chatelier's principle
Gaseous reactions
Chemical equilibrium in solution
Carbon dioxide gas and water

Acids and bases: a quantitative view
The ion product of water
A universal scale for acidity and basicity

Rates of chemical reactions
Varying the rate of reaction
Getting together: the effect of concentration
Energy and reaction
The effect of temperature on the rate of reaction
Help from outside: catalysts

Supplying nitrogen for crop production: a case study
Why do crops need nitrogen?
Using chemistry to fix nitrogen
The Haber-Bosch process

The chemistry of carbon compounds: crude oil
A brief history of crude oil
What is crude oil?
Oil as a fuel: petrol

What else is oil used for?
Important chemical feedstocks

Functional groups and their reactions
The functional group approach
Characteristic reactions of functional groups
Crude oil: final thoughts

Polymers
What is a polymer?
Properties of polymers
Building links
What has this got to do with crude oil?

Pharmaceuticals
How aspirin was discovered
How drugs work