Diary of... a y9 SCIENCE class - March 22nd 2007

Hello,
Today wasn't one of most fun lessons but... all lessons can't be fun and this way enjoy more the better ones so...
Well, we continued with the topic about reactivity and Andy tried a demo but... it didn't work. He was trying to evaporate water and transport it through a tube to a test tube with magnesium in it, so that it reacted, and then transport the hydrogen given off to an upside down test tube full with water so that we could after do the hydrogen test. Well, we would have like to see it but... we are not gonna die, no? Something went wrong so nothing hapenned.
That's all folks.
See you.

Diary of... a y9 SCIENCE class - March 16th & 19th 2007

Hello,
Sorry for delaying my post about last class on Friday. But I'll talk about them in one post.

FRIDAY:
We started talking about metals reacting in water and did some exercises. We also did four experiments: reacting calcium powder in cold water, reacting magnesium strip with cold water, reacting calcium powder with hot water & reacting magnesium strip with hot water. The reactions with magnesium were a bit boring, almost nothing happened. But with calcium.... it actually blew up when it reacted. But thinking about this: in a previous experiment Andy didn't give us powdered magnesium because it was dangerous, and now: he gives us powdered calcium which is really more reactive than magnesium. We could accidentally have thrown some in the Bunsen burners (some people maybe not accidentally - not me, I'm not that stupid)!!!!!
Andy?????

Well, let's continue with today's class (MONDAY):
Today we talked about the reactivity series. And Andy, to demonstrate the order in the RS, did some amazing demos: he first reacted calcium with lots of water with universal indicator, it wasn't a very entertaining reaction, but... We still had to see the next ones. Secondly, he reacted sodium with water and universal indicator, wow! it gave lots of hydrogen. But the next one was, without any wonder, the big winner: He reacted potassium with water and universal indicator: it immediately exploded and went on fire, burning all the huge amount of hydrogen which was being produced. With the last one, Andy didn't need to do the hydrogen test, it was already taking place. The universal indicator was added to prove that an alkaline product was given off: the metal hydroxide. That's why these metals and the ones in the same group in the periodic table (group 1) are called: alkaline metals.
Well: that was all.

Don't forget that we need to do at least half a page about properties of the metals in group two (alkaline earth metals).

See you next time.

Diary of... a y9 SCIENCE class - March 15th 2007

Hye guys,
Today we didn't do alot: we did some exercises about metals reacting in water and we talked about The Bread. Have any of you smelt it? Disgusting! And it is not even green! The expiry date was the 27th of January!
Anyway...
bye.

P.s.: Andy, if we did today the exercises of metals reacting with water, are we going to do next lesson the famous amazing explosion?

Diary of... a Y9 SCIENCE class - March 12th 2007

Hello,
Today Andy gave us back our tests corrected. I hope everybody got a good grade.
After that, we started the new topic. We also did an amazing experiment: we got a little piece of sodium and threw it a big glass bottle with some water in it. It started fizzing. Andy, then, covered the bottle so that the hydrogen produced didn't escape. We then litted it with a match. A flat flame appeared going downwards inside the bottle and it made a very strange squeak which longed for more than a second. It longed much more than the hydrogen we did reacting a metal with an acid as we produced much more hydrogen.
Bye.

Diary of... a Y9 SCIENCE class - March 1st 2007

Hello,
Today was the day our books had to be given to Andy to be corrected, so, if you haven't give it... TOUGH!
We continued with the topic and did an experiment: reacting copper oxide and zinc oxide with sulphuric acid (not all in one test tube). It wasn't very "exciting" but it was OK because it is related with reactions.
That's all we did.
REMEMBER: next Thursday 8th we have the test about chapter E of our textbook and what we did in our notebook about reactions.
See you tomorrow.

Diary of... a Y9 SCIENCE class - February 26th 2007

Hello guys,
Today we had to finish all the experiments reports we haven't done as Andy is collecting them on next class (Thursday); he had already said this and he has posted it on the web so... we don't have an excuse (not at least that he didn't told it to us or any of us were not here: ¡We all came today!).
We also have to finish the acids handout's exercises (all except for number two).
Bye.

Diary of... a Y9 SCIENCE class - February 16th 2007

Hello,
Today we had to write up the report of the experiment we did yesterday (comparing the reactions of two metals - iron & magnesium). We talked a lot about the conclusion looking the periodic table and the elements' place in it. The last people did their project presentations to Andy, so all the class has already done it. The books will be collected to be corrected next mid-term (after ski-week).
Bye.

Diary of... a Y9 SCIENCE class - February 15th 2007

Hello,
Today we did the same experiments that the year 8s did yesterday plus three more (Yes! We really did five experiments). Another exp. was to add sulphuric acid to magnesium, holding the gas given off with our finger and then letting it go out into the flame and POP! We did the same with powdered iron, and more or less, the same happened but at a different speed.
Finally (although we did it first but it was the best), Andy mixed magnesium powder with a substance he didn't want to tell us what it was so that we didn't do it ourselves because it is very dangerous inside an empty and opened up beer can. We took this out, and Andy added glicerine to the mixture, and some while after, it exploded with a very bright white flame. It was AMAZING!!!!! After several minutes it was still burning!
And he said that this explosion is quite not big compared to another we will do in some weeks from now. I can't wait to this the next one!
Well,
see you.

Diary of... a Y9 SCIENCE class - February 12th 2007

Hello guys,
today we really didn't do anything except for presenting our projects about SPACE to Andy and hanging them up, and some didn't even do this! Surely, in our next lesson we'll do something more interesting. Until then:
See you.

Pics from todays space centre trip

All the other pics I uploaded are now on the school computers. Here are the ones without faces...



Hope you all had a great time!

Diary of... a Y9 SCIENCE class - february 8th 2007

Hello,
Today we started doing the presentations we started to prepare on the last class, well, we also had some time to prepare them more today also. Then we talked about the projects (which are due on Monday) and Andy solved all the doubts about it. Then we decided to go to the ICT room to get some information about the project but there was a class. So we went downstairs to the library instead.
¡Remember: tomorrow we have the excursion to the SPACE CENTRE!
Note: the ones who didn't have the permission slips for the trip today, remember to bring them tomorrow or... you will not go.
See you.

Diary of... a Y9 SCIENCE class - february 5th 2007

Hellos,
Today we started talking about the Earth and Space. Why did we change of topic suddenly? 'cause we are going this Friday to the SPACE CENTRE and we have to remember and revise what we did some years before. First, we did some presentations about Night and Day, the Seasons and Eclipses. Then we had to prepare another presentation about the Moon's Origin and Why does the moon stay in orbit?. But, we didn't have time to present them because Andy had to talk to us about the excursion (and its permission slips: ¡the photocopier has broken again!) and a project we have to do for next Monday about the Earth and Space.

Bye.

Science Y9R

Hello,

Today in class we've been talking about how to made an experiment report. Andy told us that it need to have an aim, an apparatus, a method, some observations, an explanation and a conclusion. After we started to discuss what we were going to do in the excursion to the space centre and we brought up the subject about gravity. So we did an experiment about it and after we did another one in which we cooked an egg with burning alcohol. It was amazing!!!!!

Until next time,

Alejandro

Diary of... a Y9 SCIENCE class - 1st February 2007

Hello,
Today we did an experiment which was very similar to the one the year 8's did, but our aim was different. We were looking at the reaction between acid and carbonates and one of its products: CO2 (Carbon Dioxide). We also put acid on chalk (calcium carbonate) and on egg shell (also calcium carbonate but crystalized) and we took the gas produce through a delivery tube to some limewater, which turned white because it reacted with it.
We also talked about safety in the lab, and Andy told a disgusting experience which, I'm sure you don't want it to happen to you. So: ALWAYS BE SAFE!!

See you tomorrow

Homework reminders

Homework set today was:

7A and 7J - Not really homework because it counts towards your experimental mark at the end of the year so it must be completed. Write up the egg-speriment, complete with observations, explanation, and conclusion. A reminder of what these are all about are in Pablo's post below. This is to be written up to hand in for the lesson next week same time (Tuesday's lesson). NO Web team exemption, everyone must write up experiments in their books.

8P - One element from the periodic table, but NOT the same one as someone else. Make a poster A4 size to form a LARGE periodic table on my ceiling. Check Hugo's post below to make sure that you and other people are not doing the same element. Web team you may do yours on the web but that won't help to decorate my ceiling will it...

8C - P65, Q1-4 for collection on Friday to be marked over the weekend. There goes my chances of having any fun this weekend. Web team exemption if work posted of a similar nature on the web by Friday.

9S - Finish off funky pH scale for next lesson, web team exemption if work posted on the web before friday, including Ana and the photography team.

9P - P65, Q1-4, collection Friday. Web team exemption if similar posted on the web by friday

Y10 - For failing to attain all the objectives in yesterdays lesson you will be set additional homework in tomorrow's lesson

Y11 - Finish up those calculations for tomorrow, where I will try to melt a piece of wire using a slinky spring and a power pack. Calculations important and therefore no web team exemption.

No excuses guys and girls you've been reminded.

Science Y9R

Today in class we've been talking about acids,salts and the pH scale. So, i've decided to show you a page i know for that you can study and that also you play some games about the topic. I hope you enjoy it:

http://www.wpbschoolhouse.btinternet.co.uk/page03/AcidsBasesSalts.htm



Until next time

Diary of... a Year 9 SCIENCE class January 29th 2007

Hi,
this is my first entry so please don't start with critisism.

OK, let's start:
today we started talking about Richard Feynman (if you wanna know more please see phoenix's entry -Andy's-). Then we talked about acids, salts and pH. I find very interesting to talk about these chemical themes. Our first task was to find out the definitions of these three words (acid, salt & pH) and write them down.
Afterwards, we had to draw a pH scale and doing it in some way different than normal ones for Andy said they were quite "boring". But, before finishing the scales, we tested some substances (like alcohol or vinegar) for their acidity or basity (Do you use this word?) with some universal indicator papers.
Finally, our hw was to do questions 1 & 2 of pg. 65. I'm not going to explain how to do them because you only have to repeat what we talked an read in class. Come on! It's too easy.
Well, see you next lesson.