Daily Reflection 11-23-15

Today we had our first chemical reactions test. It was somewhat difficult because I forgot to study for it. Directly after we learned about acid-base reactions and how the driving force is the production of water. This is what we did did today in first hour. 

Reflection Of 11-20-15

Today in first hour we conducted the Chemical Reactions lab and it was a fairly interesting time. The pre lab test was not difficult, but I didn't pass due to some simple errors that I made while balancing the equation. My partner and I quickly corrected our mistakes and understood how to fix them next time. We then gained permission to go back into the lab from Mrs. Frankenberg. 

We filled several pipets with various chemicals and mixed them cautiously in a well plate. We recorded whether or not a solid formed and then found the chemical equation. Overall it was a fun lab but I need to study my solubility rules a little more. 

Saying Goodbye to Chemical Composition..For Now..

Monday marked the end of the current unit and boy am I happy. I did not like the chemical composition questions or anything about it in general. I will see more of it next unit so I am enjoying this little break while it lasts. 

Failing The Pre-Lab To Formula Of a Hydrate

Before the Formula of a Hydrate lab, we were instructed to find the ratio of anhydrate salt to the amount of water driven off. I understood the question and the math but I didn't set it up correctly which destined me for failure. Instead of doing the lab and heating the salt to drive the water off, my lab partner and I were given the data and we performed the calculations from there. It was not very fun to fail the lab so I went and studied this website which helped me a ton. 

Reflection On November 13th

Today we took our unit quiz and despite it only being 18 questions it was pretty hard. It was the first time I saw questions of this kind so I was a little scared but in the end I feel as if I did well. 

Daily Reflection

Yesterday we took our unit test over chemical composition and it was an awful first period of the day. I did not complete the last 5 questions or so, thus I was forced to bubble in random answers on the scantron. With each and every bubble I darkened in, I said goodbye to my grade and shed a few tears throughout the process.

I reviewed this video before the test which I believe helped me out.
Chemical Composition Video 

Helpful Website To Study Chemistry With..

The Khan Academy is a very helpful website that has tons of videos and content and even online lectures on how to do certain things that are used in chemistry. I find myself referring to this website when I am in need of a little help or even just to refresh my memory on the lesson.

Khan Academy Chemistry 

Reflection of the Lab on 11-12-15

Yesterday we conducted the Formula of a Chloride Lab in first hour. We prepared our reactants after weighing them and then mixed the Zinc pebble with the 11.25 ml of M3 HCl and it produced a somewhat violent reaction. The piece of zinc started to break up and then started fizzing and bubbling. It was interesting to watch the small pieces of zinc all bubbling at once but then I started to get a headache. I was not even close to the beaker with the watch glass on top and it was still burning my nose. This was the only drawback, but it was still a very fun lab to participate in.

Above is a picture of the Zinc having an exothermic reaction with the HCl.

This was towards the end of the reaction whenever the acid started to finally be driven off.

This was right before we removed the beaker from the hotplate. The piece of zinc was completely gone and so was all the hydrochloric acid. This reaction yielded ZnCl2. 

Daily Reflection

Today was our weekly quiz over Chemical Composition. I woke up late for school and then came in 1st hour and took the test. It was challanging in some spots and fairly easy in others. I definitely should have invested more time in studying but my time was limited due to my hockey schedule. I will put the homework and studying before hockey from here on out to make sure that I do better in the class.