To Live is To Know
This is a very interesting idea. I think that the Varella idea defining an autopoetic system as one with cognition is a thought provoking one. In a sense, it really just redefines cognition, removing it from the exclusive domain of our brain. Instead, cognition is the ability of a system to react and respond to changes in its environment in such a way as to ensure its survival. Such a system is forever (at least until its death) in the process of becoming itself.
Part of me feels that they are simply changing a definition, which is cheating. But the idea sticks with me. I had TMJ last week and the first thing I did was label it. That was my brain working. Then, my brain figured out what to do: massage and ice until my acupuncturist got back into town. But, despite that treatment, it kept hurting.
Then I started to consider the possibility that a process was underway in my jaw, that the bones, ligaments, blood and whatever else involved make up a system that was in the process of rectifying itself, or attempting to. Varella's idea of cognition helped me to respect that process more, and to almost communicate with that system as if it were a separate entity with a separate brain. All of which helped. But, the true cure was my acupuncturist's needle, which plunged in and unblocked the whole thing. It was like clearing an accident of the bridge, suddenly traffic was flowing normally again. Still, it was all very illuminating.
Memory and Magic
I think that this comes back to the issue of what the brain is, and how it limits our experience. The brain is our little bucket that we dip into a giant and robust river flowing past us. We dip our bucket in and pull it out and examine the contents, thinking that we have some representation of reality. The truth is, we have a tiny piece to look at. It cannot be a representation of the whole river. And, as humans, we can only manage a small bucket. We can't take on any more than that. It's like the river is "that which is" as Bohm said (sorry-was that physics?). We just can't appreciate that much. Magic takes advantage of the limitations of our small bucket.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Week Eleven: Cell Biology
Cell Biology and TCM
I think there is a relationship between cell biology and TCM in the are of metabolism. The metabolic process is one of breaking down compunds known as food into smaller compounds. These compounds are then put to use by our bodies, entering into biochemical reactions that make our life functions possible. This is the western view of metabolism.
It could also be looked at from an eastern perspective. The process of metabolism isn't a mechanistic one where each molecule must be tracked through a string of reactions from entry to exit from the body. Rather, it can be viewed more holistically. Metabolism is the process of releasing the chi stored within each food that we consume. This chi is then made part of our chi, which in turn fuels our living functions.
NOVA link on Mitosis and Meiosis
I found this interesting and a useful visual tool to understand the two processes.
I think there is a relationship between cell biology and TCM in the are of metabolism. The metabolic process is one of breaking down compunds known as food into smaller compounds. These compounds are then put to use by our bodies, entering into biochemical reactions that make our life functions possible. This is the western view of metabolism.
It could also be looked at from an eastern perspective. The process of metabolism isn't a mechanistic one where each molecule must be tracked through a string of reactions from entry to exit from the body. Rather, it can be viewed more holistically. Metabolism is the process of releasing the chi stored within each food that we consume. This chi is then made part of our chi, which in turn fuels our living functions.
NOVA link on Mitosis and Meiosis
I found this interesting and a useful visual tool to understand the two processes.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Week 10: Diversity
Diversity of Species
As I look around my house, here's what I see, or see evidence of:
Four humans
one dog
hopefully no rats under the house, but we used to have them
house plants
daddy long legs in the tub
fish
yeast in the fridge
hopefully solely beneficial bacteria in our bodies
dust mites (my husband is allergic so I know they are here)
Outside the window, there are:
monterey pine tree
various bushes, all evergreen
blossoming tree (don't know what kind)
blossoming fruit trees: apples, nectarines, oranges, grape vine, lemon
ivy everywhere (ugh)
flowers
myrtle, which has another name here
rolie polie bugs
squirrels
birds
at night, I hear an owl
no bees right now
bacteria in the pool (probably, as I learned below)
spider web
Cell Links
I really learned a lot from the one entitled Bacterial cell structure. I liked the graphic and the narrative that goes along with it. I thought it was particulalry interesting that some bacteria live in super salty pools, and in boiling water!!! I thought it was practically a God-given tenet that boiling water had no bacteria in it. I guess it doesn't hurt you.
I recently read an article about microbes and their incredible diversity. There are so many more of them than there are of all other species combined. Here's a beautiful quote:
In the poetic conclusion to his 1994 autobiography, Naturalist, the great sociobiologist and Pellegrino University Professor emeritus E.O. Wilson mused on what he would do, “[i]f I could do it all over again and relive my vision in the twenty-first century. I would be a microbial ecologist...,” he wrote. “Into that world I would go with the aid of modern microscopy and molecular analysis. I would cut my way through clonal forests sprawled across grains of sand, travel in an imagined submarine through drops of water proportionately the size of lakes, and track predators and prey in order to discover new life ways and alien food webs. All this, and I need venture no farther than ten paces outside my laboratory building. The jaguars, ants, and orchids would still occupy distant forests in all their splendor, but now they would be joined by an even stranger and vastly more complex living world virtually without end.”
If you want to read more, here's the link:
http://harvardmagazine.com/2007/11/the-undiscovered-planet.html
As I look around my house, here's what I see, or see evidence of:
Four humans
one dog
hopefully no rats under the house, but we used to have them
house plants
daddy long legs in the tub
fish
yeast in the fridge
hopefully solely beneficial bacteria in our bodies
dust mites (my husband is allergic so I know they are here)
Outside the window, there are:
monterey pine tree
various bushes, all evergreen
blossoming tree (don't know what kind)
blossoming fruit trees: apples, nectarines, oranges, grape vine, lemon
ivy everywhere (ugh)
flowers
myrtle, which has another name here
rolie polie bugs
squirrels
birds
at night, I hear an owl
no bees right now
bacteria in the pool (probably, as I learned below)
spider web
Cell Links
I really learned a lot from the one entitled Bacterial cell structure. I liked the graphic and the narrative that goes along with it. I thought it was particulalry interesting that some bacteria live in super salty pools, and in boiling water!!! I thought it was practically a God-given tenet that boiling water had no bacteria in it. I guess it doesn't hurt you.
I recently read an article about microbes and their incredible diversity. There are so many more of them than there are of all other species combined. Here's a beautiful quote:
In the poetic conclusion to his 1994 autobiography, Naturalist, the great sociobiologist and Pellegrino University Professor emeritus E.O. Wilson mused on what he would do, “[i]f I could do it all over again and relive my vision in the twenty-first century. I would be a microbial ecologist...,” he wrote. “Into that world I would go with the aid of modern microscopy and molecular analysis. I would cut my way through clonal forests sprawled across grains of sand, travel in an imagined submarine through drops of water proportionately the size of lakes, and track predators and prey in order to discover new life ways and alien food webs. All this, and I need venture no farther than ten paces outside my laboratory building. The jaguars, ants, and orchids would still occupy distant forests in all their splendor, but now they would be joined by an even stranger and vastly more complex living world virtually without end.”
If you want to read more, here's the link:
http://harvardmagazine.com/2007/11/the-undiscovered-planet.html
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Week 9: Biochemistry
Gene Therapy
Frankly, I think the essence of the morality of gene therapy argument is lost on me. I don't understand why there is a stark dividing line between drug therapies and gene therapies. Both seek to alter the biochemical basis for disease.
I guess you could say that we don't know where gene therapy is taking us. But the same can be said for most new pharmaceutical therapies. There are no guarantees that they will not have some unforseen consequence, and the same is true for gene therapy.
I see the issue as a continuum. The question is how much do we want to intervene to improve or prolong the human condition called life. I don't see gene therapy as anything other than a point on that continuum. Very good questions can be raised about the wisdom of intervention of many kinds: what will the effect be on the planet, on the health of others? Will the therapy be available to everyone or only the affluent? But I don't think that the discussion of gene therapy requires a separate conversation.
Definitions
The interesting one was:
"Biochemistry is the study of molecules (e.g. proteins) in the absence of the rest of the organism"
Obviously, this is a fairly offensive characteristic of a scientific pursuit. If not offensive, at least stupid. It reflects a small-minded, mechanistic approach to investigating life and the nature of it. It's silly to think that you can study molecules in isolation and not take into account the effect of the larger and enormously complex systems they exist in.
I will say though that I clicked through to the website from which this was quoted, and I don't think it was really as idiotic as it sounds. It was trying to draw a distinction between different life sciences that look at cells. I think those sciences so necessarily overlap that this distinction was contrived to create boundaries that don't really exist.
Animations
As usual, my computer wasn't happy with these animations. I did manage to see one which illustrated an electron circling an atom. If I remember correctly, though, I think it was wrong. I though electrons move in and out of certain paths; that an orbital is not a defined path but that it actually represents a route that varies quite a bit. So, what I did see was a bit misleading (I think?...)
Frankly, I think the essence of the morality of gene therapy argument is lost on me. I don't understand why there is a stark dividing line between drug therapies and gene therapies. Both seek to alter the biochemical basis for disease.
I guess you could say that we don't know where gene therapy is taking us. But the same can be said for most new pharmaceutical therapies. There are no guarantees that they will not have some unforseen consequence, and the same is true for gene therapy.
I see the issue as a continuum. The question is how much do we want to intervene to improve or prolong the human condition called life. I don't see gene therapy as anything other than a point on that continuum. Very good questions can be raised about the wisdom of intervention of many kinds: what will the effect be on the planet, on the health of others? Will the therapy be available to everyone or only the affluent? But I don't think that the discussion of gene therapy requires a separate conversation.
Definitions
The interesting one was:
"Biochemistry is the study of molecules (e.g. proteins) in the absence of the rest of the organism"
Obviously, this is a fairly offensive characteristic of a scientific pursuit. If not offensive, at least stupid. It reflects a small-minded, mechanistic approach to investigating life and the nature of it. It's silly to think that you can study molecules in isolation and not take into account the effect of the larger and enormously complex systems they exist in.
I will say though that I clicked through to the website from which this was quoted, and I don't think it was really as idiotic as it sounds. It was trying to draw a distinction between different life sciences that look at cells. I think those sciences so necessarily overlap that this distinction was contrived to create boundaries that don't really exist.
Animations
As usual, my computer wasn't happy with these animations. I did manage to see one which illustrated an electron circling an atom. If I remember correctly, though, I think it was wrong. I though electrons move in and out of certain paths; that an orbital is not a defined path but that it actually represents a route that varies quite a bit. So, what I did see was a bit misleading (I think?...)
Friday, February 29, 2008
Week Eight: a Question of Balance
Semiconductor of the Week: Antimony
A semiconductor is something that can conduct electricity in some conditions, but not in others.
Antimony is kind of a downer and I don't know why I picked it. I think the same may be true of all the semiconductors. Thankfully, it is not abundant on earth.
Antimony is generally toxic. Nevertheless, it is used as a flame retardant in things for children. (God help us). It is also in mattresses. Some people think that antimony has lead to the increase in autism and/or SIDS deaths. It is also used in electronics, as many semiconductors are. All of which begs the question: what happens to old mattresses and computer monitors that end up rotting in landfill and leaching into the water supply?
On a slightly brighter note, antimony was used in ages gone by as a medicine. It is still used as a veterinary skin conditioner. It has been used by man since 3000 BC.
Welcome to Chembalancer
I actually really enjoyed this link. I love this kind of game. I never did figure out the last one though, and ran out of patience. I wish it would give you the answer if you try a few times. Anyway, liked the link a lot.
General Chemistry: Balancing Equations
I can't open this and it seems to be threatening my OS. Not going to pursue further.
A semiconductor is something that can conduct electricity in some conditions, but not in others.
Antimony is kind of a downer and I don't know why I picked it. I think the same may be true of all the semiconductors. Thankfully, it is not abundant on earth.
Antimony is generally toxic. Nevertheless, it is used as a flame retardant in things for children. (God help us). It is also in mattresses. Some people think that antimony has lead to the increase in autism and/or SIDS deaths. It is also used in electronics, as many semiconductors are. All of which begs the question: what happens to old mattresses and computer monitors that end up rotting in landfill and leaching into the water supply?
On a slightly brighter note, antimony was used in ages gone by as a medicine. It is still used as a veterinary skin conditioner. It has been used by man since 3000 BC.
Welcome to Chembalancer
I actually really enjoyed this link. I love this kind of game. I never did figure out the last one though, and ran out of patience. I wish it would give you the answer if you try a few times. Anyway, liked the link a lot.
General Chemistry: Balancing Equations
I can't open this and it seems to be threatening my OS. Not going to pursue further.
Week Seven: Molecular Weight
Inert Gas of the Week: Nitrogen
An inert gas is a gas that is non-reactive in normal circumstances. Nitrogen is ubiquitous. It constitutes nearly 80% of the earth's atmosphere. It is also in every living organism in the form of amino acids, which are the building blocks of life. (I wonder why something that is so non-reactive shows up so many places? A bit counterintuitive).
Like other inert gases (being the lazy, couch-potato elements that don't want to get up and react) nitrogen is used to prevent unwanted chemical reactions. It is used in food packaging because bacteria and fungus cannot flourish without reacting with gases. In addition, it won't permit any reactions to occur within the food, thus preventing any change in the quality of the food in transit. I'm surprised they don't have nitrogen creams to smear on people's faces to prevent oxidation and aging! With meat, at least, nitrogen sort of tweaks an arrow of time. But oops, that's physics class.
A cool thing (pun definitely intended): liquid nitrogen is a cryogenic liquid. At atmospheric pressure, it boils at −196.5 °C Very cold. It's like dry ice. It is used as a regfrigerant. I know this because my old refrigerator just got filled up with nitrogen which really gave it a new lease on life. It is used to cryogenically freeze blood and other things like reproductive cells and maybe even organs.
Avogadro's Hypothesis
I found this exercise to be somewhat intersting but a little irritating. I still don't see why a well tested hypothesis isn't a law (but appears to become a theory, as if that distinction meant something to me. This made me get number 1 wrong. I hate multiple choice questions that turn on phrasing rather on whether you actually understand the concept. But, I hear that's what the licensing exam is all about.
Moles
I found the link helpful, but overall I thought the handout in class is better at getting to the relevance of the mole concept. The link deals more with the history and with the details of the concept. I find that with this type of thing, it's better not to think about it too much. Getting the general principle that a mole is like a dozen is the key. It's just a number and you can apply it to whatever. That's my take home point.
An inert gas is a gas that is non-reactive in normal circumstances. Nitrogen is ubiquitous. It constitutes nearly 80% of the earth's atmosphere. It is also in every living organism in the form of amino acids, which are the building blocks of life. (I wonder why something that is so non-reactive shows up so many places? A bit counterintuitive).
Like other inert gases (being the lazy, couch-potato elements that don't want to get up and react) nitrogen is used to prevent unwanted chemical reactions. It is used in food packaging because bacteria and fungus cannot flourish without reacting with gases. In addition, it won't permit any reactions to occur within the food, thus preventing any change in the quality of the food in transit. I'm surprised they don't have nitrogen creams to smear on people's faces to prevent oxidation and aging! With meat, at least, nitrogen sort of tweaks an arrow of time. But oops, that's physics class.
A cool thing (pun definitely intended): liquid nitrogen is a cryogenic liquid. At atmospheric pressure, it boils at −196.5 °C Very cold. It's like dry ice. It is used as a regfrigerant. I know this because my old refrigerator just got filled up with nitrogen which really gave it a new lease on life. It is used to cryogenically freeze blood and other things like reproductive cells and maybe even organs.
Avogadro's Hypothesis
I found this exercise to be somewhat intersting but a little irritating. I still don't see why a well tested hypothesis isn't a law (but appears to become a theory, as if that distinction meant something to me. This made me get number 1 wrong. I hate multiple choice questions that turn on phrasing rather on whether you actually understand the concept. But, I hear that's what the licensing exam is all about.
Moles
I found the link helpful, but overall I thought the handout in class is better at getting to the relevance of the mole concept. The link deals more with the history and with the details of the concept. I find that with this type of thing, it's better not to think about it too much. Getting the general principle that a mole is like a dozen is the key. It's just a number and you can apply it to whatever. That's my take home point.
Week Six: Electrochemistry and Alchemy
Halogen of the Week: Chlorine
I'm a fairly regular swimmer, so I'm curious about Chlorine. Just learned that "Halogen" is from the greek meaning "Salt former". All of the halogens bind with sodium to form different salts. As with all halogens, in its elemental form chlorine is a gas.
Chlorine is the most abundant element on earth, even more abundant than carbon. I would guess this is largely because its presence in the salt of the ocean. In addition, though, chlorine exists naturally in fungal life on earth. Chlorine reacts with things in nature creating organochlorines. The organochlorines can be used as anti-bacterials and anti-cancer drugs. An ecuadorian tree frog produces one that is ten times more potent than morphine for pain relief.
Chlorine has been used as a weapon in bombs since WWII. It is also used in the manufacture of PVC, which in turn creates dioxins in the environment. As for the pool, it's not that great for you, especially if you swim in an indoor, highly chlorinated pool. Happily, the pool I swim in is outdoors and doesn't smell much like chlorine. I figure I'm better off swimming, getting exercise and enjoying myself than worrying about chlorine.
Electrochemical Science Toys
These are certainly ingenious. I am definitely not the type of person who should try this at home. I don't want to electrocute myself or a family member.
Alchemy: Science Magic or Art
Alchemy and science are really the same thing, in my mind. I feel like by labeling something as "alchemy", people denigrate ideas that are outside of the mainstream. In reality, however, the most exciting ideas in science are so "out there" that they seem like magic. Unfortunately, most people don't know that. The Alchemists brought tremendous creativity and ingenuity to bear on the mysteries of the world. I think that scientists do the same thing. Thus, alchemy is art is science is alchemy.
I'm a fairly regular swimmer, so I'm curious about Chlorine. Just learned that "Halogen" is from the greek meaning "Salt former". All of the halogens bind with sodium to form different salts. As with all halogens, in its elemental form chlorine is a gas.
Chlorine is the most abundant element on earth, even more abundant than carbon. I would guess this is largely because its presence in the salt of the ocean. In addition, though, chlorine exists naturally in fungal life on earth. Chlorine reacts with things in nature creating organochlorines. The organochlorines can be used as anti-bacterials and anti-cancer drugs. An ecuadorian tree frog produces one that is ten times more potent than morphine for pain relief.
Chlorine has been used as a weapon in bombs since WWII. It is also used in the manufacture of PVC, which in turn creates dioxins in the environment. As for the pool, it's not that great for you, especially if you swim in an indoor, highly chlorinated pool. Happily, the pool I swim in is outdoors and doesn't smell much like chlorine. I figure I'm better off swimming, getting exercise and enjoying myself than worrying about chlorine.
Electrochemical Science Toys
These are certainly ingenious. I am definitely not the type of person who should try this at home. I don't want to electrocute myself or a family member.
Alchemy: Science Magic or Art
Alchemy and science are really the same thing, in my mind. I feel like by labeling something as "alchemy", people denigrate ideas that are outside of the mainstream. In reality, however, the most exciting ideas in science are so "out there" that they seem like magic. Unfortunately, most people don't know that. The Alchemists brought tremendous creativity and ingenuity to bear on the mysteries of the world. I think that scientists do the same thing. Thus, alchemy is art is science is alchemy.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Week Five
Alkali Earth Metal: Magnesium
I picked magnesium because I always wonder if I get enough of it in my diet. It is an alkali earth metal (of course) which means it's in group 2 of the periodic table. These elements have two outer electrons and want to get rid of them by forming a (covalent?) bond with other elements.
Magnesium is necessary for life in all biological organisms. It is light and strong, and so is used in industrial applications such as car wheels ("mag wheels"), aircraft, and in soda cans with aluminum. It is also a good conductor so is used in electronic applications.
The real reason I chose magnesium is epsom salts (magnesium sulfate). Growing up, everything that ever went wrong with my horse seemed to be cured by soaking in epsom salts. I went to the industry website on epsom salts and learned this:
1. Over-farming has lead to depleted amounts of magnesium in our vegetables.
2. Everyone is taking calcium supplements, but calcium can only work to form bones in the presence of sufficient magnesium. So, the extra calcium completely gobbles up whatever magnesium was there, and after that is worthless. So, taking a calcium supplement without magnesium actually depletes magnesium levels in the body. Research shows that we have five times the amount of calcium than magnesium in our bodies, and the ratio should be two to one.
3. Predictably, the epsom salt industry says you have to use epsom salts to improve the situation (eye roll). Here's what they say it does (pasting this in)
Researchers and physicians report that raising your magnesium levels may:
Improve heart and circulatory health, reducing irregular heartbeats, preventing hardening of the arteries, reducing blood clots and lowering blood pressure.
Improve the body's ability to use insulin, reducing the incidence or severity of diabetes.
Flush toxins and heavy metals from the cells, easing muscle pain and helping the body to eliminate harmful substances.
Improve nerve function by regulating electrolytes. Also, calcium is the main conductor for electrical current in the body, and magnesium is necessary to maintain proper calcium levels in the blood.
Relieve stress. Excess adrenaline and stress are believed to drain magnesium, a natural stress reliever, from the body. Magnesium is necessary for the body to bind adequate amounts of serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of well being and relaxation
No wonder my horse lived to be 35!!!
Colors of Food in My Kitchen
I've decided to report only on my fridge, so I'm leaving out pantry items that would score big points like Goji berries, seaweed, tomato products, etc.
Red: red pepper, red stalks on swiss chard,
Orange: a few oranges that need to be eaten right away, bunny love carrots
Yellow: nothing, to be honest. I do have a lemon tree outside.
Green: romaine lettuce, basil, celery, chard, dead avocado.
Blue: nothing at all
Indigo: zero
Violet: eggplant, red wine
Link Discovery
Strontium chloride is very beautiful when it's burned. The website with the little movies keeps crashing my computer though. Seeing the spectrum of light emitted by burning gasses makes the discussion about fireworks much more alive. Fireworks are amazingly ingenious in their design, and I never would have even considered this before chemistry class!!
I picked magnesium because I always wonder if I get enough of it in my diet. It is an alkali earth metal (of course) which means it's in group 2 of the periodic table. These elements have two outer electrons and want to get rid of them by forming a (covalent?) bond with other elements.
Magnesium is necessary for life in all biological organisms. It is light and strong, and so is used in industrial applications such as car wheels ("mag wheels"), aircraft, and in soda cans with aluminum. It is also a good conductor so is used in electronic applications.
The real reason I chose magnesium is epsom salts (magnesium sulfate). Growing up, everything that ever went wrong with my horse seemed to be cured by soaking in epsom salts. I went to the industry website on epsom salts and learned this:
1. Over-farming has lead to depleted amounts of magnesium in our vegetables.
2. Everyone is taking calcium supplements, but calcium can only work to form bones in the presence of sufficient magnesium. So, the extra calcium completely gobbles up whatever magnesium was there, and after that is worthless. So, taking a calcium supplement without magnesium actually depletes magnesium levels in the body. Research shows that we have five times the amount of calcium than magnesium in our bodies, and the ratio should be two to one.
3. Predictably, the epsom salt industry says you have to use epsom salts to improve the situation (eye roll). Here's what they say it does (pasting this in)
Researchers and physicians report that raising your magnesium levels may:
Improve heart and circulatory health, reducing irregular heartbeats, preventing hardening of the arteries, reducing blood clots and lowering blood pressure.
Improve the body's ability to use insulin, reducing the incidence or severity of diabetes.
Flush toxins and heavy metals from the cells, easing muscle pain and helping the body to eliminate harmful substances.
Improve nerve function by regulating electrolytes. Also, calcium is the main conductor for electrical current in the body, and magnesium is necessary to maintain proper calcium levels in the blood.
Relieve stress. Excess adrenaline and stress are believed to drain magnesium, a natural stress reliever, from the body. Magnesium is necessary for the body to bind adequate amounts of serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of well being and relaxation
No wonder my horse lived to be 35!!!
Colors of Food in My Kitchen
I've decided to report only on my fridge, so I'm leaving out pantry items that would score big points like Goji berries, seaweed, tomato products, etc.
Red: red pepper, red stalks on swiss chard,
Orange: a few oranges that need to be eaten right away, bunny love carrots
Yellow: nothing, to be honest. I do have a lemon tree outside.
Green: romaine lettuce, basil, celery, chard, dead avocado.
Blue: nothing at all
Indigo: zero
Violet: eggplant, red wine
Link Discovery
Strontium chloride is very beautiful when it's burned. The website with the little movies keeps crashing my computer though. Seeing the spectrum of light emitted by burning gasses makes the discussion about fireworks much more alive. Fireworks are amazingly ingenious in their design, and I never would have even considered this before chemistry class!!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Week Four: Green Chemistry
Catalyst
Nickel is a good catalyst. Apparently, it is sticky and so attracts other elements, and then when the reaction is over, it also lets them go. Raney Nickel is a common catalyst because it is relatively stable and can catalyze reactions at room temperature. I don't know what else I can say about this because everything else I read is impossibly technical and not interesting (at least to me).
Green Chemistry as a Social Movement
I think this is very exciting. It is very heartening that scientists have come to realize their social responsibility. Science is an incredibly powerful thing, with some of the world's best minds working in it. It is fabulous that they are methodically (as would be expected) applying common sense principles to industrial applications which could generate an enormous change in the industrialized world. I learned that the simple ideas behind green chemistry could effect the following:
1. eliminate the use or generation of 1.2 billion pounds of hazardous chemicals and solvents each year—enough to fill over 5000 railroad tank cars or a train over 62 miles long
2. save over 16 billion gallons of water each year—enough to supply a city the size of Baltimore, MD
3. eliminate 57 million pounds of carbon dioxide releases to air each year—equal to taking nearly 37,000 automobiles off the road.
Go chemistry geeks go!!!
Atom Economy Link
I'm sorry to say that I didn't find this link to be any more helpful than what we covered in class. Not much to blog about here.
Nickel is a good catalyst. Apparently, it is sticky and so attracts other elements, and then when the reaction is over, it also lets them go. Raney Nickel is a common catalyst because it is relatively stable and can catalyze reactions at room temperature. I don't know what else I can say about this because everything else I read is impossibly technical and not interesting (at least to me).
Green Chemistry as a Social Movement
I think this is very exciting. It is very heartening that scientists have come to realize their social responsibility. Science is an incredibly powerful thing, with some of the world's best minds working in it. It is fabulous that they are methodically (as would be expected) applying common sense principles to industrial applications which could generate an enormous change in the industrialized world. I learned that the simple ideas behind green chemistry could effect the following:
1. eliminate the use or generation of 1.2 billion pounds of hazardous chemicals and solvents each year—enough to fill over 5000 railroad tank cars or a train over 62 miles long
2. save over 16 billion gallons of water each year—enough to supply a city the size of Baltimore, MD
3. eliminate 57 million pounds of carbon dioxide releases to air each year—equal to taking nearly 37,000 automobiles off the road.
Go chemistry geeks go!!!
Atom Economy Link
I'm sorry to say that I didn't find this link to be any more helpful than what we covered in class. Not much to blog about here.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Molecular Structure of Some Carbon Forms
Carbon is a very dynamic and even protean element. I gathered from last week's class that it's something of an acrobat, and so can contort itself to get its four valence electrons in the right place to bond with lots of other elements. So, here are a few.
In methane CH4 one carbon bonds with four hydrogens, snagging each constituent H's single valence electron to fill up it's second level P slots (it had been 4 short). If I were adept with computers I would draw it, but that can't happen. This is a covalent bond, meaning that the two elements are sharing electrons to fill their outer shells.
In Ethane C2H6, two Carbons bond together, and each joins with 3 Hydrogens. Neither Carbon ends up with a full complement of P electrons, but it's closer than when it started.
Propane C3H8, three carbons bond. Two Cs bond with three Hs, and then one C in the middle bonds with two Hs.
In methane CH4 one carbon bonds with four hydrogens, snagging each constituent H's single valence electron to fill up it's second level P slots (it had been 4 short). If I were adept with computers I would draw it, but that can't happen. This is a covalent bond, meaning that the two elements are sharing electrons to fill their outer shells.
In Ethane C2H6, two Carbons bond together, and each joins with 3 Hydrogens. Neither Carbon ends up with a full complement of P electrons, but it's closer than when it started.
Propane C3H8, three carbons bond. Two Cs bond with three Hs, and then one C in the middle bonds with two Hs.
Element of the Week: Iron (Fe)
Iron is everywhere!! Not really, but it is very abundant. It is the sixth most abundant element in the universe and the fourth most abundant on the earth's core. Iron constitutes 95% of all metal tonnage on the earth. So it really is all over the place. I'm originally from Pittsburgh, the steel city, and iron is used to make steel which is an alloy between carbon(coal) and iron. I bet the reason that there is so much iron in our manufactured world is that it is in steel, which is used for building, cars, ships, appliances, etc etc...
Iron ore is apparently costly to process, so the steel industry has actually been recycling for over 150 years. Steel doesn't lose any of its properties when recycled, and recycling requires much less energy output than creating steel from iron ore.
Iron ore is apparently costly to process, so the steel industry has actually been recycling for over 150 years. Steel doesn't lose any of its properties when recycled, and recycling requires much less energy output than creating steel from iron ore.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Element of the Week: Lithium (Li)
I don't know why I chose this, I guess because it's use in treating people with bipolar disorder. But, it turns out to be a pretty cool element!
Lithium is an alkali metal, along with Sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium and francium. All of these elements are in Group 1 on the periodic table, and therefore have one electron in their outer shell. As a result of that lone electron out there, they are highly reactive. Lithium is so reactive with oxygen that it has to be stored in labs under cover of mineral oil.
Lithium must feel very strange. It is a very light metal, and has the consistency when you pick it up of a piece of light wood. Despite its light weight, however, it is very strong. So it is used in the construction of aircraft.
Lithium is the least dense element. But, in a strange twist it has very high specific heat. Specific heat is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature a substance by a certain amount. That surprises me given how little density it has. Anyway, because of this, it Lithium is used to store energy.
As a treatment for mental illness, Li reacts with neurotransmitters in the brain, replacing Na, K or Ca to change the chemical makeup of those transmitters.
I don't know why I chose this, I guess because it's use in treating people with bipolar disorder. But, it turns out to be a pretty cool element!
Lithium is an alkali metal, along with Sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium and francium. All of these elements are in Group 1 on the periodic table, and therefore have one electron in their outer shell. As a result of that lone electron out there, they are highly reactive. Lithium is so reactive with oxygen that it has to be stored in labs under cover of mineral oil.
Lithium must feel very strange. It is a very light metal, and has the consistency when you pick it up of a piece of light wood. Despite its light weight, however, it is very strong. So it is used in the construction of aircraft.
Lithium is the least dense element. But, in a strange twist it has very high specific heat. Specific heat is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature a substance by a certain amount. That surprises me given how little density it has. Anyway, because of this, it Lithium is used to store energy.
As a treatment for mental illness, Li reacts with neurotransmitters in the brain, replacing Na, K or Ca to change the chemical makeup of those transmitters.
The World's Ozone According to my Friends:
Based on my observations, people are confused about ozone. Everyone seemed to understand that the hole in the stratospheric ozone is the reason why we have to fight sunscreen battles with our children before heading to the beach, or even school. But no one knew what the status of that crisis was: is it improving now that we don't use CF Cs? People generally thought that this problem had been dealt with successfully, but they still would use sunscreen. Obviously, there has been little awareness in the public about that fact that the elimination of CF Cs has not eradicated this problem.
As for the accumulation of bad ozone in the troposphere, I didn't speak with anyone who knew about this. When I told them their initial reaction was "great--more ozone, less sunscreen". I was sorry to inform them otherwise. It may be that people are more familiar with this idea than they think, however, because lots of people understand that the accumulation of greenhouse gases is bad. Hence the Prius, electric car craze.
Atomic Structure Links Review
I liked the two links that are apparently designed for A level exams. They made things very simple and understandable, and I particularly liked the graphic illustrations of covalent bonds. For me, chemistry only makes sense when I'm thinking about compounds I'm familiar with. So, it was useful to me to learn how table salt is formed, why the electrons "like" that bond in that they are more stable together than separately.
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