Chemistry 100/121 met for the first time today and participated in a very busy introductory class. Topics covered included: Scientific Method, Significant Figures and Metric-Metric Conversions. Several tasks were assigned that need to be completed by next Sunday.
- Purchase a laboratory notebook, see picture on website. (approx. cost $4 or less)
- Print the first six laboratory handouts – most are one page only. Read them over.
- Create a business card for your chosen element.
- Read Chapters One and Two in the textbook.
- Consider participating in the One Book, One Chemistry Department extra credit project.
- Explore the website and become familiar with the resources available to you.
- Fill out the student interview and either bring it with you to class or send it to me via email.
- Be observant.
I enjoyed meeting all of you and look forward to next week.
After looking at a variety of mineral samples, physical science students examined unknown minerals and used their knowledge of mineral properties to determine the identity of the samples. A mineral’s streak, luster, tendency to react with hydrochloric acid or not, cleavage, crystal form and color provide clues. Because mineral samples can contain impurities this is not as easy as it might seem to be.
Phil Romanello was introduced. He is our student ambassador. He’ll be attending class and providing tutoring outside of class. You may email him with any questions: 
One observation was that placing glass in a flame changed the color of the flame. As the glass became hot enough to ionize sodium atoms the flame became yellow-orange. Bending glass takes a lot of patience because these Bunsen burners don’t get very hot.
The metric system is the measurement system used by scientists and much of the world. One of the strategies for learning the metric system is to learn about the measurements of objects that you use everyday. Digital microphotography let’s us measure distances in the millimeter range.