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Friday, February 26, 2010
Review of 'What is a mole?' link
I was able to read the website's explanation of the mole with clarity and some understanding. I liked the way it was written and felt that the information was concise. However, the information is so dense and unfamiliar to my mind that I needed to go over it several times, which I didn't mind too much but it was slightly cumbersome only because it took so much concentration to really feel like I was even slightly grasping the content. I chalk this up to familiarity and the more I get familiar with the concepts, the easier it is to digest them.
What exactly is a Mole?
A mole is:
• a unit of measurement
• based on a reproducible formula (which gives us a consistent method for converting between atoms/molecules and grams.)
• the quantity of anything that has the same number of particles found in 12.000 grams of Carbon-12. (hence the name ‘the chemist’s dozen’)
What does Avogadro have to do with it?
Avogadro came up with the idea that “equal volumes of gases at the same temperature and pressure contain the same number of molecules”
And then that idea was rejected because it did not appear to be consistent with conventionally accepted ideas.
Then the idea of a mole was introduced and the number of molecules in a mole is now called Avogadro’s number because he was the guy who originally conceived of the principle that defines the mole. Well done Avogadro!
• a unit of measurement
• based on a reproducible formula (which gives us a consistent method for converting between atoms/molecules and grams.)
• the quantity of anything that has the same number of particles found in 12.000 grams of Carbon-12. (hence the name ‘the chemist’s dozen’)
What does Avogadro have to do with it?
Avogadro came up with the idea that “equal volumes of gases at the same temperature and pressure contain the same number of molecules”
And then that idea was rejected because it did not appear to be consistent with conventionally accepted ideas.
Then the idea of a mole was introduced and the number of molecules in a mole is now called Avogadro’s number because he was the guy who originally conceived of the principle that defines the mole. Well done Avogadro!
Alkali Earth Metal
Calcium
Calcium has an atomic number of 20 and an atomic mass of 40.078.
Calcium melts at high temperatures and therefore remains sold in fire, hence giving it the name earth metal. Calcium is the 5th most abundant element in the earth’s crust, the 5th most abundant dissolved ion in seawater and the most abundant metal by mass in many living creatures. Calcium is essential for living things, particularly for cell physiology where the calcium ion travels in and out of the cytoplasm of cells which functions as a signal for cellular processes.
Calcium is a key component in nutritional health, it is necessary for life and keeps bones healthy and strong. While 99% of calcium is stored in bones and teeth, the rest of it is used in exocytosis for neurotransmission and muscle contraction. Calcium is especially important for the conduction system of the heart. Vitamin D is needed to absorb calcium so if you take a supplement make sure there is some vitamin D along with it.
Calcium has an atomic number of 20 and an atomic mass of 40.078.
Calcium melts at high temperatures and therefore remains sold in fire, hence giving it the name earth metal. Calcium is the 5th most abundant element in the earth’s crust, the 5th most abundant dissolved ion in seawater and the most abundant metal by mass in many living creatures. Calcium is essential for living things, particularly for cell physiology where the calcium ion travels in and out of the cytoplasm of cells which functions as a signal for cellular processes.
Calcium is a key component in nutritional health, it is necessary for life and keeps bones healthy and strong. While 99% of calcium is stored in bones and teeth, the rest of it is used in exocytosis for neurotransmission and muscle contraction. Calcium is especially important for the conduction system of the heart. Vitamin D is needed to absorb calcium so if you take a supplement make sure there is some vitamin D along with it.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Alchemy!
Alchemy- science, magic, art- or all three?
The initial goal of the alchemist was an attempt to literally transform lead into gold or silver, to find a panacea or to attain the ‘Sorcerer’s Stone’. Then there was an emergence of a more philosophical or metaphysical aspect of alchemy where the process of transmutation was viewed as a metaphor for spiritual change or spiritual alchemy. As metals and substances were identified and categorized, the grand intentions of turning lead to gold were left to those with a more magical sense and there grew a more focused view which we now know of as chemistry. It is easy to divest chemistry of its alchemical background when we use a western linear viewpoint but I don’t think these disciplines are so easily disentangled.
For instance, when we practice meditation we are practicing an inner alchemy quite literally, magically and artfully. We are sitting down with the intention of changing our mind-state but we also change our physiology along the way. We change our bodies’ chemistry when we enter calmness, we relax our nervous system as we drop into a parasympathetic state where we are able to think more clearly and know ourselves in a more intimate, honest way. This is quite a literal change that can be measured in a literal way as well as a way to transform the spirit or mind which we feel on a more intangible level (magic). I think we are also practicing the art and science of alchemy when we make an herbal prescription for someone. We are matching that person’s inner alchemy with a substance that can enhance or improve the balance inherent to that person. There are physiological changes that occur and can be measured along with the art of diagnosis which matches the person with the right formula. You could say the process of differential diagnosis is a form of alchemy in its initial stages.
There are many ways to view alchemy, and as I have read more about the history of alchemy I understand that it cannot be confined to an easy definition. I used to think it was about some kind of crazy attempts at wizardry that existed only in the minds of ancient thinkers. I see now that they were onto something much more, a language and theoretical system that was seeking to tap into all the various ways of transmuting a present state, whether that be the state of lead or the state of one’s mind or spirit.
The initial goal of the alchemist was an attempt to literally transform lead into gold or silver, to find a panacea or to attain the ‘Sorcerer’s Stone’. Then there was an emergence of a more philosophical or metaphysical aspect of alchemy where the process of transmutation was viewed as a metaphor for spiritual change or spiritual alchemy. As metals and substances were identified and categorized, the grand intentions of turning lead to gold were left to those with a more magical sense and there grew a more focused view which we now know of as chemistry. It is easy to divest chemistry of its alchemical background when we use a western linear viewpoint but I don’t think these disciplines are so easily disentangled.
For instance, when we practice meditation we are practicing an inner alchemy quite literally, magically and artfully. We are sitting down with the intention of changing our mind-state but we also change our physiology along the way. We change our bodies’ chemistry when we enter calmness, we relax our nervous system as we drop into a parasympathetic state where we are able to think more clearly and know ourselves in a more intimate, honest way. This is quite a literal change that can be measured in a literal way as well as a way to transform the spirit or mind which we feel on a more intangible level (magic). I think we are also practicing the art and science of alchemy when we make an herbal prescription for someone. We are matching that person’s inner alchemy with a substance that can enhance or improve the balance inherent to that person. There are physiological changes that occur and can be measured along with the art of diagnosis which matches the person with the right formula. You could say the process of differential diagnosis is a form of alchemy in its initial stages.
There are many ways to view alchemy, and as I have read more about the history of alchemy I understand that it cannot be confined to an easy definition. I used to think it was about some kind of crazy attempts at wizardry that existed only in the minds of ancient thinkers. I see now that they were onto something much more, a language and theoretical system that was seeking to tap into all the various ways of transmuting a present state, whether that be the state of lead or the state of one’s mind or spirit.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Halogen
Chlorine
When I think of chlorine I don’t think of warm and fuzzy things.I think of swimming pools and bleach. I think of chlorine’s oxidizing effects and reactive oxygen species which can damage cells. I think of chlorine gas.
The name for Chlorine comes from the Greek word ‘khloros’, which means ‘pale green’. Chlorine has an atomic # of 17, is a halogen and is highly reactive.
In nature, chlorine is found as chloride, a component of salt. Sodium chloride (salt) is found in abundance in nature and is key to life. This is quite ironic given the fact that chlorine can be so corrosive and dangerous to life in other forms.
When I think of chlorine I don’t think of warm and fuzzy things.I think of swimming pools and bleach. I think of chlorine’s oxidizing effects and reactive oxygen species which can damage cells. I think of chlorine gas.
The name for Chlorine comes from the Greek word ‘khloros’, which means ‘pale green’. Chlorine has an atomic # of 17, is a halogen and is highly reactive.
In nature, chlorine is found as chloride, a component of salt. Sodium chloride (salt) is found in abundance in nature and is key to life. This is quite ironic given the fact that chlorine can be so corrosive and dangerous to life in other forms.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Week 5
Colorful Kitchen
White. Sour Cream, Grits, Milk, half & half, rice, Cheese (swiss, jack, mozzarella), coconut milk, salt.
Yellow. Corn Tortillas, Polenta, Cheddar cheese, butter, tortilla chips, popcorn kernels, yellow onions, pasta, curry.
Red. Tomatoes, red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, shallots.
Green. Broccoli, green peppers, celery , tea.
Brown. Whole-grain bread, brown rice, eggs, cremini mushrooms.
Purple/Blue. Purple cabbage, blueberries.
Black. Pepper. Tea.
I’d say at the moment, there is a nice variety in my fridge. From these colors I conclude that there is a decent amount of folic acid, fiber, lycopene, antioxidants, anthocyanins, carotenes, glutathione, alpha-lipoic acid, etc..etc..
Plus a lot of tasty food.
Inert Gas of the Week
Nitrogen!
Nitrogen has an atomic number of 7 and an atomic mass of 14. Nitrogen makes up 78% of the atmosphere by volume.
Nitrogen compounds are found in foods, organic materials, fertilizers, poisons, and explosives. Nitrogen, as a gas is colorless and odorless. In liquid form, it is also colorless and odorless and is similar in appearance to water.
The nitrogen cycle is very important to life. Even though nitrogen is inert, bacteria in the soil use nitrogen by converting it into a usable form and it becomes fertilizer for plants. Animals then eat the plants where nitrogen has been changed into protein. Then more bacteria convert the waste nitrogen compounds into nitrogen gas.
White. Sour Cream, Grits, Milk, half & half, rice, Cheese (swiss, jack, mozzarella), coconut milk, salt.
Yellow. Corn Tortillas, Polenta, Cheddar cheese, butter, tortilla chips, popcorn kernels, yellow onions, pasta, curry.
Red. Tomatoes, red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, shallots.
Green. Broccoli, green peppers, celery , tea.
Brown. Whole-grain bread, brown rice, eggs, cremini mushrooms.
Purple/Blue. Purple cabbage, blueberries.
Black. Pepper. Tea.
I’d say at the moment, there is a nice variety in my fridge. From these colors I conclude that there is a decent amount of folic acid, fiber, lycopene, antioxidants, anthocyanins, carotenes, glutathione, alpha-lipoic acid, etc..etc..
Plus a lot of tasty food.
Inert Gas of the Week
Nitrogen!
Nitrogen has an atomic number of 7 and an atomic mass of 14. Nitrogen makes up 78% of the atmosphere by volume.
Nitrogen compounds are found in foods, organic materials, fertilizers, poisons, and explosives. Nitrogen, as a gas is colorless and odorless. In liquid form, it is also colorless and odorless and is similar in appearance to water.
The nitrogen cycle is very important to life. Even though nitrogen is inert, bacteria in the soil use nitrogen by converting it into a usable form and it becomes fertilizer for plants. Animals then eat the plants where nitrogen has been changed into protein. Then more bacteria convert the waste nitrogen compounds into nitrogen gas.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Catalyst of the Week: Nickel
The periodic symbol of Nickel is Ni. It has an atomic number of 28. The appearance of nickel is lustruous and silvery with a high shine and gold tinge. Coins made of pure nickel were first used in Switzerland in 1881. In the U.S., the term nickel was originally used for the Indian 1-cent coin made up of copper and nickel. This coin eventually evolved into the 5-cent nickel we know today.
Nickel is a very commonly known substance, it is most valued for the alloys it forms, especially superalloys like stainless steele. Nickel is one of four elements that are magnetic at or around room temperature (the others being cobalt, iron, and gadolinium). Nickel is used in stainless steel, magnets, coins, rechargeable batteries, and electric guitar strings.
Many people experience a contact allergic reaction to nickel, most commonly seen in those who wear earrings as an itchy and inflamed area around around the peirced area.
Nickel is found in an enzyme called urease which assists in the hydrolysis of urea.
Nickel is a very commonly known substance, it is most valued for the alloys it forms, especially superalloys like stainless steele. Nickel is one of four elements that are magnetic at or around room temperature (the others being cobalt, iron, and gadolinium). Nickel is used in stainless steel, magnets, coins, rechargeable batteries, and electric guitar strings.
Many people experience a contact allergic reaction to nickel, most commonly seen in those who wear earrings as an itchy and inflamed area around around the peirced area.
Nickel is found in an enzyme called urease which assists in the hydrolysis of urea.
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