The Homecoming Genie

1. Today in our chemistry class, Mr. Lieberman introduced us to the Homecoming Genie. The genie only comes out of its silver bottle once a year around homecoming! He got the genie from his high school chemistry teacher so its an old tradition. He told us that the Homecoming Genie would only come out if we had enough homecoming spirit. Even after he called the genie it still wouldn't come out, so we didn't have enough spirit yet! Hopefully it'll come out tomorrow if we all wear green and silver! After we experienced the homecoming genie, Mr. Lieberman started discussing the alchemy notes (as seen in the above post) with us. He discussed how the alchemists laid the basis for the foundation of chemistry today. They tried to do experiements like turn metals into gold and make immortality potions. Even though these experiments failed (obviously) for the alchemists, the did contribute greatly to science. They discovered:

• elements such as mercury and sulfur


• developed new glassware


• developed new lab procedures (wearing safety goggles)

We learned about the atomic theory:

• Law of Conservation of Mass: Mass is neither created nor destroyed during chemical reactions


• Law of Definite Proportions: a given chemical compound always contains the same elements in a specific proportion by weight.


• Law of Multiple Proportions: when two elements combine to form one or more compounds the weight of one element combined with the fixed weight of the other element are in a ratio of small whole numbers

We learned specifically about a few important early alchemists:

Robert Boyle : developed theories about elements- an element is a pure substance that cannot be broken down into other substances

John Dalton: built on the atomic theory-

• elements consisted of tiny particles called atoms


• elements were pure because all atoms in one element were identical and had the same mass


• elements differed because their atoms had different masses


• compounds consisted of the atoms of different elements combining together


• Atoms:small,indivisible, indestructible particles that had their mass, behavior and size based on what element they are

J.J. Thompson: made the cathode ray: tube with a small amount of gas inside (lead to television)

• he discovered electrons when he used a magnet to attract/repel the electricity inside the ray


• came up with the Plum-Pudding Model:

  

So.. that's what we did on September 27th in Mr. Lieberman's Honors Chem class.. Don't forget your green and silver tomorrow so we can see the Homecoming Genie!! ~Korri Hershenhouse

PS. The next scribe will be Ellen H!!