By: Emilio I. April 4th was the first day back from Spring Break so we began a new unit, unit 11: Kinetics and Equilibrium. We started off by talking about the collision theory and how a chemical reaction can not occur if the reactions do not collide. Mr. Lieberman used the example that if two substances are on opposite sides of a container, they cannot react at all! This is true because when molecules collide they transfer kinetic energy and break the bonds that hold other molecules together.
Kinetic energy is half the battle, the other half is having correct orientation. In order for a reaction to occur between molecules, specific atoms must crash into eachother at specific speeds. Here is an image describing the idea behind orientation and chemical reactions:
The Kinetic energy required to break the bonds in a molecule and cause a chemical reaction is known as the Activation Energy. It is also referred to as the Activated Complex. It is at the top of the graph showing a reaction's energy, just like this one:
We only discussed one way to increase the speed of this type of reaction, although there are many ways to do this. The one we discussed is by adding a catalyst that lowers the activation energy which allows a higher number of reactions to occur among the molecules in the reaction. The catalyst is not a part of the reaction, though, so it will not appear in the reactants or products. The next Scribe will beeeeee: Kaitlin S. Goodluck
Today we had shortened classes and Mr. Liberman was not there. So, we had a sub and we got to watch Myth Busters! SWEAAAAAAAAAAAAT! This episode was the second one they have done on ninjas. They were retesting if a ninja could actually catch an arrow, but this time they had the most accomplished ninja in the world today who happened to be Australian. Adam and Jamie the two hosts talked about how that the speed of an arrow does not change on release from the bow to impact with its target. The first experiment was to see if the ninja could catch tennis balls going 80 mph's and he caught 22 in a row a Guiness World Record. Then Jamie tried to accomplish this feat thinking it was being overplayed he was soon pelted relentlessly with thennis balls quite amusing. Next, Carry, Grant, and Tory tested the old assination technic that ninjas would lay in wait in river banks breathing out their blow guns and then using them to kill their target. First they checked how long Tory could stay underwater with out suffering hypothermia and he felt he could last about an hour. Next they tested if they used an all natural blow gun how their aim would be. Tory and Grant made all natural ones but they accuracy was pitiful. Next, Carry who cheated by putting a metal rod in had perfect accuracy. Next she sat underwater and had to deal with the refraction of the water to hit the target. Eventually she go the hang of it. Next they tried to put all the aspects together breathing through it, being cold, and having to transfer the dart in. The myth was busted because no one could load the dart without shooting it with water. Back to Jamie and Adam they put their ninja to the test when he caught an arrow then they put him between three archers and at first he could not do it. Eventually when they moved back and the one who had to shoot had to draw his bow the ninja caught it. The next segment was supposed to be the one inch punch but we did not get to it. Thats it the next scrib is Matt Park
