Thanks!

Yoz guyz,

Thanks for all your cards, gifts, words of encouragement:



Enjoy the Sept hols, but dun forget to mug for you-know-wat-is-the-most-impt-subject.

Be prepared for presents from me via emails.

Cheers,
Mr Koh

Nitric Acid - A special one

Yoz,

We have been working on Acids for some time now.

What we know is that acid reacts with reactive metal (e.g. Zn, Mg, Ca) to form salt and hydrogen. The unreactive metals (e.g. Au, Cu) do not react with acids.

However Cu does react with nitric acid. Why? Because nitric acid is an oxidising agent as well. Read more about the nitric acid here.

Some terms you would be familiar would be: strong acid, acid concentration, etc.

You could also read about the 'strongest' acid which scientists have made. (see here) How is this acid contradicting what we discussed in class?

Carborane, part of the world’s strongest acid. [Atom color code: orange = boron, gray = carbon, green = chlorine, white = hydrogen.] Picture from ScienceDaily.com

Accolades II

Hi, all,

This is the ranking as of present (70% of RP CA and 37.5% of RA CA is included in computation).

Congratulations to all. Let's work hard to make the list longer!

Methane - Solution to the Rising Fuel Cost

Hi,

Recently, the local paper reported that more of our cars are being converted to ones driven by CNG (compressed natural gas). For those who still do not know what CNG is chemically, it is methane. The driving force to convert is that CNG is much cheaper when compared to the petrol. However, the price of CNG is also rising. Why? Think about it.

Actually the ground is not our only source of methane. We can get it from guts of cows, sheep, and maybe you!

In the 1960's, scientists found high levels of methane near the ocean’s oxygen-rich surface, which is unusual. Why is it unusual? Don't tell you now.

Now they have uncovered the reason behind this. To know more, read this.

Who's interested in working on this for RE? Maybe we could be the next millionair?!

Super Atoms

Hey. So long never blog liao.

Well, since there's really not much new research in the area of Mole Concept, let me post you a question regarding this topic:

Why was there only 1 Avogadro? (see Comments for answer and souce.)


Anyway, there is now such a thing call super atoms. It was found by researchers that metal atoms will form clusters in vapor phase and behave like another element. Want to find out more, read this.

Cya around.

Picture from ScienceDaily.com

Lavoisier

Yoz,

The hols is coming to an end soon.

Btw, do remember to submit your Lavoisier Assignment when school reopens. And don't be like someone who is trying to get the answer from yahoo.answer. And the person who replied is NOT me. =)

Anyway, here's one good book you might want to read:

A World on Fire - A Heretic, an Aristocrat, and the Race to Discover Oxygen by Joe Jackson.

It talks about Lavoisier and another scientist Joseph Priestley.

Enjoy!

Picture from Lukeman.com

Mole Concept - Word Search

For those who are too boliao, you can test your understanding of mole concept here!


Puzzle from Oklahoma State University
Enjoy!

p.s. why is the molar gas volume different from ours? I thought it should be 24 dm3? Do not be confused ok!