Chemistry 101: The Scientific Method

The Scientific Method

Chemistry 101: 8th Grade Science

          While studying chemistry, a technique designed to investigate scientific questions is called the scientific method. This method is a way of asking a question and then answering it and making conclusions based on specific steps. Here are the steps of the scientific method:

• Step one: Ask a question. Every investigation begins with an intellectual question that ponders something about the world. This question needs to be something that can be tested and that can have an experiment conducted for it. Think about what you specifically hope to discover in the end, and how you will go about testing this.

• Step two: Make observations. After thinking about the question you would like to answer, make observations about the matter at hand. Before doing any testing, you must always make your own observations beforehand so that you can formulate an educated guess as to what the outcome will be.

• Step three: Formulate a hypothesis. What do you believe, according to the observations made, will be the outcome of the experiment you wish to perform? Make an educated guess based on what you already know. The usual format of a hypothesis is as follows: If ____, then ___.

• Step four: Test your hypothesis. Design an experiment that specifically answers the question you have asked. Make it simple and to the point to ensure accurate findings. Make a step by step procedure that conducts a fair test that is not in any way biased.

• Step five: Analyze the data. Record your findings from the experiments tested and draw conclusions about your hypothesis. Accept or reject the hypothesis you came up with and be able to explain why, through means of testing, this came to be.

          Using the scientific method is an extremely useful way to ask a question and then find the answers. These specific steps will help you as you begin to conduct experiment in your chemistry class!

Chemistry 101: Significant Figures

Significant Figures

Chemistry 101: 8th Grade Science

          Making measurements is a very important aspect of studying chemistry. Whether this be measuring the volume using a graduated cylinder, or weighing mass on a balance, or even simply measuring the length of something, making precise measurements is a very imperative piece of studying this topic. However, every experimental measurement, no matter how precise, has a degree of uncertainty to it because there I always a limit to the number of digits that can be determined. In order to keep a measurement accurate, the value recorded should use all the digits known with certainty. These specific numbers of digits are also referred to as SIGNIFICANT FIGURES. Significant figures are the numbers of meaningful digits use to express a value.

Determining the number of significant figures can normally be simple, however this can get more challenging when there are zeroes involved. Here are some rules to help you determine the number of significant figures are needed when zeroes are present: 

• Rule 1: Zeroes sandwiched between two non-zero numbers are always significant (Ex. 4.708 has 4 significant figures)
• Rule 2: Zeroes at the beginning of any number are not significant and simply act to locate the position of a decimal (Ex. 0.036 has 2 significant figures)
• Rule 3: Zeroes at the end of a number after a decimal point are significant or they would not be recorded (Ex. 183.400 has 6 significant figures)
• Rule 4: Zeroes at the end of a number before a decimal point may or may not be significant. It depends if they are part of the measurement or if they act to indicate an implied decimal place

Always remember to be mindful of significant figures when making measurements in the laboratory. They keep the data as accurate and precise as possible and help to avoid any calculation error that may result from inaccurate data!

Chemistry 101: The Periodic Table

The Periodic Table

Chemistry 101: 8th Grade Science

 

The Periodic Table of Elements is an extremely useful tool when studying chemistry. The periodic table is an organization of all elements based on different chemical properties in the form of a table. The horizontal rows, also known as periods, order the elements by increasing atomic number from left to right. The vertical columns are also referred to as groups.

 

Each element has its own box on the periodic table which reveals some very important information. First, each element is written in shorthand notation. This is usually a one or two letter symbol with that contains a capitalized first letter and a lower case second letter. Every element differs from all others according to how many protons it contains. This value is also referred to as the atomic number. (The number of protons is equal to the number of electrons, thus if we are given either the number of protons or electrons of any given element, we can find the atomic number and identify it) The atomic number of an element usually appears as a small above the element symbol. As stated above, the elements are organized into periods of increasing atomic number from left to right.  

 

There is also a small number printed below the element symbol, which signifies the atomic mass of that specific element. The atomic mass is the weighted average mass of an element’s atoms. Lastly, the periodic table can also show what sub group a certain element is in. Usually these subgroups are colored differently. The main subgroups include: Main group elements, transition metal elements, and inner transition metal elements.



Entry 3

Campus Resources

 

        Juggling several classes and having a busy schedule can sometimes cause students forget just how many resources there really is on campus. Here at the University of Arizona, the teachers and staff provide many opportunities for extra help many of us often need. Here is a list of some of the resources I have found very helpful through experience:

 

1.       Every teacher and TA has office hours! I can’t think of a better way to get help than to sit down one on one with a professor to ask all of the questions you may have. Take advantage of this opportunity because having this face to face, personal meeting can really help you understand the material and allows you to really get a better understanding of the material. If you can’t make it to their office hours, email your professor and/or TA and schedule an appointment with them.

 

 

2.       Review sessions. Before exams, many teachers put on review sessions to go over the material that will be on your test. Go to every review session, teachers often times give hints as to what will be on the exam!

 

 

3.       Think Tank is yet another awesome resource to take advantage of. From Science to Math to English, the Think Tank provides free tutoring to any students who are in need of help. This center offers a variety of different things from one on one tutoring to review sessions, etc. I would definitely recommend visiting the Think Tank because of its extremely helpful, free offerings.

 

 

4.       Lastly, there is the SALT Center. Although it is not a free resource, it is an extremely helpful one. The SALT Center offers individualized services for any student who struggles with school or has any sort of learning disability. This is a very personalized program that is an extremely useful resource.

 

There are so many resources on campus, if you can think of any other ways to get help, please feel free to post it in a comment!



Entry 2

Midterms & Study Tips

 

                This week is one of the most dreaded weeks of the school year… Midterms! This is an extremely busy, tedious, and stressful week for all students. Because of this, I would like to share a fews tips which I believe are helpful in preparing for exams. 

 

1.       Make a study schedule and plan out your week. If you know you have exams back to back, make sure you give each subject an allotted time for which you will study for it. This has a lot to do with time management, which is important for everyday life. Figure out how long you will need to study for each midterm, and divide your time accordingly.

 

 

2.       Make goals for yourself while studying. For me, I like to split up my work into chapters or subjects. I make a goal to finish a certain portion of the chapters and then give myself a little break. Reward yourself for reaching these small goals, and take a breather. At a certain point your brain stops retaining information, so be sure to take short intermissions to prevent this from happening and to give your brain a rest.

 

 

3.       Figure out what kind studying benefits you most. Some people must read all the chapters to understand the material, some people make study guides on the computer, and other people make flashcards. Figure out which way is the best for you and stick to it! This will make studying into a routine that can be mastered.

 

 

4.       Lastly, relax and get sleep! If you are stressed out, walk away from your notes for a few minutes and take a deep breath. Stress can interfere with your brain’s ability to comprehend material, so if you are feeling entirely stressed out, give yourself a break. (Maybe take a little walk, or go to the gym, or grab a healthy snack) Also, sleep is extremely important. Make sure you are getting an adequate amount of sleep so your body can rest. Sleep is extremely important to rejuvenate yourself and be able to perform at your very best!

  

These are just a few of many different tips to studying, if anyone else has additional tips please share them in a comment!

 



Entry 1

About Me

 

 

My name is Taylor Lofton, Arizona native and full time student at the University of Arizona. Currently, I am seeking a degree in General Studies with a minor in Spanish. Ultimately I hope to attend graduate school to become a Physician’s Assistant or Nurse Practitioner. I love interacting with people and being able to offer a helping hand, which is why my main goal of this blog is to share my experiences in order to help others. I strive to do my very best when it comes to education and feel that it is extremely important to become a successful individual. I understand how challenging college can be at times, so I hope that as I share my experiences and advice I can help others overcome similar obstacles.

The first topic I would like to touch on is organization. When I lived with my parents, I was hands down one of the most unorganized people on this planet. But, as I realized soon after moving to college, this was not going to fly. Organizational skills are a crucial part of being successful, which is why I began to alter some of my habits to become more organized. The first thing I bought was a planner. In my opinion, this is a small task but can help immensely. The first thing I did was gather all my syllabi and wrote down the important dates my teachers listed. It really helps to be able to look at your whole week and plan accordingly. Though this seems to be an incredibly small undertaking , it was by far the most helpful thing I did all year. After making small changes to the way you do things (ie: putting things in the right place, organizing folders to keep your school work ordered, etc.) organizational skills begin to become second nature. Take small steps in order to begin organizing and it will all fall into place from there.

If anyone else has tips and tricks for organizing, please feel free to leave a comment and share your ideas!