NJIT CHEM 125/125A

The Development of Epsom Salt Crystals

Grade: 100%

Over the summer before we started our NJIT Chemistry course this junior year, we were sent summer work that reflected on everything we will be discussing throughout the school year. In total there were 12 assignments that needed to be completed. One of those assignment included a at home experiment with crystals. Our task was to make a crystal out of household items.  There were a few options of crystals that we could make using everyday appliances in our homes. As for me, I chose to make Epsom salt crystals. These crystals seemed like the simplest types to make and were also the most fun to watch form. These crystals were made with Epsom salt, food coloring, and hot water.  All these ingredients as well as the steps taken to make it would need to be recorded. Not only was the crystal itself part of the project, but a poster would have to be made. In this poster we had to introduce, explain, and share our findings with the crystal we had made. Since, this assignment was fun to do it did not take much time which seemed to be something that I really liked about it. It helped me undertand the concept of different elements coming together to make these type of crystals and comparing it with real life crystals. 

Link: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1guCmXAWCAVrdfCVxBRDu2B9vDS8liz0sXcUOTxIk2cs/edit?usp=sharing 

Grade: 100%

The periodic table plays an important part in our understanding of elements we use and know. We have seen how there are various trends that can be found within the periodic table. In this lab we were to explore the reactivity trends of metals in groups and periods of the periodic table. Before beginning the lab we needed to make sure that we are able to identify other certain trends in groups on the periodic table. It is to make sure we understand what we are exploring, For the lab, we needed to gather materials such as 2-test tubes, test tube rack, 2-weighing dishes, water, 3cm strip of magnesium ribbon, and small sample of calcium. When gathering our ingredients we needed to make sure that we get as little as possible to not waste any of the materials. We proceeded by placing a small strip of magnesium ribbon in a test tube and covered it with water. While we do any step in this lab, we need to make sure that we ware watching and observing anything that may occur. We do the same thing with  calcium.  Making sure we are writing down our observations. Later we will test magnesium, iron, zinc, and tin. This is part of a additional part in the lab. The test for this will be to see it's reactivity in acid. Then as the last part of our lab, we will be asked to measure the density of silicon. This whole lab was just to really help us understand the trends in the periodic table. It was fun but also a struggle at the same time. 

Grade: 80%

After spending some time understanding the different trends that can be found on the periodic table as will as how these trends connect to each other, we then had to take a test to check our understanding. Is a routine that before every test, we are given a study guide prior to taking the test as well as a sheet to write down our lesson notes, notes that will help us with the test. It is important that we really look at the questions given in the review because whatever is on there will be on the test. The test is timed and we are allowed to have our periodic table at hand. I think that what I struggled with the most when doing this test is when the answers are found analyzing how the trends really are in the periodic table. I knew the general trends that can be easily found, but it becomes a bit of a struggle when I need to do an additional step to figure it out. 

Grade: 100%

After going over the different molecular shapes molecules can have we conducted a virtual lab to review what we knew and what we still needed to understand. In a molecule we see how different atoms come together to form the molecule. Based on the amount of atoms and which specific ones we chose, the actual shape of the compound will differ.  In our past assignment we had already gone over other concepts that have since then helped us with developing these molecular shapes. One thing that comes up constantly is the Lewis Dot Structure. In this lab we mainly focused on how these molecular shapes looked like and what are its charcteristics. It was a fun experience as I got to learn more about molecular shapes. It really helped me in  fully understanding why certain molecules have the molecule shapes they do. It did confuse me at first but once I saw what they looked like it made it easier to justify why since they would each share specific conditions. 

Grade: 86.70%

The Unit 3 test focused heavily on different compounds, how they are formed, and how we identify them. A constant concept that we had to learn was how to draw and use Lewis dot structures. After spending some time understanding the different trends that can be found on the periodic table as will as how these trends connect to each other, we then had to take a test to check our understanding. Is a routine that before every test, we are given a study guide prior to taking the test as well as a sheet to write down our lesson notes, notes that will help us with the test.  I think that what I struggled with the most when doing this test is when I needed to really look at the bonds in the molecule. Even so there were things I knew I still found myself struck in conceptual concepts as well.