Chemistry Related Careers
- Aquaculturist
- Bacteriologist
- Biochemist
- Chemical engineer
- Cosmetic scientist
- Doctor
- Environmental scientist
- Food technologist
- Forensic scientist
- Geologist
- Horticulturalist
- Laboratory technician
- Nutritionist
- Pathologist
- Pharmacist
3. Steps in the Scientific Method
After gathering sufficient information, we make an inference, or early conclusion, based on what has been observed. The inference may or may not be true and need to be proven true or false with further investigation. Asking question based on the inference made to identify the problem related to the observation. After the planning of the experiment is done, you will need to carry out the experiment according to the procedure. |
4. Scientific Investigation
Scientific Method
- The scientific method or scientific process is fundamental to scientific investigation and to the acquisition of new knowledge based upon physical evidence by the scientific community.
- Scientists use observations and reasoning to propose tentative explanations for natural phenomena, termed hypotheses.
- The scientific method is a systematic approach to research. It consists of the following steps:
Steps in the Scientific Method
- Making observation
- An investigation usually begins with an observation on a phenomenon.
- Observation is to observe and gather the information about the phenomenon.
- Making an Inference
- Identifying problem
- Making a hypothesis
- A hypothesis is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon.
- Normally, it is a general statement about the relationship between the manipulated variable and a responding variable in order to explain the question ask.
- Identifying variables
- A variable is a factor that affects other factors in an experiment.
- In a scientific investigation, we need to identify all related variables.
- There are three types of variable, namely
- Manipulated variable — the factor that is purposely changed in an experiment
- Responding variable — the factor that changes with the manipulated variable
- Fixed variables — the factors that are kept constant throughout an experiment. This is to ensure that other factors do not affect the results of the experiment.
- Controlling variables
- Deciding how to repeat the experiment several times by using different values of the manipulated variable.
- This step is to test the consistency in the experiment and also to relate the manipulated variable to the responding variable.
- Designing the experiment
- Deciding how to carry out the experiment, including determine the material, apparatus, experiment sets out and the procedure to take.
- Always keep in mind that the main purpose of the experiment is to o test the hypothesis.
- Carrying Out the Experiment
- Collecting data
- Make observations in the experiment by watching and measuring.
- Measure the quantities accurately using suitable measuring instruments and units.
- All data are collected and recorded in a proposed table.
- Analysing and interpreting data
- After collecting the data, you will need to analyse the results of the experiment.
- Data analysis is the step to studies information by breaking it down into smaller parts.
- The results can be presented in various forms, such as a table, graph or chart.
- Making a conclusion
- Draw conclusions based on the observations and results.
- State whether the hypothesis is true or false.
- Writing the report
- A report is written after an experiment is performed.
- The format of the report is arranged based on the scientific investigation method which is performed systematically; starting from the problems identified to the last stage.
- State any precautions taken to overcome problems in the experiment.
- A simple diagram of the experiment set-up would sometime be useful.
After gathering sufficient information, we make an inference, or early conclusion, based on what has been observed. The inference may or may not be true and need to be proven true or false with further investigation.
Asking question based on the inference made to identify the problem related to the observation.
After the planning of the experiment is done, you will need to carry out the experiment according to the procedure.
Matter
Matter is anything that occupies space and has mass.
[edit]Atom, Molecule and Ion
The particles can be atoms, molecules or ions.
Atom | Molecule | Ion |
---|---|---|
The atom is the smallest, indivisible particle of an element. Atoms of the same element are exactly alike and are different from the atoms of all other elements. | Molecules are the smallest particles of an element or compound that are made up of two or more atoms. Ions are particles that are charged due to loss or gain of electrons. | Ions which are positively charged are called cations. Ions which are negatively charged are called anions. |
Example | Example | Example |
Characteristic of Matter in Solid, Liquid and Gaseous State
The changes in the state of matter
[edit]Melting
Definition Melting is the process where a solid changes to its liquid state at a certain temperature (called the melting point) and pressure when it is heated.
Notes
- When a solid is heated, the particles obtain energy and vibrate at a faster rate.
- As the temperature increases, the vibration of the particles increases until they reach the melting point where the particles obtain enough energy to overcome the forces that hold them in their fixed positions.The solid then changes into a liquid.
- During melting, the temperature remains constant. This is because the heat energy is taken in by the particles to overcome forces between them instead of being used to raise the temperature.
- The freezing and melting points of a pure substance are the same.
[edit]Freezing
Definition Freezing is the process where a liquid changes to its solid state at a certain temperature (called freezing point) and pressure when it is cooled.
Notes
- When a liquid is cooled, the temperature drops as heat energy is released to the surroundings.
- As heat energy is released, the kinetic energy of the particles in the liquid decreases, causing a slower movement of particles.
- The particles lose their energy and are pulled closer by the strong forces between the particles.
- As the temperature keep on dropping until it reach the freezing point, the liquid start changing into solid.
- The temperature stays constant while the liquid freezes because heat energy is released when the particles slow down to take up fixed and orderly positions in the solid.
[edit]Vaporization
Definition Vaporization, also called evaporation is the process whereby atoms or molecules in a liquid state gain sufficient energy to enter the gaseous state.
Boiling is the rapid vaporization of a liquid at a certain temperature (the boiling point) and pressure when heat is applied to it.
Notes
[edit]Evaporation
- Evaporation occurs below the boiling point of the liquid.
- The particles escape from the surface of the liquid to form gas.
- Evaporation differs from boiling in that it only takes place at the surface of the liquid and it is very slow.
- On the other hand, boiling takes place throughout the liquid and is very fast.
- Factors influencing rate of evaporation
- Humidity of the air.
- Temperature of the substance.
- Flow rate of air.
- Inter-molecular forces. The stronger the forces keeping the molecules together in the liquid or solid state the more energy that must be input in order to evaporate them.
- If conditions allow the formation of vapour bubbles within a liquid, the vaporization process is called boiling.
[edit]Boiling
- When a liquid is heated, the particles gain energy and move faster.
- As heat energy is keep on supplying to the liquid, the particles will eventually obtain enough energy to completely break the forces in between molecule.
- The liquid then changes into a gas and particles are now able to move freely and are far apart.
- The temperature at which this happens is called the boiling point.
The temperature remains constant during boiling because heat energy that is absorbed by the particles is used to break the forces holding them together.
[edit]condensation
Definition Condensation is the process by which a gas or vapor changes to liquid state at certain temperature and pressure when it is cooled.
Notes
- When a gas is cooled, the particles lose kinetic energy.
- As a result they move slower and this will cause the forces between them grow stronger.
- At this point, the gas changes into liquid.
- During condensation, heat is given out to the surroundings.
- Condensation can occur at or below the boiling point of the substance
[edit]sublimation
Definition Sublimation is a process of conversion of a substance from the solid to the vapour state without its becoming liquid.
Notes
- Some solids change directly into gas without becoming a liquid.
- This process is called sublimation.
- When heated, the particles of the solid gain enough energy to break the forces between them and move freely as a gas.
- When cooled, the gas changes straight back to solid.
- Examples of substances which sublime are solid carbon dioxide (dry ice), ammonium chloride and iodine.
Melting Point, Freezing Point and Boiling Point
[edit]Melting Point
Melting Point Melting Point is the temperature at which the solid and liquid forms of a pure substance can exist in equilibrium.
[edit]Freezing Point
Freezing Point Freezing Point is the temperature at which a liquid becomes a solid.
[edit]Boiling Point
Boiling Point is the temperature at which the pressure exerted by the surroundings upon a liquid is equalled by the pressure exerted by the vapour of the liquid. Under this condition, addition of heat results in the transformation of the liquid into its vapour without raising the temperature.
[edit]Physical State and Temperature
The physical state of a substance at a certain temperature and pressure depends on the values of its melting and boiling points.
- A substance is in solid state if it exists at a temperature below its melting point.
- A substance is in liquid state if it exists at a temperature above its melting point but below its boiling point.
- A substance is in gaseous state if it exists at a temperature above its boiling point.
Change in heat and kinetic energy of particles
- The change in temperature will influences the kinetic energy or the speed of the motion of the particles.
- When a substance is heated, the kinetic energy of the particles in the substance increases. This causes the particles to move or vibrate faster.
- Likewise, when a substance is cooled, the kinetic energy of the particles in the substance decreases. This causes the particles to move or vibrate slower.
- The kinetic energy of the particles in a substance is directly proportional to the temperature of the substance.
[edit]The Graph of the Heating Process
The graph above shows the heating curve of naphthalene.
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A-B |
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B |
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B-C |
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C |
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C-D |
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D |
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D-E |
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E |
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E-F |
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[edit]The Graph of the Cooling Process
P |
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P-Q |
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Q |
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Q-R |
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R |
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R-S |
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S |
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S-T |
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T |
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T-U |
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U |
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[edit]Supercooling
Super-cooling is the cooling of a liquid to below its freezing point but keeping it in liquid state. Supercooling is possible because of the lack of solid particles around which crystals can form.
Atomic Structure
- In physics, atomic theory is a theory of the nature of matter. It states that all matter is composed of atoms.
- The word atom originally meant a smallest possible particle of matter, not further divisible.
History
[edit]Democritus
- The existence of atoms was proposed as early as in the 5th century BCE by the Greek philosophers Leucippus and his pupil Democritus, for which they were called atomists.
- Democritus, develop the idea of atoms. He asked this question: If you break a piece of matter in half, and then break it in half again, how many breaks will you have to make before you can break it no further?
- Democritus thought that it ended at some point, a smallest possible bit of matter. He called these basic matter particles, atoms.
- The word "atom" is derived from the Greek word "atomos", which means "indivisible".
[edit]John Dalton
- Five main points of Dalton's Atomic Theory
- All matter is composed of extremely small particles called atoms.
- All atoms of a given element are identical, having the same size, mass, and chemical properties. Atoms of a specific element are different from those of any other element.
- Atoms cannot be created, divided into smaller particles, or destroyed.
- Different atoms combine in simple whole-number ratios to form compounds.
- In a chemical reaction, atoms are separated, combined, or rearranged.
Weakness
- Atoms consist of even smaller particles called electrons, protons and neutrons.
- Atoms can be created and destroyed in the nuclear reactions such as nuclear fusion and nuclear fission.
- Atoms of the same element can have different physical properties, for example, isotopes of hydrogen.
[edit]J.J. Thomson
- In physics, the Plum pudding model of the atom was made after the discovery of the electron and was proposed by the discoverer of the electron, J. J. Thomson.
- In it, the atom is envisioned as electrons surrounded by a soup of positive charge, like plums surrounded by pudding.
- The electrons were positioned uniformly throughout the atom.
- Instead of a soup, the model is also said to have had a cloud of positive charge.
- This model can be compared to a British treat called plum pudding, hence the name. It is also known as the chocolate chip cookie model.
[edit]Ernest Rutherford
[edit]Gold foil experiment
The Gold foil experiment, or Geiger-Marsden experiment was an experiment done by Hans Geiger and Ernest Marsden in 1909, under the direction of Ernest Rutherford at the Physical Laboratories of the University of Manchester which led to the downfall of the plum pudding model of the atom.
- They measured the deflection of alpha particles directed normally onto a sheet of very thin gold foil.
- Under the prevailing plum pudding model, the alpha particles should all have been deflected by at most of a few degrees.
- However they observed that a very small percentage of particles were deflected through angles much larger than 90 degrees.
- From this Rutherford concluded that the atom contained a very small positive charge which could repel the alpha particles if they came close enough.
[edit]Rutherford Atom
- Early in 1911 Rutherford published a revised model of the atom, known as the Rutherford atom.
- He concluded that
- the atom is mostly empty space,
- most of the atom's mass concentrated in a tiny center, the nucleus and electrons being held in orbit around it by electrostatic attraction.
- The nucleus was around 10-15 meters in diameter, in the centre of a 10-10 metre diameter atom.
- Those alpha particles that had come into close proximity with the nucleus had been strongly deflected whereas the majority had passed at a relatively great distance to it.
[edit]Niels Bohr
- Niels Bohr improved on Rutherford's atomic model.
- Bohr model depicts the atom as a small, positively charged nucleus surrounded by electrons in orbit - similar in structure to the solar system, but with electrostatic forces providing attraction, rather than gravity.
- According to Bohr’s Model
- Electrons in an atom of an element are not randomly distributed around the atomic nucleus.
- Electrons move around the nucleus in fixed orbits.
- Each orbit forms a circle and has a fixed distance from the nucleus.
[edit]James Chadwick
- Chadwick discovered the presence of neutrons in the nucleus.
- He concluded that the nucleus contains another tiny particle known as a neutron that has no charge.
- The neutron mass is almost similar to the proton mass.
- All nuclei contain protons and neutrons, except for the hydrogen which contains protons. only
[edit]Modern Atomic Model
- The atomic model in the present day is based on the contributions of the above scientists.
- According to the modern atomic model,
- The central nucleus consists of protons and neutrons. It containing almost all the mass of the atom.
- the nucleus of an atom is very small compared to the size of the atom
- the electrons are orbiting outside the nucleus in the electron shells
- the electrons are moving in electron shells at a very high speed and we cannot determine the position of the electrons at a particular time
[edit]The subatomic particles of an atom
- Atoms are made up of tiny particles called subatomic particles.
- An atom contains three types of subatomic particles:
- proton,
- neutron and
- electron,
- The proton and neutron form the nucleus at the centre of an atom.
- The electron moves around the nucleus at a very high speed.
- The nucleus is positively charged because of the presence of protons, which are positively charged. The neutrons are neutral.
- The symbols, charge and relative masses of proton, neutron and electron are as below.
Particle | Symbol | Relative charge | Relative mass |
---|---|---|---|
Proton | p | +1 | 1 |
Neutron | n | 0 | 1 |
Electron | e | -1 | 1/1840 |
[edit]The charge of particles
- A neutral atom contains the same number of electrons as the protons.
- The positive and negative charges of the protons and electrons respectively neutralise each other, for example, +4 + (-4) = 0
- If the number of protons is greater than the number of electron, the particle is positively charge.
- If the number of protons is greater than the number of electron, the particle is positively charge.
Example
Number of proton | Number of electron | Charge |
---|---|---|
3 | 3 | 0 |
5 | 2 | +3 |
9 | 10 | -1 |
11 | 10 | +3 |
16 | 18 | -2 |
17 | 18 | -1 |
20 | 18 | +3 |
[edit]Proton number and nucleon number
[edit]Proton Number
- The proton number (Z) represent the number of protons found in the nucleus of an atom.
Proton number = the number of protons
- The proton number is also known as the atomic number.
- In an atom of neutral charge, the number of electrons also equals the atomic number.
- Hence, the proton number of an atom can also represent the number of electrons.
[edit]Nucleon Number
- The nucleon number (A), also called atomic mass number or mass number, is the number of protons plus the number of neutrons in an atomic nucleus.
Nucleon number = Number of protons + Number of :neutrons
- The nucleon number of an atom is about the same as the mass of the atom because the mass of an electron is very small and can be ignored.
Example
Atom | Proton Number | Nucleon Number | Amount of Proton | Amount of electron | Amount of Neutron |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Helium | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Oxygen | 8 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Sodium | 11 | 23 | 11 | 11 | 12 |
Chlorine | 17 | 35 | 17 | 17 | 18 |
The structure of an atom can be written in symbol form, as shown in the figure below.
Symbol: X Proton Number: B | Symbol: N Proton Number: 7 | Symbol: X Proton Number: B |
Isotope
- Isotopes are atoms of certain elements which have the same number of protons but different number of neutrons in the nucleus of the atoms.
- It can also can be defined as atoms of certain elements with the same proton numbers but with different nucleon numbers.
- Three important points to define isotopes.
- Isotopes are different atoms of the same element.
- Isotopes have the same number of protons or same proton numbers.
- Isotopes have different numbers of neutrons or nucleon numbers.
Number of proton | equal |
Number of neutron | difference |
Chemical properties | same |
Physical properties | difference |
Example
Element | Name | Symbol | Proton Number | Nucleon Number | Number of proton | Number of neutron |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hydrogen | Hydrogen | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
Deuterium | 1 | 12 | 1 | 1 | ||
Tritium | 1 | 23 | 1 | 2 | ||
Oxygen | Oxygen-16 | 8 | 16 | 8 | 8 | |
Oxygen-17 | 8 | 17 | 8 | 9 | ||
Oxygen-18 | 8 | 18 | 8 | 10 | ||
Carbon | Carbon-12 | 6 | 12 | 6 | 6 | |
Carbon-13 | 6 | 13 | 6 | 7 | ||
Carbon-14 | 6 | 14 | 6 | 8 | ||
Chlorine | Chlorine-35 | 17 | 35 | 17 | 18 | |
Chlorine-37 | 17 | 37 | 17 | 20 | ||
Sodium | Sodium-23 | 11 | 23 | 11 | 12 | |
Sodium-24 | 11 | 24 | 11 | 13 |
[edit]Uses of isotopes in our daily lives
- There are two types of isotopes, namely
- the stable isotopes (non-radioactive)
- the non-stable isotopes (radioactive).
- Unstable isotopes go through radioactive decay and emit radiation and they are known as radioisotopes.
- Radioisotopes have many applications in daily life.
- Several uses of radioisotopes in daily life are shown in Table below.
[edit]Medical
- Gamma rays of cobalt-60 are used to kill cancer cells without surgery in patients. This treatment is known as radiotherapy.
- Patients with skin cancer can be treated using beta rays from the isotopes phosphorus-32 and strontium-90
- Medical instruments such as surgical equipment, syringes and bandages can sterilize by using gamma rays.
- Radioisotopes are also used as tracers.
- A small amount of sodium-24 is injected into the patient's body.
- A radioactive detector is then used to detect accumulation of sodium-24 and therefore detect tumours and blood clots before they become dangerous.
- This tracing method is also used to investigate the thyroid glands by measuring the uptake of iodine-131.
- Plutonium-238 in a nuclear battery is used to produce small electric shocks in the heart pacemaker.
- People with irregular heartbeats need to have a heart pacemaker implanted inside their chest.
- The nuclear battery of the pacemaker provides a tiny electrical shock to ensure a steady heartbeat.
[edit]Agricultural
- Radio isotopes are used to cause mutation in insects so as to make them sterile or to cause death. These serve as pest control in agriculture.
- The metabolism of phosphorus by plants can be studied using phosphate fertilisers that contain phosphorus-32.
- A small amount of phosphorus-32 is used in fertilisers.
- The radiation produced by phosphorus-32decaying is detected by a Geiger-Miller counter.
- This method can trace the passage of phosphate ions in plants..
- Carbon-14 is used to study the passage of carbon during photosynthesis in plants.
[edit]Industrial
- Isotope sodium-24 is used to detect leakage of underground pipes.
- Beta rays are used to control the thickness of plastic, paper and metal sheets in factory.
- Gamma rays are used to detect whether cans or bottles are filled up to the required amount.
- Sodium-24 is used to measure the wear out rate of engine in a vehicle.
[edit]Food Preservation
- The gamma rays from cobalt-60 are used to kill bacteria in food to make fresh vegetables and fruits last longer without any change in quality, flavour and texture of food.
- Gamma rays are used to inhibit budding in potatoes.
[edit]Archeology
- Radioisotope carbon-14 is used to study and estimate the age of ancient artifacts. This method is named as the radiocarbon dating.
[edit]Production of Energy
- Plutonium is used in nuclear reactors to produce electrical energy.
[edit]Danger of Radioactive
- Radioactive isotopes are very dangerous if it is misused.
- Short-term exposure to radioactive rays may
- kill or destroy the cells in our body and cause organ damage
- cause rashes and burns on the exposed skin
- Long-term exposure to radioactive rays may
- ause mutation in our genes and abnormalities in newborn babies
- disturb the growth and division of cells and consequently cause cancer
Electronic Structure
Electron Configuration in Atom
- We have learnt that electrons occupy orbits with definite energy level of an atom, as suggested by Neils Bohr.
- These orbits with definite energy level are known as the shell.
- Every single shell is capable of holding up to certain amount of electrons.
- The first shell can hold up to two electrons. This is called a duplet.
- The second shell can hold up to eight electrons. This is called an octet.
- The third shell can hold up to eighteen electrons.
- However, with the third shell, when eight electrons are present, extra stability is gained. The additional electrons go into the fourth shell before the third shell is completely filled.
- The way in which the electrons are distributed in the shells of an atom is called the electron arrangement or electron configuration of the atom.
- The examples below show the electron arrangement of some elements:
Example
Element | Proton Number | Number of Electron | Number of electron in | Electron Arrangement | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st shell | 2nd shell | 3rd shell | 4th shell | ||||
Hydrogen | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Helium | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Lithium | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2.1 |
Beryllium | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2.2 |
Boron | 5 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2.3 |
Carbon | 6 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2.4 |
Nitrogen | 7 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2.5 |
Oxygen | 8 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2.6 |
Fluorine | 9 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2.7 |
Neon | 10 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2.8 |
Sodium | 11 | 11 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 2.8.1 |
Magnesium | 12 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2.8.2 |
Aluminium | 13 | 13 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 2.8.3 |
Silicon | 14 | 14 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 2.8.4 |
Phosphorus | 15 | 15 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 2.8.5 |
Sulphur | 16 | 16 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2.8.6 |
Chlorine | 17 | 17 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 2.8.7 |
Argon | 18 | 18 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 2.8.8 |
Potassium | 19 | 19 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 2.8.8.1 |
Calcium | 20 | 20 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 2.8.8.2 |