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August 30, 2013
Published by Bryan at August 30, 2013
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In one example I use bond energies to calculate the energy per mole of sucrose and TNT (the explosive trinitrotoluene). Most students expect that TNT has more energy, but it turns out the two have about the same. So why is TNT an explosive (actually a conflagration)? TNT burns rapidly and involves a huge volume change. It is the rate of reaction (chemical kinetics) and the rapid volume change that causes the explosive damage. Then I can move to the thermodynamics overview.
December 8, 2011
Published by Bryan at December 8, 2011
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Exam time is coming and we have 1,100 freshman chemists getting stressed and nervous, so this is for them.
You need “stress” in your live. No stress would mean you would stay in bed all day. Well I’m a chemistry prof and like physical chemistry, and not a psychologist, but over the years you get to know students worries.
There are two types of stress. There is bad stress ("I'm scared", "I'm dumb" "It is too hard?") and there is good stress ("Great day, gotta get up!", "I really want to understand stuff" "I am looking forward to tonight, so got to look good.")
Use the good stress.
October 17, 2011
Published by Bryan at October 17, 2011
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In that pile of glass plates I found in the Kamerlingh Onnes laboratory in 1974, was the original glass negative of the 1927 Solvay Conference. I had never seen the picture before and it was an exciting moment as I looked at my find, and started to recognize individuals.
March 25, 2011
Published by Bryan at March 25, 2011
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In this part I will talk a bit about the types of radiation. In part 2, I will explain how a reactor works, and finally in part 3, discuss some of the effects of radiation on humans.
March 9, 2011
Published by Bryan at March 9, 2011
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n 1887 J.J. Thomson discovery of the electron was a significant step that led to a much deeper understanding of the microscopic properties of Nature. In this entry, I will discuss the famous Millikan Oil drop experiment which was done in 1909.
But recall that in his characterization of the properties of the electron he could only determine the charge to mass ratio, given by -1.76 times ten to the 11th Coulombs per kilogram. Was this ratio a result of two big values or two small values?
Robert Millikan was able to separate the ratio in order to show that the ratio was that of two small numbers and in this way he was able to extract the elementary charge and the electron mass. Comparing the electron mass to that of the lightest element, Hydrogen, it is found that the mass of an electron is 1800 times smaller. Indeed at that time this was the smallest particle known.
February 14, 2011
Published by Bryan at February 14, 2011
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Discussion of the discovery of the electron by J. J. Thomson in 1897 using a cathode ray tube. He was able to obtain the charge to mass ratio, but not the actual mass or charge. Later Millikan was able to separate the two. Indeed Thomson found a new state of matter which laid the foundations for quantum mechanics and a huge range of technologies
February 3, 2010
Published by Bryan at February 3, 2010
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httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlF6h3H7zLw Summary of MCH High School and College Chemistry and Physics Each of our five courses covers all the material and more that are found in chemistry and physics courses from the high school to College level. The courses entail between 100 and 200 hours of study each. They […]