Fr
atomic number 87
atomic weight (223)
francium, formerly known as eka-caesium, is the second rarest naturally occurring element. it is one of the most unstable elements, and is always decomposing into other elements at a fast rate. there is less than an ounce of naturally occurring francium at any given time on the whole planet. it's longest lasting isotope decays in just 20 minutes. as it's name suggest a french researcher decided on the official name. it is the second element named after france, gallium being the other.
the color of foods in my kitchen:
aside from the occasional rotting piece of something, i am pleased with the colors. a while back my wife and i decided to make the quantum leap to organic, healthy, and fresh food. we favor:
violet -- eggplant
blue -- blueberries
green -- kale, spinach, romaine, tea, kiwi
red -- strawberries, wine, beets, peppers
orange -- oranges, peppers, carrots
yellow -- bananas, squash, raw butter, lemons
black -- molasses, tea
brown -- nut butters
discovery of minerals:
i discovered that malachite and azurite are two of the most exquisite looking minerals:
malachite -- swirls of dark and light green amongst white and black. herb like color but at the same time an almost artificial beauty permeates the vision. an impossible vision, one is not sure if it is truly natural or supernatural, or both; maybe a little bit of green heaven that saw fit to come to earth.
azurite -- a most exquisite azure. varying from dark to light, but it shows it's greatest beauty in the vibrant royal blue -- a noble sight and adornment for a king. this mineral needs no artist hand to mold it, it is charming enough from nature.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Monday, June 18, 2007
ELECTROCHEMISTRY AND ALCHEMY
halogen of the week:
I
atomic number 53
atomic weight 126.9045
iodine is an essential nutrient for the human body, albeit in small amounts as it is toxic in high concentrations. radioactive iodine is a by-product of nuclear fission and there is evidence of poisoning amongst the inhabitants of nevada where the first nuclear bomb was tested. one could protect themselves with potassium iodide (KI) which prevents iodine absorption. lack of iodine causes goiter. it is found in seawater and is very useful in medicine. it's isotopes are used for the treatment of the thyroid gland. it's vapor emits a blue-violate gas that is irritating to the mucus membranes. the researcher henri spindler discovered that the algae laminaria manufactures (transmutes) iodine from substances in seawater.
electrochemistry, listening to electric fish, no joke:
i must say that before i sat down to approach my homework i had no idea i would be listening to fish. but why not, given the current state of intellectual prowess in the world. the elephant nose fish (gnathonemus petersii) is quite a fascinating creature. it locates it's food by a pulsation of electricity it emits from the tail area of it's body. in addition it can navigate and find prey in murky water by virtue of this. the experiment involved listening to the electric signals using a piezoelectric earphone or small amplifier -- who knew? the link provides a recording of the sound and yes you can here it. sounds like a bit of static or noise from a geiger counter. pretty interesting. some other fish are capable this electric phenomenon as well.
alchemy, science, magic, art - or all three:
i would say all three. it is a science in that it is a discipline that requires the scientific method. chemistry grew out of alchemy and somewhat resembles it in a very reductionist way. this is changing however with quantum mechanics and string theory. it is magic in the traditional sense of that word, not associated with parlor tricks, the supernatural, or fakery. traditionally magic was associated with gaining control over the elements -- not from the periodic table. the elements being: fire, water, air, earth, and Akasha. the five elements of chinese medicine come close to the western elemental concept. it corresponds to the 1st tarot card, the magician, in which the five elements are depicted as tools to be used by the qualified magician or alchemist as he became known in the middle ages. it is art as well, as the experiments do not just involve observation but also creation. this would be a type of creation involving the accelerated evolution of the human spirit.
I
atomic number 53
atomic weight 126.9045
iodine is an essential nutrient for the human body, albeit in small amounts as it is toxic in high concentrations. radioactive iodine is a by-product of nuclear fission and there is evidence of poisoning amongst the inhabitants of nevada where the first nuclear bomb was tested. one could protect themselves with potassium iodide (KI) which prevents iodine absorption. lack of iodine causes goiter. it is found in seawater and is very useful in medicine. it's isotopes are used for the treatment of the thyroid gland. it's vapor emits a blue-violate gas that is irritating to the mucus membranes. the researcher henri spindler discovered that the algae laminaria manufactures (transmutes) iodine from substances in seawater.
electrochemistry, listening to electric fish, no joke:
i must say that before i sat down to approach my homework i had no idea i would be listening to fish. but why not, given the current state of intellectual prowess in the world. the elephant nose fish (gnathonemus petersii) is quite a fascinating creature. it locates it's food by a pulsation of electricity it emits from the tail area of it's body. in addition it can navigate and find prey in murky water by virtue of this. the experiment involved listening to the electric signals using a piezoelectric earphone or small amplifier -- who knew? the link provides a recording of the sound and yes you can here it. sounds like a bit of static or noise from a geiger counter. pretty interesting. some other fish are capable this electric phenomenon as well.
alchemy, science, magic, art - or all three:
i would say all three. it is a science in that it is a discipline that requires the scientific method. chemistry grew out of alchemy and somewhat resembles it in a very reductionist way. this is changing however with quantum mechanics and string theory. it is magic in the traditional sense of that word, not associated with parlor tricks, the supernatural, or fakery. traditionally magic was associated with gaining control over the elements -- not from the periodic table. the elements being: fire, water, air, earth, and Akasha. the five elements of chinese medicine come close to the western elemental concept. it corresponds to the 1st tarot card, the magician, in which the five elements are depicted as tools to be used by the qualified magician or alchemist as he became known in the middle ages. it is art as well, as the experiments do not just involve observation but also creation. this would be a type of creation involving the accelerated evolution of the human spirit.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
MOLECULAR WEIGHT
inert gas of the week:
H
atomic number: 2
atomic mass: 4.002602
helium. many people would be glad to know that hydrogen is no longer used as the lift gas for blimps. the germans found this out the hard way with the explosion of the hindenburg. from then on our friend helium was used -- because it is an inert gas that is very stable -- 2 electrons in the the ring. after hydrogen it is the most abundant element in the universe. it has several industrial uses such as: to pressurize rocket fuel tanks, lift for weather balloons, and is used in the process of studying superconductivity. helium is represented in earths atmosphere in minute amounts, but is not bound by gravity and so is always ascending. it is associated with the greek god helius -- the sun god (personification of the sun). and of course there is the fun party trick of inhaling it to sound like donald duck, but it is not recommended as it can kill you -- several deep breaths of helium can displace the oxygen in your body. so do not try it.
avogadro's hypothesis:
i do indeed see the importance of his hypothesis, and the vast applications it led to. at a time when the basics of chemistry was evolving it was fortunate to have a thinker like avogadro steer the ship. it is interesting that volume and molecules have an exact relationship. this is something i did not know before. without this discovery i imagine that it would have been impossible to proceed along the lines chemistry has come. how else could one measure extremely small particles? i did miss the correct answer regarding the characteristics of a hypothesis. i guessed that hypothesis turn into laws -- not by any ultimate truth but by the propensity of hard scientists dogma for "absolute truth". pleased to say i got it wrong.
what exactly is a mole:
one mole of a particular substance is equal the number of atoms of carbon 12.
i guess i have arrived at the solution of the equation of why i am not a chemist. dealing with the minutia is for me a labor. although i realize the necessity of this minutia. the link i found a bit dry, but how could it be otherwise?
H
atomic number: 2
atomic mass: 4.002602
helium. many people would be glad to know that hydrogen is no longer used as the lift gas for blimps. the germans found this out the hard way with the explosion of the hindenburg. from then on our friend helium was used -- because it is an inert gas that is very stable -- 2 electrons in the the ring. after hydrogen it is the most abundant element in the universe. it has several industrial uses such as: to pressurize rocket fuel tanks, lift for weather balloons, and is used in the process of studying superconductivity. helium is represented in earths atmosphere in minute amounts, but is not bound by gravity and so is always ascending. it is associated with the greek god helius -- the sun god (personification of the sun). and of course there is the fun party trick of inhaling it to sound like donald duck, but it is not recommended as it can kill you -- several deep breaths of helium can displace the oxygen in your body. so do not try it.
avogadro's hypothesis:
i do indeed see the importance of his hypothesis, and the vast applications it led to. at a time when the basics of chemistry was evolving it was fortunate to have a thinker like avogadro steer the ship. it is interesting that volume and molecules have an exact relationship. this is something i did not know before. without this discovery i imagine that it would have been impossible to proceed along the lines chemistry has come. how else could one measure extremely small particles? i did miss the correct answer regarding the characteristics of a hypothesis. i guessed that hypothesis turn into laws -- not by any ultimate truth but by the propensity of hard scientists dogma for "absolute truth". pleased to say i got it wrong.
what exactly is a mole:
one mole of a particular substance is equal the number of atoms of carbon 12.
i guess i have arrived at the solution of the equation of why i am not a chemist. dealing with the minutia is for me a labor. although i realize the necessity of this minutia. the link i found a bit dry, but how could it be otherwise?
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