Week 3:  Molecular structure of different kinds of Carbon:

Comparing diamond and graphite, for example:   Both have covalent bonding-- electrons shared between the carbon atoms.   In diamond, each carbon atom is the same distance to each of its neighboring carbon atoms in a rigid network... like a playstructure on a playground.  In graphite, carbon atoms are attached by strong covalent bonds also, but in stacked up layers with weaker forces between the layers... like a stack of pancakes stuck together by syrup.  So when you draw with a graphite pencil, layers of the carbon are being scraped off onto your paper.

Recently, new carbon structures have been discovered. In the shape of icosohedrons (20 sided round shapes) named Fullerenes (after Buckminster-Fuller). 60 carbon atoms are covalently bonded together to form a hollow sphere.....different shapes can be constructed, as if the graphite layers were rolled up to form pipes....

Week 3:   Favorite website was definitely the Visionlearning site.... Clear definitions of concepts, and simple useful graphics to illustrate those definitions.  Will use that one again....

Transition Metal :  Cobalt, Co

Protons: 27, Neutrons: 32, atomic mass: 58. Four energy levels.

Has a hexagonal crystal structure and a silver color.

Some character sold me a pair of high end haircutting shears once claiming that they were extra hard as they had cobalt in them.  I suppose it might be possible that they were electroplated with a corrosion and wear-resistant alloy of cobalt.....? Which would be good, since you lose a bit of your shears every time you get them sharpened. 

Pure cobalt is not found in nature, but compounds of it occur in many forms... by-products of nickel and copper mining (ores, used to make alloys...) Its compounds are used in the production of inks, paints, varnishes, magnets, ceramics, special glasses....

One source says it is obtained from arsenic, oxygen, sulfur, and cobaltine. Apparently mammals require small amounts of it and it is the basis of Vitamin B12 (says Wikipedia).

Cobalt was discovered by George Brandt in 1737 and named after the German Kobalt (Kobold), which means goblin, or evil spirit---probably since it poisoned miners when they first tried to smelt it (gave off arsenic).....

Extended Bio (from week 1):

I'm a 2nd trimester AIMC part-time student... and part-time self-employed hairdresser and single mom of a hilarious 5.5 yr old boy, Jasper. My background is in art, but I've always been interested in alternative medicine and holistic healing modalities. I studied for a while at the Acupressure Institute in Berkeley before deciding that I'd need to go deeper.  I have a bachelor's degree from Smith College (majored in studio art and French- did a lot of printmaking and photography). Cities I've lived in:  Madison, Wisconsin (hometown), Northampton and Boston, Mass., Paris and Aix en Provence, France, Tucson, Az., and San Francisco and Berkeley. Berkeley feels like home to me now, but I miss the smell of real autumn.

Week 2:   review of "Elements , Compounds, and Mixtures" website---

Very helpful to see these definitions again (last time was probably 1983)-- good to know compounds can't be busted apart physically, but mixtures can.... a compound does something different than its individual parts do....but mixtures retain many of the properties of their components.....good definitions all around, and pleasing graphics with the little Joan Miro-esque doodles, and the bouncing around argon atoms, nitrogen and water molecules......

Element of the Week: Calcium (Ca)

Atomic number (# of protons/electrons) is 20, #of neutrons is 20.

It's in the Alkaline Earth classification....has a cubic crystal structure....4 energy levels, and a silvery color!   It was discovered by Sir Humphrey Davy in 1808. The name comes from the Latin for lime= calcis. It is used for life forms for bones and shells, and comes from chalk , limestone, and marble.

comment from week #1 assignment:

I like the game to id the elements-- Antimony= Sb   .... nutty!  this is a useful website.

Week 2,  Ozone discussion:

I asked two friends at my book group tonight about the ozone,  here are the comments:

Friend #1 (energy engineer): It's being depleted.  By.... CFC's? I think the hole is shrinking. Wasn't that in An Inconvenient Truth?

Friend #2 (symphony fundraiser) : There is a hole in it. It's a layer. CO2?  Harmful rays from the sun.....

Ok, found quiz-- interesting!  I'm apparently not so clear on the difference btwn chem/physical changes.... however, I did know that coffee is impure, and got the water boiling right.

Bio, quiz, comment.....

Good Morning!  

-- could not find quiz,  page not available....

Bio:  Jean Lusson:  AIMC first year student, up at 1:30 am after dealing with parenting crisis. Will add more exciting details later....