The main ideas we learned about this week involved the making and finding of elements, finding the ratio of compounds, and we demonstrated that we know how to react certain elements together to create certain elements.  All of these aspects tie together to the Law of Definite Proportions.  The worksheets that we did in class all focus around this single aspect.
   To learn how the elements began being discovered and made we looked at a reading packet called Matter ; Atoms from Democritus to Dalton.  This packet went through the history of several different scientists and their personal stories of how they got involved in science at all, to how they discovered their own unique elements.

     This is a picture of the packet.  While or after reading this packet, Dr. J had us fill out a worksheet about the information we learned about.  This packet also had definitions of certain keys terms that are important.  These terms included atoms, compounds, and molecules.  This terms are very important to know and understand because they are the basis for studying chemistry.  It also taught us fundamentals such as how when reactants are present in excess of the fundamental proportions, some reactants remain unchanged after the chemical reaction occurs.  The reading used this informations to elaborate on how the scientists used these facts to base theories off of.






In the worksheet Unit 4 Worksheet 2, we were introduced to how to draw out a chemical reaction happening between two different elements, and having no leftover gases or molecules.  This also relates to the Law of Definite Proportions because ever separate atom has a certain set of each, which is the definition of a proportion.  While doing this worksheet, however, we did not realize that this is what we were doing.  This worksheet also mentioned some of the scientists that  we learned about, such as Gay-Lussac.  So the worksheet mentioned above and this one here are related or linked in that sense.  They also use the same type of vocabulary words that were defined in the above sheet.
This worksheet also helped us to learn how to work out the formula for the elements or reactants, we were drawing our or making.

The next worksheet that we did was Unit 4 Worksheet 3.  This worksheet was mainly about finding the ratios for each compound based on weight.  We did this to learn about how the ratios compare and bow to compare them.  We also learned how to figure out the simplest form of each compound by using the ratios and math.  An example of this is shown here.  By doing this we also learned how to write out the formula for each compound mixture we made.  The ratios and how the ratios are used, all ties back the the Law of Definite Proportions.

That is mainly how all of the ideas we went over this week are related.  

To help us understand this topic as a class, Dr. J had us whiteboard out some of our answers and review them as a class and discuss them.  An example of what a whiteboard looks like is here. 

This is how a standard whiteboard would look and then we would talk about them. 

     

     This week I feel like I understood most of the material being taught and I don't feel very insecure about anything in particular.     I just need to review before the test and I should do well.   

     The main ideas we learned about this week in class had to do with pure elements, mixtures, and compounds, and the difference between them.  We learned the difference between atoms and molecules.  We also learned how to find the equation for water using a special devices.  We did an experiment using sugar, water, and ethanol.
     To learn what pure elements, mixtures, and compounds look like we did a worksheet in class called, Chemistry - Unit 4 Worksheet 1.  This worksheet had us separate and decide which groups were either mixtures or pure substances, and compounds or only elements.  We also had to decide which method of separation would work best for certain mixtures.  We then went over our answers in class to check and ask any questions if we had any.  We also worked on a packet called Classification of Matter.  This packet mainly focused atoms, particles and molecules.  We had to work as a group to come up with our own definition of the word "particle" and describe how a particle can be both a molecule and a single atom.  This packet also helped us to review certain aspects of atoms, like what holds them together and how to properly code an atom or molecule.  We also deciphered which chemical formulas were elements, compounds, and mixtures, similar to what we did in the previous worksheet.  The packet also went over chemical methods of separation and physical methods of separation.  After we finished the worksheet, each table white boarded out a problem and we checked our answers and asked questions if we had any.
     We did an experiment to find out how the equation for water was discovered.  This model was very interesting and I enjoyed seeing it in person because it helped me to visually see what happens, rather than reading and watching videos about it.
     As a class, we performed or witnessed, an experiment that involved dissolving a sugar cube in water and ethanol.  This experiment was to show how the chemical reaction between certain substances is different and also how they're density difference many have influenced the rate at which the sugar cube dissolved.  Then as table groups we drew out what we believed the particles of sugar, water, and ethanol looked like at a microscopic level.  We then went around and left comments on each tables board, leaving constructive criticism to help make their boards better next time.

       All of these activities relate because we started off with review which was then built upon to be demonstrated in real life situations, such as the dissolving sugar and witnessing how the equation for water is shown to be true.  However even in doing these worksheets and experiments/demonstrations, I still need to work on the difference between and molecule and a compound.  I get the two confused often because they contain atoms that are chemically bonded.  That is the main area I need to work on from this week, however besides that I feel that I have retained all information I have received this week.   Once I get that concept down, I will be great.