Last week saw one of the worst environmental disasters in Europe of the last few decades when a toxic slurry was released into the river Danube in Hungary after the collapse of a dam wall at an alumina plant. The red sludge contained a highly toxic mix of poisonous heavy metals and corrosive alkali.
Alumina is pure aluminium oxide, a compound which can then be electrolysed to produce aluminium, the most abundant metal in the earth crust and therefore one of the most widely used worldwide. However, the production of this pure white compound from aluminium ore or bauxite requires the removal of the impurities from the ore using strong alkali. As the dam wall broke, the impurities and the alkali were both released in a toxic red torrent, distinctively coloured by iron oxide removed from the ore, that resulted in the death of 5 people with many more suffering chemical burns, and the relocation of hundreds who lost their homes. The eventual clean up operation could take 18 months.
Hungarian alumina plant disaster
the disaster in 50 pictures
turtonCHEM
Here I hope to share with you some of the excitement of Chemistry, and provide a resource that students of all ages can use as a way to complement their studies and fuel their interest in a fascinating subject.
Please feel free to leave feedback about any of the links or resources, and provide suggestions about how this site can be improved at smithm@tmac.uk.com.
Also, please let me know if for any reason any of the links stop working.
Tuesday, 12 October 2010
Thursday, 23 September 2010
synthesis explorer
Welcome to a brave new school year. To celebrate I'll share with you something shiny and new I've stumbled across.
It's called Synthesis Explorer and I've put a link to it in the resources side bar of the blog. It's a 'dynamic web tool to study key organic chemistry reactions'.
You can basically choose from a wide variety of starting compounds and react them to reveal details of the reaction conditions and reagents, creating your own synthetic pathways on an 'interactive canvas'. It will help you to develop your understanding of organic reaction pathways and allow you to revise organic chemistry in 'an interactive and dynamic format'.
Well that's what the blurb says anyway. It is actually quite impressive. You can also view a wide range of physical, structural and spectral data for each compound.
It's called Synthesis Explorer and I've put a link to it in the resources side bar of the blog. It's a 'dynamic web tool to study key organic chemistry reactions'.
You can basically choose from a wide variety of starting compounds and react them to reveal details of the reaction conditions and reagents, creating your own synthetic pathways on an 'interactive canvas'. It will help you to develop your understanding of organic reaction pathways and allow you to revise organic chemistry in 'an interactive and dynamic format'.
Well that's what the blurb says anyway. It is actually quite impressive. You can also view a wide range of physical, structural and spectral data for each compound.
Saturday, 5 June 2010
explosion of the month 8
This month it's one of my own. This is similar to a previous post showing hydrogen burning in a pringles tub, only slightly scaled up into a large coffee tin. As the hydrogen burns from the hole in the lid, air is drawn in through the hole in the base of the tin until the mix is just right....
Sunday, 30 May 2010
13D class photo
Two things struck me when I saw this photo. Firstly, Ben appears to have had too much shandy. Secondly, George looks like he could have done with a bit more. Thanks to Cheryl for sending the picture in.
All the best in the forthcoming exams. It has been a pleasure to share your company over the last two years.
All the best in the forthcoming exams. It has been a pleasure to share your company over the last two years.
CHEM2 papers
The CHEM2 paper is next Monday and although you have probably had plenty of practise already, you may feel the need for some further fine tuning with past paper questions. Knock yourself out with these.
They are old syllabus questions, which means that the CHM2 papers represent mostly the thermodynamics and inorganic chemistry stuff, and the CHM3 papers are all your organic chemistry work. There may be the odd thing that is now taught as part of CHEM1, like the content on oil or structural isomerism, but most of the following papers will help you prepare fully for next week.
CHM2 written paper June 2008
CHM2 mark scheme June 2008
CHM2 written paper June 2009
CHM2 mark scheme June 2009
CHM3 written paper June 2008
CHM3 mark scheme June 2008
CHM3 written paper June 2009
CHM3 mark scheme June 2009
Any problems with the links, or if you need any more papers, let me know via email.
They are old syllabus questions, which means that the CHM2 papers represent mostly the thermodynamics and inorganic chemistry stuff, and the CHM3 papers are all your organic chemistry work. There may be the odd thing that is now taught as part of CHEM1, like the content on oil or structural isomerism, but most of the following papers will help you prepare fully for next week.
CHM2 written paper June 2008
CHM2 mark scheme June 2008
CHM2 written paper June 2009
CHM2 mark scheme June 2009
CHM3 written paper June 2008
CHM3 mark scheme June 2008
CHM3 written paper June 2009
CHM3 mark scheme June 2009
Any problems with the links, or if you need any more papers, let me know via email.
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
explosion of the month 7
According to the blurb accompanying the original video on YouTube, this blast was much larger than the navy mine clearance team intended. The black dust that appeared a few seconds after the initial explosion was the remnants of a sunk Second World War vessel caught up in the explosion, it is claimed. With that size of blast it's a wonder we didn't see any more exploding whales like last month.
Thursday, 20 May 2010
CHEM5 papers
If you scroll down this post a bit you'll find some papers and mark schemes for your revision, although hopefully you'll have had many of the answers fully explained in class by now. Just remember that there are some synoptic elements to CHEM5, meaning that the board can ask you anything from earlier modules which have a link to the new content studied in module 5.
As far as I can see, the most likely subject areas to crop up again are:
Thermodynamics
· Calorimetry (from CHEM2)
· Equilibria and Le Chatelier (CHEM2)
Redox Equilibria and cells
· Redox behaviour of halogens (CHEM2)
Periodicity
· Physical trends in period 3, melting point, 1st ionization energy etc. (CHEM1)
· Solubility trends of sulphates/hydroxides (CHEM1)
· Extraction of aluminium (CHEM2)
Transition Metals
· Electron configuration (CHEM1)
· Shapes of molecules (CHEM1)
· Extraction of metals, iron, aluminium, titanium (CHEM2)
At any point they could very easily throw in a pV=nRT calculation as well, so make sure you know the standard units.
CHEM5 2010 written paper
CHEM5 2010 mark scheme
Specimen written paper
Specimen mark scheme
Older CHM5 papers can be found further down. Just be careful to ignore any organic chemistry or other module 4 based questions on the old syllabus papers. However, if you are resitting the CHEM4 paper then there will be some useful stuff on here for you to try on equilibria and acid calculations, as well as the essential organic stuff.
If you need any more old CHM5 papers then send me a quick email and I'll let see what I can do.
CHM5 2008 written paper (old syllabus)
CHM5 2008 mark scheme (old syllabus)
CHM5 2009 written paper (old syllabus)
CHM5 2009 mark scheme (old syllabus)
Sorry, I don't have an electronic copy of the written paper, but,
CHM5 2010 mark scheme (old syllabus)
Make sure you come in if you need any help.
As far as I can see, the most likely subject areas to crop up again are:
Thermodynamics
· Calorimetry (from CHEM2)
· Equilibria and Le Chatelier (CHEM2)
Redox Equilibria and cells
· Redox behaviour of halogens (CHEM2)
Periodicity
· Physical trends in period 3, melting point, 1st ionization energy etc. (CHEM1)
· Solubility trends of sulphates/hydroxides (CHEM1)
· Extraction of aluminium (CHEM2)
Transition Metals
· Electron configuration (CHEM1)
· Shapes of molecules (CHEM1)
· Extraction of metals, iron, aluminium, titanium (CHEM2)
At any point they could very easily throw in a pV=nRT calculation as well, so make sure you know the standard units.
CHEM5 2010 written paper
CHEM5 2010 mark scheme
Specimen written paper
Specimen mark scheme
Older CHM5 papers can be found further down. Just be careful to ignore any organic chemistry or other module 4 based questions on the old syllabus papers. However, if you are resitting the CHEM4 paper then there will be some useful stuff on here for you to try on equilibria and acid calculations, as well as the essential organic stuff.
If you need any more old CHM5 papers then send me a quick email and I'll let see what I can do.
CHM5 2008 written paper (old syllabus)
CHM5 2008 mark scheme (old syllabus)
CHM5 2009 written paper (old syllabus)
CHM5 2009 mark scheme (old syllabus)
Sorry, I don't have an electronic copy of the written paper, but,
CHM5 2010 mark scheme (old syllabus)
Make sure you come in if you need any help.
Monday, 26 April 2010
explosion of the month 6
I'm a bit late with this month's explosion, but if I'd posted this earlier you would probably have thought it was an April fool's joke.
The presenter of this 1970 news clip insists that dynamite was the only way of getting rid of the dead whale that washed up on an Oregon beach. True or not, it made for an unusual blast.
For more about exploding whales (I'm serious) have a look at the link below. Apparently there was one in Taiwan that went up without even the need for dynamite.
exploding whales, honestly, who'd have thought it?
The presenter of this 1970 news clip insists that dynamite was the only way of getting rid of the dead whale that washed up on an Oregon beach. True or not, it made for an unusual blast.
For more about exploding whales (I'm serious) have a look at the link below. Apparently there was one in Taiwan that went up without even the need for dynamite.
exploding whales, honestly, who'd have thought it?
Monday, 29 March 2010
electrode potentials answers
We've been working on predicting reactions using electrode potentials in class and here are the answers to the worksheet we started.
predicting redox reactions
predicting redox reactions
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
does it fizz or does it bang?
Last month, 6th form Chemists were treated to a trip to the Catalyst Discovery Centre in sunny Widnes to watch Professor John Kilcoyne in action with his 'Chemistry with a Bang' show.
Yet another in a long line of Chemists with very little hair, he obviously did himself no favours by showering under liquid nitrogen. That probably explains why he later put his hat on to keep warm. What was your excuse ladies?
Yet another in a long line of Chemists with very little hair, he obviously did himself no favours by showering under liquid nitrogen. That probably explains why he later put his hat on to keep warm. What was your excuse ladies?
Monday, 1 March 2010
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
year 13 born haber worksheet
You may have been given a worksheet in class with several Born Haber cycle questions for you to have a go at. Here you can download a powerpoint with the correct answers for you to check through as part of your revision.
born haber powerpoint answers
Mr Born and Mr Haber in happier days before the split
born haber powerpoint answers
Mr Born and Mr Haber in happier days before the split
Sunday, 7 February 2010
explosion of the month 4
A fire at a rocket fuel factory. Sounds nasty.
The PEPCON disaster occurred in Henderson, Nevada on May 4, 1988 at the Pacific Engineering Production Company of Nevada (PEPCON) plant. The chemical fire and subsequent explosions claimed two lives, injured 372 people, and caused an estimated $100 million of damage.
The PEPCON plant, located just outside of Las Vegas, produced ammonium perchlorate, an oxidizer used in solid fuel rocket boosters of the type used in the Space Shuttle and military weapons.
In addition to the PEPCON plant there was also a large marshmallow factory about 500 feet away. That's a lot of toasted marsmallows.
The explosions leveled the PEPCON plant and Kidd & Co marshmallow manufacturing facility. Damage within a 1.5 mile radius was severe, including destroyed cars, damage to buildings and downed power lines. Damage to windows and moderate structure damage was recorded within three miles of the incident.
The damage reached a radius of up to 10 miles, including shattered windows, doors blown off their hinges, cracked windows and injuries from flying glass and debris. At McCarran International Airport, seven miles away in Las Vegas, windows were cracked and doors were pushed open. The shock wave even buffeted a Boeing 737 on final approach.
In short, the explosion made a bit of a mess. The irony was that with the space shuttle program frozen as a result of the 1986 Challenger disaster, there was no government instruction detailing what to do with such large quantities of product. If this had not been the case, there would probably not have been the same stockpiling of the rocket fuel on site.
The PEPCON disaster occurred in Henderson, Nevada on May 4, 1988 at the Pacific Engineering Production Company of Nevada (PEPCON) plant. The chemical fire and subsequent explosions claimed two lives, injured 372 people, and caused an estimated $100 million of damage.
The PEPCON plant, located just outside of Las Vegas, produced ammonium perchlorate, an oxidizer used in solid fuel rocket boosters of the type used in the Space Shuttle and military weapons.
In addition to the PEPCON plant there was also a large marshmallow factory about 500 feet away. That's a lot of toasted marsmallows.
The explosions leveled the PEPCON plant and Kidd & Co marshmallow manufacturing facility. Damage within a 1.5 mile radius was severe, including destroyed cars, damage to buildings and downed power lines. Damage to windows and moderate structure damage was recorded within three miles of the incident.
The damage reached a radius of up to 10 miles, including shattered windows, doors blown off their hinges, cracked windows and injuries from flying glass and debris. At McCarran International Airport, seven miles away in Las Vegas, windows were cracked and doors were pushed open. The shock wave even buffeted a Boeing 737 on final approach.
In short, the explosion made a bit of a mess. The irony was that with the space shuttle program frozen as a result of the 1986 Challenger disaster, there was no government instruction detailing what to do with such large quantities of product. If this had not been the case, there would probably not have been the same stockpiling of the rocket fuel on site.
calorimetry
Calorimety calculations come up pretty often on your CHEM2 paper, and any Year 13 students might also expect them as synoptic content on CHEM5.
The powerpoint you can download from the link below will remind you of the basics and give you worked examples for a number of calculations.
calorimetry worksheet answers
The powerpoint you can download from the link below will remind you of the basics and give you worked examples for a number of calculations.
calorimetry worksheet answers
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
hello George
Here you go George, as requested. You must be special, you've got your own post. This is the CHEM2 paper you did last summer with the corresponding mark scheme.
CHEM2 June 09 paper
CHEM2 June 09 mark scheme
Good luck with it tomorrow. If you need anything else or any last minute help use the email at the top of the page (reasonable hours though eh?)
CHEM2 June 09 paper
CHEM2 June 09 mark scheme
Good luck with it tomorrow. If you need anything else or any last minute help use the email at the top of the page (reasonable hours though eh?)
Friday, 8 January 2010
module 4 apology
As someone has just pointed out, the links I put into a recent post for module 4 resources for the mark schemes for two papers actually took you to the paper itself, not the answers.
Never mind.
As some of you will have already worked out, if you follow the link further down the post to older module 4 papers you can find all the papers and mark schemes your heart desires, including the ones with the erroneous links.
I've put the link here again if you need it.
old module 4 papers and mark schemes
Never mind.
As some of you will have already worked out, if you follow the link further down the post to older module 4 papers you can find all the papers and mark schemes your heart desires, including the ones with the erroneous links.
I've put the link here again if you need it.
old module 4 papers and mark schemes
Monday, 4 January 2010
explosion of the month 3
Ethyne gas, C2H2, (commonly called acetylene)
is often used in welding to generate the intense heat required to cut through metal. Oxyacetylene is the hottest burning common fuel gas and combustion of acetylene with oxygen produces a flame with a temperature of over 3600 K (about 3300 °C).
As you can imagine, when a cylinder of the stuff leaked in a factory in Dallas, Texas, and accidently ignited, this was not entirely good news for the nearby residents and commuters. Particularly as it was being stored with a large number of other cylinders of the gas.
is often used in welding to generate the intense heat required to cut through metal. Oxyacetylene is the hottest burning common fuel gas and combustion of acetylene with oxygen produces a flame with a temperature of over 3600 K (about 3300 °C).
As you can imagine, when a cylinder of the stuff leaked in a factory in Dallas, Texas, and accidently ignited, this was not entirely good news for the nearby residents and commuters. Particularly as it was being stored with a large number of other cylinders of the gas.
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