Chemistry Article Review
Culminating Task
Chemistry is not limited to your textbook. It encompasses many facets of your life. The focus of this culminating task is to choose an article from the high school chemistry magazine ChemMatters that discusses an everyday topic and how chemistry applies to it. Find an article from ChemMatters from the list provided. You will be given a copy of this article electronically. (You will need to check your Microsoft 365 e-mail. I will be sending the article there.) I have plenty of articles to pick from so two people will NOT have the same article.
ARTICLE: ______
Thoroughly read your selected article. Answer each of the following questions:
1. What is the main point of the article?
2. What you can tell from the article related to the ‘main chemical’s’ importance and applications (i.e. how useful is it)? Explain in as much detail as you can. Note: When multiple chemicals are described in an article, avoid choosing to describe common substances like water. The ‘main chemical’ should be unique.
3. How does this article relate to any of the units studied in high school chemistry?
How did this courses help you better understand the content of your article?
4. For the main chemical, provide the relevant reaction(s) in which they are involved. Also, as appropriate, provide one of the following:
(a) If an organic molecule, draw the molecule. What functional groups are present? What type of organic molecule is it?
(b) If an inorganic molecule, draw the molecule. What is its 3D shape (VSEPR)?
(c) If an element, write out the electron configuration of the element.
(d) If an ionic compound, describe the crystal lattice structure.
5. For all articles, describe the chemical reactivity of your chemical in another context (i.e. other types of reactions it might be involved in).
6. Write down a question about the subject matter in the article that you would ask the author if given the opportunity. (Good Example: “Can any other less-expensive metals besides gold and platinum be used in conjunction with lasers to destroy cancer cells?” Bad Example: “Do you like what you do? Is it fun?”)
7. In no more than two sentences, provide a compelling reason that the person reading your review should read the article you selected.
This assignment is due NO LATER than______. Please ensure you meet this deadline.
This assignment is worth 25% of your final exam grade. DON’T FORGET TURNITIN.COM!!!
You may need to conduct ADDITIONAL RESEARCH to complete this assignment. Reference your sources properly. Use noodle tools!
You will be evaluated as follows:
Checklist for Culminating TaskMarks
Q1 – Main Point012
Q2 – Importance012
Q3 – Applies to this course0123
Q4 – Chemical structures012
Q5 – Chemical reactions012
Q6 – Question about subject012
Q7 – Reason to read article012
Communication012345
-Organization, spelling & grammar, scientific terminology, interesting to read, references, appropriate title
Articles
(remember two people will NOT have the same article)
- The Protein Myth: Getting the Right Balance - 2018
- Acidic Seas - 2018
- Cheesy Science - 2017
- Compost: Your Trash, Nature's Treasure! - 2017
- Guilty or Innocent? Fingerprints tell the story- 2016
- Clearing the Way to Acne-Free Days – 2016
- The Flint Water Crisis: What’s really going on? – 2016
- Growing Green on the Red Planet – 2017
- Eating with Your Eyes: The Chemistry of Food Colorings – 2015
- Shaking Out the Facts about Salt – 2016
- Chemistry Helps Athlete Keep moving – 2016
- The Sweet Science of Candymaking – 2014
- So Tired in the Morning… The Science of Sleep – 2014
10. Fermentable Foods: Trouble in your Diet - 2015
11. Smartphones, Smart Chemistry – 2015
12. Chilling Out, Warming up – 2013
13. Hot Peppers: Muy Caliente! – 2013
14. Ice Cream… and Chemistry – 2014
15. A Solar Future – 2014
16. Recycling Aluminum: A Way of life or Lifestyle? – 2012
17. Artistic Chemistry: A Beautiful Collaboration – 2012
18. Attack of the Gluten – 2012
19. 24 Hours: Your Food on the Move – 2012
20. Mmm… Flavorful Food – 2011
21. Your Body Under Construction – 2011
22. Demystifying Gross Stuff – 2011
23. Tanking Up with Cooking Oil – 2011
24. A Single Ignition: A Cautionary Tale – 2011
25. Authentic or Not? – 2011
26. Is this Water Recycled Sewage? – 2011
27. Drugs Down the Drain – 2011
28. Sugar: An Unusual Explosive – 2010
29. Myths: Chemistry Tells the Truth – 2010
30. What Makes Magic Tricks Tick – 2010
31. Fireworks – 2010
32. Nitrogen from Fertilizers: Too Much of a Good Thing – 2010
33. Plastics Go Green- 2010
34. Anesthesia: Chemistry in the Operating Room – 2010
35. Green Gasoline Fuel from Plants – 2010
36. Hollywood Special Effects: How Did They Do That? – 2009
37. Space Food – 2009
38. Where do Chemical Elements Come From? – 2009
39. Chocolate: The New Health Food Choice. Or is it? – 2009
40. Ancient Soil Chemists of the Amazon – 2009
41. Bringing Chemistry to the Kitchen- 2009
42. Coffee: Brain Booster to Go? – 2008
43. The Olympic Flam: Chemistry Held High – 2008
44. The Chemistry of Marathon Running – 2008
45. Natural, Braided, Bleached, Colored, Straight and Curly Hair: Thanks to Chemistry – 2008
46. Sniffing Landmine – 2008
47. The Forensics of Blood – 2008
48. “Follow the Carbon”. Follow the What? – 2008
49. The Captivating Chemistry of Candles – 2007
50. Hindenburg: Formula for Disaster – 2007
51. Linus Pauling: American Hero – 2007
52. Percy Julian: Rising Above Racism- 2007
53. Paintball: Chemistry Hits its Mark – 2007
54. Retiring Old Tires – 2007
55. NASCAR: Chemistry on the Fast Track – 2007
56. Chemistry Builds a Green House: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – 2006
57. Sick Buildings – Air Pollution Comes Home – 2006
58. The Dog Ate My Homework and Other Gut-Wrenching Tales – 2006
59. Biomimicry: Where Chemistry Lessons Come From Naturally – 2006
60. The Amazing Drinking Bird – 2005
61. Kitty Litter Chem – 2005
62. There’s Chemistry in Golf Balls – 2005
63. What’s So Equal About Equilibrium? – 2005
64. The Great Hartford Circus Fire – 2005
65. The Science of Slime – 2004
66. Carb Crazy – 2004
67. Lab on a Stick – 2004
68. Cleopatra’s Perfume Factory and Day Spa – 2004
69. When Good Science Goes Bad – 2004
70. Can Chemistry Stop What’s Bugging You? – 2004
71. Building Better Bleach: A Green Chemistry Challenge – 2004
72. The Aspirin Effect: Pain Relief and More – 2004
73. Coal Mine Safety – 2004
74. Vanilla: It’s Everywhere – 2003
75. There No Place Like Home – 2003
76. Chemistry in the Sunlight - 2003