We, the chosen ones of 0911B

Amalina, Sky, Aneesh, Shalini, Zhenkai and Yvonne.

Pledge ourselves as one united Chemist

Regardless of race, language or religion

To build a phenomenal blog post

Based on facts and research

So as to achieve happiness, knowledge, and good grades for our people.

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1) Learning points from the Chemistry Learning Journey

Super Absorbent Polymer
-super-absorbent material (SODIUM POLYARYLATE) that has many applications
-Sodium polyacryalte is a type of polyelectrolyte.
-When it is put into water, it breaks apart into positive and negative ions as sodium chloride.




-weird things happen for the polyelectrolytes
-Normal uncharged polymer molecules, when they're in solution tend to be tangled up in what big shot scientists call a random coil,

-negative charges are going to repel each other
-This does weird things to the polymer chain
-when the polymer chain is covered with negative charges (which repel each other), the polymer can't be bunched in on itself
-the chain stretches out, like this:

-This makes the solution (remember we're talking about polyelectrolytes in solution) more viscous.
-Think about it. When the polyelectrolyte chain stretches out it takes up more space, and is more effective at resisting the flow of the solvent molecules around it. So the solution becomes thick and syrupy.
-But there's a way you can stop this from happening.
-If one takes a solution of a polyelectrolyte in water, and throws in a lot of salt, something interesting will happen.
-The NaCl will separate into Na+ and Cl- ions.
-In the case of a negatively charged polyelectrolyte, the positively charged Na+ ions will get in between the negative charges on the polymer, and cancel them out in effect.
-When this happens, the polymer chain collapses back into random coil again.






2) Further insights of one of the learning points read up from textbooks, websites or magazines

Fire-retardant Gel!
+polymer in gels soak up hundreds of times their weight in water creating millions of tiny drops of water surrounded by and protected by a polymer shell

+result is a "bubblet" or a drop of water surrounded by a polymer shell in contrast to a bubble which is air surrounded by liquid

+As the gel and water are sprayed onto an exposed surface, millions of tiny "bubblets" are stacked one on top of another.

+stacking of the water "bubblets" form a thermal protective "blanket" over the surface to which it is applied.

+In order for the heat of the fire to penetrate the protected surface, it must burn off each layer of the gel "bubblets" coating.

+Each layer holds the heat away from the next layer of bubblets beneath. The polymer shell of each bubblets and their stacking significantly prevent water evaporation.

+Barricade fire gel can provide thermal protection from fire for extended periods even at 3500° Fahrenheit.

Wanna see it in ACTION!!! kindly click on the link below, thank you. :)
http://videos.howstuffworks.com/tlc/29317-understanding-fire-retardant-gel-and-fabric-video.htm


3) Everyday sightings of one of the learning points

-disposable diapers

-reducing soil erosion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc9ZrbPzCbY

-grow in water toys

4) Video related to one of the learning points

Videos: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/841503/instant_snow_a_k_a_sodium_polyacrylate/
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/yt-bWaivm9XpNg/sodium_polyacrylate/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vais8pL0w8U


5) Extra information

During this chemistry trip, we also learnt about the different types of experiments. There is the think ink(starch-iodine cock reaction),magic water, lightstick, blue bottle experiment, clothe burning, silver mirror reaction, Super Absorbent Polymer(SAP), elephant toothpaste and the ‘dragon fire’.

1. Magic water: potassium hydroxide(6 drops) + potassium Ferric(III) Cynanide.
-Used in beverages.

2. Cloth Burning solution: 50% alcohol + 50% water.

-Cloth soak in this solution will not get burned.

3. Super Absorbent Polymer(SAP): it is a water absorber.

- Found in baby diapers.
-2 types: Polyacrylate, Polyacrylamide

4. Elephant toothpaste: Hydrogen peroxide add with manganese dioxide and detergent

-Alot of oxygen is given off in this experiment.

5. ‘Dragon Fire’ : Lycopodium (ground pine/club moss)
-Used in fireworks, pyrotech

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