Aluminum

Resource: http://chemistry.about.com/od/elementfacts/a/aluminum.htm

Aluminum is one of the most used elements in the world. We can even find it as aluminum foil in our household, and it can even be that can of ground up coffee. The atomic number is 13 and symbol is Al. It was discovered in 1825 and even found early use by the Greek which is a date much farther into the past. The atomic weight of Aluminum is about 27. Aluminum has a melting point of about 660 degrees Celsius, and a boiling point of 2467 Celsius. Pure aluminum is a silvery white metal. It is soft, light, relatively nontoxic, and high thermal conductivity. It is even highly corrosive resistance. It is also easy to form shapes which makes it good for production for some of our everyday tools. It is also the 8th most abundant element in the earth's crust, but we must make it into use by using the ore and doing a specific process.

Without Aluminum we wouldn't have some of the easy tools we have in our everyday lives. It can be found in industrial applications, but we can even see it as utensils, exterior designs, and even the construction of aircraft. The use of aluminum is important and we should appreciate that it makes up some of our most daily uses and some of our most important uses.

Molten Salts

Reference: http://home.earthlink.net/~bhoglund/whatsMoltenSal.html

What are Molten Salts? Do they even matter? Yes, yes they do. To answer my first question, the name is basically self explanatory. It is melted salts or fused salts. To reach this liquidated state, it must be heated to the point it is red hot where it will proceed to melt. The liquid is stable and will flow much like water will. The real differences between water and molten salts is molten will have a much higher capacity to hold heat and it will contract when frozen instead of water expanding. Some of the advantages of molten salts is it is capable of conducting electricity. This capability allows for use for possible energy projects. Not only for energy projects can be included, but it can be functioned as solvents, carry large heat capacity, move like a liquid, and some molten salts can have a chemical catalytic properties.

The knowledge of molten salts may help chances with use of solar energy. The article was very informative in the multiple applications that it can used for and its major properties. I found it very informative and I was able to understand much of what was written. The major thought I had with molten salts is the use of solar power. If it can store the energy even after sun has dropped, and continue giving, it may increase the productivity of solar energy plants. It truly can be a ground breaking material for the future.

Burning Money?!

Resource: http://chemistry.about.com/od/demonstrationsexperiments/ss/burnmoney.htm

Who would've thought to even want to burn money?! Well I might try it with this trick. The trick to burn a bill is pretty simple. First of all, the bill is usually more like a fabric than paper. To start off, make sure the dollar bill is damp. Use water to dampen it. Or it can be put in an alcohol-water solution. Light the bill on fire and see what happens!! The bill will actually light on fire since the alcohol is flammable. This burns off all the alcohol off the dollar bill and it just ends up you have a damp bill.

I think this is an amazing trick. I never knew it before I read the article above. I going to end up testing this at some point and it is going to be awesome! How about you give it a try yourself?

A Healthy Life

Resource: http://stay-healthy-enjoy-life.blogspot.com/2007/11/avoiding-harmful-chemicals-in-food-and.html

Eating healthy is one part of having a healthy life in a person's life time. We are exposed to many natural toxins and poisons in our food and environment. The human does an exceptional job at getting rid of these natural toxins, but more artificial chemicals or toxins are becoming more and more frequent. This means we ourselves can't take that much of toxins and we may suffer from consequences. Many of these toxins are nutrients that are only needed for a tiny bit of concentration, but it turns harmful in higher concentrations.

These toxins can dangerous to our being. It would be very helpful to know what to avoid. It would be best to start eating organic foods and non commercial products. Try to avoid processed foods since they may contain undesired chemicals. It is also important to not that artificial addictives are also another danger if had too much. If you really want to be in a healthier state, it would be best to take these tips.

Electronic Waste

Resource: http://ewasteproject.blogspot.com/

I find this very funny that I'm doing a blog which i had sparked interest from another blog. I find it very ironic, but here it goes. Electronic waste to put simply is all the high tech stuff we may put in the trash. The problem here is that E-waste is not really that biodegradable. This means that it will stay there until someone is willing to clean it up or not even throw out in the wrong trash. The thing is that this only started about twenty to thirty years ago. It started with Japan and United States since they were the most developed nation. E-Waste continues to be created by all the high tech devices such as computers and I-Pods. Eighty percent of these devices go to landfills and only twenty percent get sent to be recycled. The recycled material are instead sent to India since it only costs $2 to perform the process there. In India, the working environment is not as safe as the U.S. tries to make theirs. This puts a threat to another country for our garbage since some of the high tech devices can be hazardous to human health. This means that we are creating danger for another country.

We as humans overall should take responsibility for the E waste. This kind of waste is dangerous and we need to recycle more and more. Let's put the electronics in the recycle and m be we can change those percents in the landfills. The more developed nations would do a lot of this work, but many nation should work on it as well.

Facts about Bleach

Resource: http://chemicalland21.com/industrialchem/inorganic/sodium%20hypochlorite.htm

Bleach is an everyday item we us people we use we very frequently. The real name to bleach is sodium hypochlorite. This chemical's formula is NaOCl. The molcular weight of this chemical is 74.44. Some other facts are that the color of the chemical is either clear to yellowish liquid with a Chlorine like odor. The melting point is 25 C and the boiling point is 101 C. It's ph rests around 12- 13.

These facts can be helpful to possibly create the substance. This information would be very useful for any chemistry class such as ours if we ever needed this information.

What is Ammunition made of?

Resource: http://www.madehow.com/Volume-2/Ammunition.html#b

Guns are like the "sword" of our time. Modern times require all modern armies to employ guns and advanced technologies to help their troops and win any battle they are put into. Ammunition is one of these things we as human being will need to use a gun. A bullet would be an incorrect term for those who do use weapons. The bullet is only one part that is called the projectile. The real components to a cartridge is the bullet, case, primer, and propellant or gunpowder. Each of these components is made separately and then assembled together. The bullets are made of a lead alloy that contains tin or antimony. Some ullet will have a thick jacket of copper on the outside to improve performance. Cases are made of brass, steel, or aluminium. Brass is the most common one of all these options. Although, shotgun shells are mostly made with a polypropylene. Primers are made of copper or brass alloy cup with a brass anvil and are filled with an impact senstive lead styphnate ignitor.

Modern weapons will always need the help of ammunition. I'm a fan of swords, but I still love guns. I believe that knowing how to make a cartridge may be useful for people who love guns since one person may want to make their own.

How to Make a Katana Blade

Resource: http://www.ehow.com/how_4601898_build-a-katana.html

To begin the process one must forge two blades out of Japanese black sand. The steel is called "tamahagane" and it has no equal on Earth. Heat the steel, then fold it and hammer it. Repeat this process thousands of times. This will pound out the impurities and evenly distribute the carbon throughout the blade. This will make the katana very strong. Fold one of the blades more than the other. This will makes one hard blade and soft blade. Then, you have to bend the harder balde in a U shape. This process is followed by inserting the softer blade into the U shape. Pound them together so it becomes one blade. Continue to craft the katana blade so that it will start looking like a sword. Sharpen the point and hard edge then narrow the end to prepare for hilt. Then cover the blade with clay. Spread a thin layer on the blade edge and a thick layer on the rest. This will make different parts of the katana blade cool at different rates of time when it is heated. Also, the thin layer on the blade edge with make it even harder. Heat and cool the weapon. Then place the blade in a fire then dunk in a water. The mud will make the blade begin to bend backwards since it was placed unevenly. Repeat the heating and cooling process until the katana has it's characteristic curved shape we all know and love. Then remove the mud and polish the katana. Craft any artistic ridges on the sword. This process is done with special Japanese polishing stones.

The katana was one of the best or is the best sword of all time. It is considered legendary and since most people will know what a katana is, it did a great job at making a name for itself. The blade takes a long and tedious process, but It has given one of the best outputs to the sword world. This process also proves that with hard work comes great rewards! Go Swords!!

Meth

Resource: http://drugabuse.gov/drugpages/methamphetamine.html

Obviously we all know that drugs are a terrible thing. Drugs are nothing to mess with. Meth is one of these very dangerous and terrible drugs. Meth's full name is methamphetamine. Meth is a very addictive stimulant. It lasts very long and toxic to dopamine nerve terminals in the central nervous system. Meth is a white, odorless, and bitter tasting powder either taken orally or by snorting or injecting. The rock crystal can also be heated and smoked. Some street names for methamphetamine are meth, speed, chalk, ice, crystal, or glass. Some of the effects of meth are, "wakefulness and physical activity, produces rapid heart rate, irregular heartbeat, and increased blood pressure and body temperature.". Long term use of meth may lead to mood disturbances, dental problems, violent behavior, and confusion. All the users though, especially ones who inject are at risk for HIV and hepatitis.

All drugs are really bad for you and shouldn't be touched anyway, but its best to know what will happen to you if you do. First of all, drugs are illegal, so it may just make your life change forever if you ever get caught. I believe there should be more drug avoidance programs to help people get over addictions and never try them at all. The more informed someone is about the subject, the more will probably get peer pressure off their back.

Marijuana and Effects

Resource: www.abovetheinfluence.com/_pdfs/drugfacts/ATI_DrugFacts_MARIJUANA.pdf

Marijuana is another abused drug. It may come naturally and can have medical purposes, but once it is abused it will never be used for what it was necessary for. It can have many effects that may last life long on a developing brain. Marijuana is, "a green and brown mix of dried flowers, stems, seeds and leavess from the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa.". The main active chemical is THC. It moves very quickly through the bloodstream and other organs. It is a mild halluinogen that can act as a depressant or a stimulant. The risks of this drug at a young age are the potential of inflicting long lasting negative impact on ones brain. It can lead to structural or functional deficits of the brain. It could lead to develop weaker verbal and communication skills, lowered learning capabilities and shortened attention span. Some long term effects may be it is the gateway drug. This may be the beginning of your journey into drugs and it may lead to more and more use on harder drugs.

Marijuana really starts the is it safe or not argument. The drug itself can be used for medical purposes, but it really shows the consquences of abusing something. The drug used when young may lead to terrible deficits. The more informed someone is on this subject, the better it will be for them to avoid it.

Water Treatment Process

Resource: http://water.epa.gov/learn/kids/drinkingwater/watertreatmentplant_index.cfm

Water is a necessity for humans and for life. The water we drink if we live in the high standards of America are very much clean when we get drinking. The first part of the water treatment is coagulation. Coagulation removes the dirt and other particles still contained in the water. Alum and other chemicals are added to water to form little sticky particles that attract the dirt particles. This step leads to the completion of the next stage, sedimentation. Sedimentation is when the heavy particles with the dirt and chemicals settle to the bottom and the clear moves on to filtration. Filtration is when the water will pass through filters. Some of the layers are made of sand, gravel, and even charcoal. They even remove smaller particles. This is can described as the man with the white glove act. Next comes disinfection, a small amount of chlorine is added and other disinfection methods to kill any bacteria that may be in the water. Storage is the final stage and it is when water is finally placed in a closed tank where water will begin to flow into our pipes which will lead to our usage.

Water is one of life's greatest creations. Without we would not exist, so its give water a big high five. Its great that we have this awesome filtration system to help us drink our necessary water without dirt or getting some disease. Thank you to the genius that help make this process.

Hazardous Waste and Types

Resource: http://www.epa.gov/superfund/students/clas_act/haz-ed/ff_01.htm

Hazardous waste is a by-product of a manufacturing process or material left after the products are made. For example, some basic items that are hazardous waste are old batteries, spray can, or even paint thinner. Hazardous waste must be properly disposed or it may be a danger to people and the environment. There are some types of hazardous waste that represent dangerous properties such as corrosive, ignitable, reactive, or toxic. Corrosive is the type of material that can corrode or completely destroy a substance. Most acids can be described as corrosive which can eat through metal, burn skin on contact, and give off vapors that may burn the eyes. Ignitable is a material or substance that can easily burst into flames. It is a fire hazard and it may possibly irritate the skin, eyes, and lungs. Gasoline and paint are two ignitable substances. Reactive is another type of waste. The reactive material can explode or release a poisonous gas when combined with other elements. For example, ammonia and chlorine bleach are an example. Toxic materials are a poison to people and other life. It may causes illnesses or death if swallowed or absorbed though the skin. Pesticides or weed killers are are toxic.

This is very helpful if you want too be careful of what you may be holding or interacting with during the day. Informed citizen are always going to be safer if they read this. Luckily we precautions and safety measures so any of the types of waste may not effect the environment and people.

Explosions

Resource: http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Most-Powerful-Non-nuclear-Explosives-in-the-World-58104.shtml

There many types of explosions that aren't nuclear. Nuclear weapons are something that everyone nearly knows about. One type of an explosions is TNT. TNT is an easily used explosive material. It can handle many things for example like being insensible to shock, friction, and most mechanical influences. TNT is still considered the standard power of strength compared to other explosions. Dynamite is another common explosive. It is usually mistaken for TNT. Dynamite's difference is that, "is a specific chemical compound, dynamite is an absorbent mixture soaked in nitroglycerin that is compressed into a cylindrical shape and wrapped in paper.". This is considered a high explosive. This means that it detonates, the energy starts an initial decomposition which would lead to detonating the surrounding fuel. This explosive has been mostly used for destroying anything that is described as a structure such as building or anything which looks big and can be taken down. Another explosive which if you play Call of Duty you should know is C4. Composition 4 is only one variety of a plastic explosive. The basic idea for a plastic explosive is a combination of explosive chemicals with a plastic binder material. The binder allows to handle the explosive safer and to coat the explosive material. To illustrate how powerful this explosive can be, it can kill several people with less than a pound of C4.

Explosives is another weapon made and advanced through the years of warfare. The terrible thing about weapons is that it will always be capable of getting in the wrong hands. Plastic explosives for example has been used by terrorists and it has caused many deaths. I myself like weapons, but when used for the wrong purpose, it will never be good.

History of Fireworks

Resource: http://www.pyrouniverse.com/history.htm

Fire is one of nature's greatest gifts. Now add some "works" then you get fireworks!! Well that was a bad joke. Fireworks are some of the funnest things to watch in our life. Especially on the Fourth of July. The fireworks are just extravagant. Here's a question, where did fireworks originate? Why do we have fireworks? Thank the Chinese. The Chinese had first touched up on the subject in about 200 B.C. where there wouldn't be any gun powder at that point. The first type of Firecracker was roughly around this time. It was technically a fire cracker, but when they just threw bamboo into a fire. The bamboo cracked and popped like no one had ever heard. They called this bursting bamboo. Through time in China, Alchemist were working on how to make special substances of many kinds. The explosive kind for example. Alchemists basically had led to gunpowder, and It was soon that the first fireworks had been made. This pretty much made a great impression on the Chinese, but with every country comes war. They used gunpowder in lances that had fuses that would launch objects at high velocity or put simply, it shot things. The first fireworks were brought to America in the 1600's. This would obviously lead us to what we have now. I think we all deserve the Chinese a nice thank you for this awesome invention.

Fireworks are one of the most beautiful things in the world. The colors just really can make anyone impressed if done well enough. Obviously without the Chinese, we wouldn't have had fireworks. Also, thank the alchemists too. Alchemists really looked hard for any kind of truth and it lead us to a wonderful time in the world in the way of colors.

Alchemy

Resource: http://www.alchemylab.com/history_of_alchemy.htm

What are alchemists? Well, picture whatever you think an alchemist might be. Unless you actually know what alchemist specifically are, then you probably pictured some unusual robed dude over some ritual circle of some sort and making some kind of enchantment or something around that. Alchemy is truly an art or a science and people will look pass that. Alchemy was founded much before time in Egypt and had spread to many places which in fact made men and women ready to make any goal possible with alchemy. What is the motive behind alchemy? What made these kinds of people have the patience to look pass the impossible? These are great questions to ask. The people behind alchemy believed in spiritual things, they wanted man to like a God-like person, to avoid all the dangers and make man better than ever. There are many countries that had made alchemy an art, for example China and Egypt. Alchemy practically originated from China and Egypt, and they also were very spiritual unlike somethings that may be heard about alchemy.

Alchemy is a crazy subject! It has held history in the palm of its hand. Basically, it is apart of history no matter how you look at it. Alchemy is an interesting subject and it can inspire people to become more open minded like the people who really believed in Alchemy.

Global Warming

Resource: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/science/topics/globalwarming/index.html

Global Warming! We are all going to die!! Well, actually we aren't going to die of some intense heat if we start changing our ways now. Researchers had found that global warming truly is a real threat. Global warming in later decades will begin to effect our world terribly if we don't slow down find some alternative solution. A convention was held where it involved many countries to all together help slow down the process we are causing to our planet. The EPA in America has already put regulations to help die down the threat of global warming and take its part in helping our earth from dying. Barack Obama has also vowed to help climate change and environmentalists. The conference spoke about cleaner ways to help our planet, but there always comes the problem of paying for it. The conference was left unresolved though and now we continue are left of promises that can be easily blown off.

Saving the planet is extremely important. Without our planet, we wouldn't be here. I believe we should find a cleaner energy source while trying to keep it productive. This would solve many problems, but these news must get somewhere and I hope to find the world is willing to help our earth survive.

Buffer Solutions

Resource: http://www.chemguide.co.uk/physical/acidbaseeqia/buffers.html

What is a buffer? Well, anyone who has played a Final Fantasy game or any video game in general can probably come up with something around giving stat that do something to a character. I play video games and I understand what is meant with this, but it is extremely incorrect. An actually buffer is a solution that resists changes to a pH level by use of a small amount of acid or alkali. An acidic acid is a pH level of less than 7 and will usually contain a small quantity of an acid and some kind of salt. Alkaline buffer requires a weak base and a salt, and the pH level will be over 7 pH. The way buffers will work is that the buffer solution must contain things which will remove any hydrogen ions or hydroxide ions that might add to it. This resists the the pH level from getting higher or lower.

I decided I would look into this subject more since next week we will be performing experiments on it. The web page felt very much like gibberish, but I'm sure when we truly learn about it I'll understand so much better. This website though would be a good start for a review If I ever needed it.

Hydroponics

Resource: http://www.simplyhydro.com/whatis.htm

Who needs soil these days? Hydroponics is the way to go! Hydroponic is the beautiful art of growing plants without soil. Hydroponics is an art that people have wanted to make the best out of and the awesome thing is there are countless ways to work with hydroponics. You should try doing this because this can have much more potential than the use of soil. Its actually more simple than you might think. The proof being that if you give a plant exactly what it needs, when it needs it, in the amount that it needs, then the plant will be as healthy as genetically possible. Hydroponics makes these tasks much easier than soil would ever. Hydroponics allows the plant to easily suck up all the nutrition needed to grow and survive. The inert growing medium and a regulated pH level can make the plant easily take in nutrients, these are the things that make up hydroponics. First of all, a growing medium is the material where the roots of the plants are growing. A growing medium can be everything from a variety of substance like gravel, sand, and even rockwool. The inert substance doesn't supply the plant with anything other than the ability to to better regulate the plant's food given and growth overall. The pH is another important component of Hydroponics. Actually, it is extremely important because the plants will lose their ability to absorb nutrients when the pH varies. The ability to control pH levels much easier with Hydroponics is a huge advantage over the dirt gardening.

Hydrponics actually interests me a little bit. The fact that we can create plants that can grow more effectively and overall better can be done without soil. I found this an interesting article and it gave loads of information important to learning what Hydroponics is. I think this could spark interest in people who could possibly want a new way to work with plants. This could spark interest and open peoples minds to another way of planting.

Nuclear Power

Resource: http://www.howstuffworks.com/nuclear-power.htm

First of all, do you agree with nuclear power? It comes with a great risk, but it is open to many great opportunities for a possibly safer energy source that can easily power over great ranges. What really happens in those nuclear reactors? Is it really safe and secure? Well, you could say it's safe with all the right "parts". These part include radioactive material and water in the reactor core. To put it simply, the water helps control or keep control over the radioactive material in the core reactor. This specifically prevents it from over heating or having a nuclear meltdown and I'm not talking about when your mom figures out that you got arrested and she had a nuclear meltdown, but its pretty similar I guess. The world relies on this nuclear power and yet it can cause great harm. Some countries have over half their supply of power from a nuclear power plant. It is a pretty dangerous innovation.

I think this can improve a person's view on nuclear energy. Specifically speaking, it will help people become more informed as citizens should be. I believe this could spark interest in readers and possibly lead them on to a new job opportunity.

Energy Drink Ingredients

Resource:http://www.energyfiend.com/energy-drink-ingredients

Energy drinks aren't exactly the healthiest drink to have in the world, but it does taste good at times and it will give you energy. Here are a few ingredients put into energy drinks in general. Caffeine is the most common in energy drinks. Energy Drinks will have about 150-200mg of caffeine in regular sized can or bottle. The main purpose of an energy drink is to stimulate the nervous system to give the body a sense of alertness. It also raises heart rate and blood pressure while dehydrating the person. Caffeine is one of the most used drug in the planet. It can found in many things we drink. Try to look for it and I'm sure you'll find it. Another ingredient is Taurine which is naturally produced in the body. It helps regulate heartbeat, muscle contractions, and energy levels. The body usually makes enough to not have the need for supplements. It is thought to help us regulate ourselves since our brains are more stimulated, but it can help with excitable brain states. Another ingredient is ginseng. Ginseng is a herb that is known to increase energy, can possibly relieve stress, and increase memory. It is thought that the herb is used to stimulate the hypothalamic and pituitary glands which secrete a chemical called adrenal corticotropic hormone. Energy drinks usally only have a little of this herb in the mix.

This is a good article to figure out what you really are drinking in those energy drinks. This can really help someone become more informed in what they are drinking. Energy drinks are being known for being completely terrible for you and this helps more people become more informed citizens.