Monday, September 27, 2010

Acid Lab Reflection!

Out of the things that I learned from the acid lab, the most important thing was how the acids and bases react together. Acids react with zinc, magnesium, or aluminum, and form hydrogen. Bases react wit most cations to precipitate hydroxides. There are only 6 "strong acids," which include HCI, H2SO4, HNO3, HCIO4, HBr, HI. All the rest are considered "weak acids." Most weak bases are anions of weak acids. Acids react with compounds containing CO,-2, and form carbon dioxide and water, and turns litmus red. Bases feel soapy or slippery, and turns litmus blue. By learning this in the acid lab, I was able to greater understand the meanings of acids and bases, and how great the differences were.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Acids in the Stomach! Reflection

During the last week, my group and I studied acids in the stomach. While doing this, I learned that the generic brand and the regular brand have a lot in common. There isn't many things that set them apart. The pH levels when they were added to vinegar were the slightly different, if not the exact same. Before doing this experiment, my group and I discussed all the options, and we figured that the name brands would be so much better compared to the generic. Boy were we in for a surprise! There was no difference in the pH level, but there were definitely some different observations that we could tell from the way they reacted. Although I doubt we would have known the difference between the regular and the generic if they were all placed together. The best product out of the ones we used was by far the baking soda, with a pH of 6. There was a lot learned during this lab, but the most important was how the acids and bases react together, and the effects they cause.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

PROPERTIES OF WATER!!!

This is my coooooool properties of water show! http://www.photoshow.com/watch/TM3Rk4BW

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Control Groups

A control group, is a scientific experiment in which the factor being tested is not applied so that it may serve as a standard for comparison against another group where the factor is applied. A control group is used to make conclusions more accurate. This being, because both the control and other experimental groups are to the same conditions, apart from being tested. An example of a control group, would be if two of the same animal are being tested, one gets a special type of medicine, and the other one doesn't. The one that doesn't would be the control animal.

Friday, September 3, 2010

How does the European Corn Borer affect the yield of corn?- Virtual Lab. Standard #4

During this virtual lab, I was asked to test the affect of the European Corn Borer on the yield of corn. The effects of the ECB infestations showed a great difference in the growth of the corn. In my first experiment, I test Golden Corn against both high and low levels of ECB. I found out that with a higher level, the growth of the corn was lower. The average of the first test was a 137.7 out of three plates of kernel. With a lower level of ECB, the average was much higher. The three averaged 173.2. This study shows that the ECB levels in the Golden Corn had a major impact. During my second study, I decided to test BT 123 and BT 456, also one with a high level and one with a lower level of ECB. The BT 123 was tested with the higher level. I soon found out that the average was closer to the lower lever on the Golden Corn, with an average of 160.6. As found in the first study, lower levels make the corn grow better. The BT 456 was tested with a lower level, and was just slightly over the average of the low Golden Corn. The average of the BT 456 Low was 177. If a farmer had no ECB in a year, I don't think it would affect the growth to much depending on what type of corn he was growing. If he was to grow the BT corn, the affect of the ECB's wouldn't be that noticeable. After participating in this lab, I learned that in some types of corn the ECB level does matter, but in some other types it doesn't matter as much.

This experiment was a controlled experiment, because we were able to control what was grown, and the amount of ECB levels. By being able to control this, we kinda controlled our results as well. While doing some other research, I learned all about a double-blind study. A double- blind study is a study in which neither the patient nor the doctor know which test group the patient is in. After the first two weeks in biology, there has been a lot to learn. :)