Week of 1/25/10

This weekend, I had a swim meet at De Anza Cupertino. It was a Zone 1 North Championships. Our team got first place in our division. Our next team goal is to compete in Division 1, with PASA and DACA.
This week in chemistry, we learned about chemical reactions. There was some review about the ionic compounds and molecules. We balanced equations, but I already learned how to do this in 8th grade. However, the difference this year is that there are polyatomic ions. I have to memorize these ions and their charges. I learned some new terms such as precipitate. I learned that a catalyst speeds up a chemical reaction but it is not consumed by the reaction.
I think next will be one of the most stressful weeks because I have many tests. On Monday, I have a self-defense test and my poetry project is due. On Tuesday and Wednesday, I have the California High School Exit Exam Tests. On Thursday, I have a World War I chapter test and a Spanish Chapter 3 test. I have to study a lot. I am going to have another swim meet. This is going to be a distance swim meet.

Week of 1/19/10

This Monday, we had Martin Luther King Dr. day. We have a test tomorrow. It is going to be about solutions and pH. I feel so unprepared for it. I know about Molarity, but I do not really understand the neutralization reactions. This week, we did a lab about acids and bases. We learned about the pH level of certain solutions and food items. We used litmus paper to see if the solution was an acid or a base. Acids are taste sour, while bases taste bitter. Water self-ionizes. Strong acids and bases are dangerous. Foods tend to be acidic, while cleaners are basic. The pH scale is like a rainbow spectrum.
Yesterday when I was swimming I saw a rainbow. It was a half circle. It was only of my first times seeing this. It is very rare. Swim practice was great yesterday.

Like Dissolves Like

Like Dissolves Like

Dissolving is when particles mix. Solutes dissolve in solvents in a solution. Water is the universal solvent because it dissolves many different types of things. "Like Dissolves like" is when the solvent usually dissolves solutes with properties that are similar to its own. Polar solvents dissolve polar solutes. Nonpolar solvents dissolve nonpolar solutes. For example, oil does not dissolve in water because oil is nonpolar and water is polar.
This week is the first week back from winter break. I had so much fun during the break. This week in chemistry, we started learning about solutions.