Update for 12/21/07

To all my students,

The Christmas is finally here!

Here are the updates:

Living Environment 1: You guys got lucky...
I will be laboring over your exams and project over the break, so I'm not gonna assign you new ones (which would mean more work for me), enjoy your vacation!
* Period 5 will need to finish your Lab. Write-up #13, due first day when you come back!
• For those that need to make up HWs and Lab. report, finish them over the break and bring them in first thing when we come back!

Regent Chemistry 1: Well, let's see...
• Since a lot of you didn't hand in the lab. report #14, finish the report and turn it in first thing after the break.
• As I have said, Unit exam is likely to be on the Thursday when we come back (1/3/08). I am not going to give you a "vacation package", but you really should use this time to review and study for the test to make sure you know the stuffs well. Use the Regent review questions in Holt - pp. 252-256 for your exam practices. Bring specific questions when we come back.

Since we only have 2 weeks remain in the semester, if you choose, you may write me an e-mail to inquire about your missing works so that you can complete it during the break. If you don't, well, it's your loss...

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

Dr. Liu

Update for 12/19/07

To my students,

Here is the update for today...

Living Environment 1: After today's exam, Relax!
If you're missing any work (HW or lab. write-up), make it up and submit it by Friday so I can grade it over the break..

Regent Chemistry 1: HW #32 (Due Friday)
Holt - Read pp. 241-248, Do p. 248 Problems #1, 4, 5, 6.
• If you can, try to finish up the lab. report (#14) for this week's lab and submit it by Friday (at least you can get one thing out of your vacation plan)...

Dr. Liu

Update for 12/18/07

Here is the update:

Living Environment 1: Study for Exam tomorrow!
Cellular Transport (Ch. 7 pp. 185-190, pp. 201-207)
Cellular Energy (Ch. 8. pp. 218-233).

Regent Chemistry 1: HW #31 (Due Tomorrow)
Holt - Read pp. 234-240, Do p. 240 Problems # 8, #10 d, e, #11 a, b

Dr. Liu

Update for 12/17/07

Here is the update:

Living Environment 1: (No HW today).
1. Finish the Lab. write-up #13 and hand it in!
2. Unit Exam on Wednesday. The primary focus in on Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration (entire Ch. 8, pp. 218-233). In Ch. 7 make sure you review Cellular Transport mechanisms pp. 185-190, pp. 201-207. Start studying!

Regent Chemistry 1: (No HW today).
Finish the lab. report #13 by tomorrow!

Dr. Liu

Update for 12/14/07

Here is the update for today:

Living Environment 1:
• Lab. #13 write-up due on Monday.
• Unit Exam #5 next Wednesday - it will cover cell organelles and its functions, photosynthesis, & cellular respiration. Pages covered on textbook: pp. 185~207, pp. 218~233.

Regent Chemistry 1:
• HW #30 (Due Monday): Holt - Do p. 233 Problems #9, 10, 12, 13.
• Try your best to finish the Lab. report #13 by Monday. If having difficulty, then leave it for Tuesday.

Dr. Liu

Update for 12/11/07

Living Environment 1: No HW for today. Make sure you complete Lab. Write-up #12 and HW #26 (which were suppose to be due today).
Reminder: Unit Exam next Monday!

Regent Chemistry 1: HW #29 (Due tomorrow)
Holt - Read pp. 224-233, Do p. 233 Problems #1, 6, 7.

Dr. Liu

Update for 12/7/2007

To my students,

The following are the update for today:

Regent Chemistry 1: Now that you've taken the exam, you can enjoy your weekend a lot more, isn't it? Judging from the looks on your faces after you turn in the exam, doesn't look like anyone is going to ace this one...
• Finish Lab. Report #12 for Monday.

Living Environment 1:
• Finish the Lab. #12 write-up for Monday.
• HW #26 is due on Monday as well.
• Reminder: Exam next week on Cell biology, organelle/function, photosynthesis, and cellular respiration.

Have a good weekend.

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 12/6/07

To my students:

Living Environment 1:
• HW #26 (Due Monday) - Glencoe: Read pp. 228-233, Do p. 233 Problems #1, 2, 4.
• PD 8 students: As I mentioned, you will be responsible for covering the subject of photosyntheis reactions on your own (include light-dependent phase and Calvin cycle); as you have made your choice, so I won't be going over the subject in class.

Regent Chemistry 1: I am fairly disappointed, to say the least. Same questions of similar types have been answered more than 3 or 4 times during today's review; it's clear that you have not taken advantage of the review sheet or pay attention during the session, which then means the review sheet/session have outstayed its usefullness... Exam will be on tomorrow.

Below, I am including the answers to the questions which we have not gone over in class:
4. c) Ag2SO4 - Silver sulfate
d) Cu3N2 - Copper (II) nitride
e) FeS - Iron (II) sulfide
f) Mg(NO2)2 - magnesium nitrite
5. a) non-polar covalent
b) non-polar covalent
c) polar covalent
d) polar covalent
e) polar covalent
6. a) non-polar molecule
b) non-polar molecule
c) polar molecule
d) non-polar molecule
e) polar molecule
f) polar molecule
g) polar molecule
7. 3
8. 4
9. 1
10. 4
11. 4
12. 1
13. 3
14. 3

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 12/5/07

Dear all,

Here are the assignments for 12/5/07:

Living Environment 1: HW #25 (Due tomorrow)
Glencoe: Read pp. 222-227, Do p. 227 Problems #1, 2.
* E-mail me your project if you do not want automatic penalty to kick in!

Regent Chemistry 1: Work on the review sheet and review your note for tomorrow.
Unit Exam on Friday! Do well on this one!

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 12/4/07

Dear All,

Following is the assignment for 12/4/07:

Living Environment 1:
1. There still quite a number of you who have not hand in your recycling project. Tomorrow is the final deadline for the project. If you hand in after tomorrow, your project's grade will get automatically penalized. Remember, I want a hard (paper) copy of your report, and an electronic version sent to my e-mail box as attachment to preserve your formatting. Sent to this address only: drliu.iths@gmail.com
2. HW #24 (Due tomorrow)
Glencoe: Read pp. 218-221, Do p. 221 Problems #3, 4.

Regent Chemistry 1:
No HW today. If you choose, go work on the lab. report to get one thing out of your weekend plan... by the way, Unit exam is on Friday!

Dr. Liu

Update for 12/3/07

Dear All,

Things should be easy today...

Living Environment 1: No HW today.
• Finish your Recycling project for tomorrow. Bring a paper copy for me, and send your electronic version to my e-mail account at "drliu.iths@gmail.com". Do not send to the e-mail address on school website since it's already full...
• Complete your Lab. #11 write-up and hand it in tomorrow, if you have not done so today...

Regent Chemistry 1: No HW today.
Reminder: Lab. #12 tomorrow, and Unit exam this Thursday or Friday!

Dr. Liu

Update for 11/30/2007

HI,

Here's the update for weekend:

Living Environment 1:
1) Finish the Lab. #11 write-up for Monday, make sure you answer all the questions.
2) Keep working on your recycling project. The due date has been postponed to Tuesday. Make sure your group finished the project well, as I may count the project as 1 Exam...

Regent Chemistry 1:
1) No HW today, finish the previous HW #28 if you haven't handed it in..
2) Lab. Report #11 due Monday!
3) Expect a unit exam on covalent and ionic bonding next week!

Have a good weekend!

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 11/29/07

Dear All,

Here are the updates:

Living Environment 1: Work on your Recycling project, due Monday!

Regent Chemistry 1: HW #28 (Due tomorrow)
Holt - Read pp. 166~175, Do p. 175 Problems #6, 7, 8.

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 11/28/07

To all,

here is the update for 11/28/07:

Regent Chemistry 1: HW #27 (Due tomorrow)
Holt - Read pp. 176-180. Do P. 180 Problems #2, 3, 4.

Living Environment 1: Finish HW #23 for tomorrow.
Work on your Recycling Project. Due Monday!

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 11/27/07

Dear All,

Following is the assignment update for 11/27/07:

Living Environment 1:
1. I still don't have that many HW#22 handed in! Remember, if you are measuring the dimensions with the ruler, measure the dimension of the actual object first, and then measure the dimension of the packaging so that both numbers can be compared with one another..
2. HW #23: (Due Thursday) Read pp. 201-207, Do p. 207 Problems 1, 3, 4.
3. Reminder: start working on the project and make sure you do a good job on it! Due 12/3/2007.

Regent Chemistry 1: HW #26 (Due tomorrow)
Holt - Read pp. 158-165, Do p. 165 Problems #3, 8, 11.

Dr. Liu

Update for 11/26/2007

Dear All,

Now that 3rd marking period has begun, let's make this one counts!

Living Environment 1: Most of you hasn't turned in your Thanksgiving HW! Make sure you turn it in tomorrow (for details, see previous post). Remember, draw the table on a separate piece of loose-leaf paper to be handed in, since you need to keep a copy of the project guideline...

Regent Chemistry 1: No HW today... Lab. tomorrow!

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 11/21/2007

Dear All,

the following are the assignment for 11/21/07:

Regent Chemistry 1: HW #25 (Due Monday 11/26/07):
Holt - Read pp. 190-198, Do p. 198 Problems #4, 14 and p. 207 Problems #8, 9, 10.

Living Environment 1: HW #22 (Due Monday 11/26/07):

Black Friday Shoppers: Here is a little something to keep you scientific side of the brain remain engaged after all those turkey: For your new (or old) purchases, I would like you to make up a table and fill in the information requested (2 or 3 purchases):



If you have a scale, measure the mass. If you don't have the scale, use a ruler and measure the size of the object and of the packaging and record the data.

• If you were absent today, we had also assigned a group project which is due on 12/3/07. The exact detail is as below:

-----------

Student Report: Understand the Importance of Recycling

Goal: To understand the impact of our consumer-based economy on our environment.

Report Format: This report should be typed (double-spaced) and about 2~4 pages in length. If possible, I would also like an electronic version of your report (either send it to me by e-mail as attachment (drliu.iths@gmail.com), or bring it on a flash drive so you can download the data onto the class computer.

Due Date: December 3rd, 2007. This report will be counted as a project for the term.

Major sections of the report:

1. Each student will select an object to be analyzed for this project. For example, a student may select common household object like a traditional TV, an office desk, a bed, or a bike. Don’t select something too simple (boring!), be different and creative! Include a picture of your selected object for the report.

2. Breaking down the object into components: You don’t really physically break apart your object, but just observe the object carefully and do some research to find out what the object is really made of. Make a list of each individual component that makes up the object.

3. Divide all the components into major categories of materials. Some major categories to be considered are: Metals, Plastics, Ceramics, Glass, Woods, Chemicals, or Natural Organic matters. (Include other major categories as you see fit). Draw a table to organize your information.

4. For each major categories, trace where your specific materials come from originally, how did it get processed into the object that you see, and what will happen to those specific materials after the object is no longer being used. Specifically, after the object becomes wastes, does it go to a landfill, an incinerator, or recycling facility? Present the trace of each category of your materials in a form that is easy to understand.

5. For each category of materials, answer the following questions:

a) Are the materials for the components made from renewable or nonrenewable resources? Explain your reasoning.
b) Can we reuse the components readily in different applications?
c) Can we recycle the materials that made up these components? How can we do that?
d) If these materials cannot be reused or recycled, is there a way of reducing the usage of this materials so we don’t impact our environment too much?

Some answers to these question may not be so obvious and requires a little research and creative thinking. Show your ingenuity and use those brain cells!
------------

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dr. Liu

Update for 11/20/2007

Dear All,

No HW for today!

If you still got those missing lab. report stashed in you backpack or some obscure corner of you room, better digg it out, complete it, and turn it in!

2nd Marking Period is coming to a close...


Dr. Liu

Update for 11/19/2007

Let's see...

Living Environment 1: Quiz tomorrow on Plant and Animal Cell structure and functions.

Regent Chemistry 1: Another day of relaxation for you guys/gals... If you still have your labs., Finish it and hand them in.
By the way, No Lab. tomorrow!

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 11/16/07

Dear All,

Following is an assignment update for 11/16/07:

Living Environment 1:

1. Finish up Lab. #10 write-up, Due Monday. (you can skip the Going Further section, but answer all other questions).
2. HW #21 Due Monday.
3. Monday - Final deadline for accepting all missing/make-up works. No acceptance after Monday.
4. Reminder: Cell structure Quiz on Tuesday.


Regent Chemistry 1:

1. HW #24 (Due Monday): Holt - Read pp. 199-207; Do p. 207 Problems #2, 6, 7.
2. If you did not finish Lab. #10 write-up, Due Monday.
3. Monday - Final deadline for accepting all missing/make-up works. No acceptance after Monday.

Enjoy your weekend..

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 11/15/07

Dear All,

Here it goes..

Living Environment 1: HW #21 (due Monday)
• Draw your own sketches of the structures inside a plant's cell and an animal's cell. Make your drawing reflects the actual shape of the organelle (use textbook or do some internet research to guid you). Label the names of the organelles and be sure to show the difference between 2 types of cells.
• Quiz on Cell structures/differences on Tuesday.
• Have all your missing works in by tomorrow.

Regent Chemistry 1: Believe me, this exam is DEFINITELY Not HARD!
• Finish the Lab. #10 write-up (No lab. report needed) for tomorrow..
• Relax!

Dr. Liu

Update for 11/14/2007

Hmmm... The little fire drill earned you another day, huh?

• Alright, my Regent Chemistry 1 class: Tomorrow, you're all taking that Unit 4 Exam, rain or shine, snow or halo, tornado or hurricane, no more extension!

Reminder, turn in the lab worksheet for this week's lab. by Friday!

• Living Environment 1: Reminder: HW #20 due tomorrow. Make up all those missing works!

Dr. Liu

Update for 11/13/2007

Dear All,

Following is the update for today:

Living Environment 1: HW #20 (Due Thursday)
Glencoe - Read pp. 191-200, Do p. 200 Problems #1, 2, 4.
• Quite a number of you have start to write me e-mail to ask about missing HW and assignments.. This is good, remember, start working on those missing works and see if you can hand them to me by the end of this week.. Second marking period is coming to a close..

Regent Chemistry 1: Unit #4 Exam Tomorrow! Study Hard!
• You can hand in the lab write-up #10 by this Friday.

For question #19, remember that:

P1. When going from left to right within a period, the attraction of the positively charged nucleus for the negative electrons increases with increasing atomic number (# of protons) since the valence electrons are all at the same principal energy level. If attraction for valence electrons increases, that means Electronegative value would increase since it measures how strongly an atom will attract the electron in a chemical bond.

P2. When going from top to down within a Group, there are two factors at play: 1) Additional principal energy level means valence electrons are at greater distance from the nucleus, 2) Electron Shielding Effect – as the number of inner electron energy level is increased, the attractive force from the nucleus is being cancelled by these additional inner shell electron clouds. Both would cause less attraction for the outer valence electrons, hence lower Electronegativity value.

Don't forget P3, since this is the reason why some groups are more active than the other...

P3. Octet Rule: In chemical bonding, atoms tend gain or lose electrons to achieve a full valence shell of 8 valence electrons since it’s the most stable e-configuration.


Dr. Liu

Assignment for 11/9/2007

Dear All,

Following are the updates for 11/9/07:

Living Environment 1:
1. There are way too few labs. (#8+#9) handed in today. Finish the labs and handed them in on Tuesday!! (Point deduction will start after Tuesday). Lab. write-up will not be accepted without a lab. report which specifically answer Part B. of the lab!
2. HW #19 (Due Tuesday): Glencoe - Read pp. 187-190, Do p. 190 Problems #2, 3.
3. So on Tuesday, both HW #18 and #19 are due.

Regent Chemistry 1:
1. Now that you guys/gals have your wish, better work on that review sheet and see if you really understand the stuffs! Remember, try to understand the atomic picture behind your answer, not just getting the answers right...
2. Start study for the exam on Wednesday!

Enjoy the weekend!

Dr. Liu

Update for 11/8/07

Dear All,

Following are the updates for 11/8/07:

• Living Environment 1:

1. Complete answering all questions on "Making Connections" Lab. Sheets and design an experiment (in a lab. report format) to test the claims made in part B. Due tomorrow.
2. HW #18 (Due Tuesday): Glencoe - Read pp. 182~186, Do p. 186 Problems 2, 3, 4.


• Regent Chemistry 1:
1. Finish the Lab. #9 worksheet for tomorrow. No report for this lab.
2. Unit 4 Exam on Element Periodicity next Wednesday!

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 11/07/2007

Dear All,

Following are the assignments for 11/7/2007:

Living Environment 1:
• Start working on answering all the lab questions for Lab #8 + #9. Write out a complete lab. report to investigate the claims made in Part B (without doing the actual experiment, just design the data table). Your lab. sheets will not be accepted without Part B Lab. Report. Both report and questions answers will be due on Friday!

Regent Chemistry 1: HW #23 (Due tomorrow):
Holt - Read pp. 142-147; Do p. 147 Problems 2, 4, 6, 13.
• Reminder: Exam on Element Periodicity Next Tues/Wed.

Dr. Liu

Update for 11/5/07

Dear All,

The following are the updates for 11/5/07:

Living Environment 1:
1. Make sure you complete the Lab. #8 questions up to page 4, and start to read up on the second part of the lab. handouts (Lab. #9). We will do lab. #9 on Wednesday.
2. Now that you've finished Unit Exam #3, you can relax for the election day... Enjoy!

Regent Chemistry 1:
1. Guys, you're suppose to do the test correction, and instead we spent a whole period.... Remember, turn in your test corrections on Wednesday (only day I will accept). If you do well on the test correction, you may get a maximum of 15 points (if you're below 60) or a maximum of 10 points (if you're 60 and above). Remember, explain your reasoning and show your work to get the maximum credits!
2. Some of you are starting to slack for this marking period; remember, only about 3 weeks left until the report card time!
3. Make-up Lab. #9 has moved to 9th period on Wednesday.

Dr. Liu

LE1 Exam Topics

To My Living Environment classes:

The following are the specific topics that you will need to know well for this Unit Exam on Ecology:

1. Different levels of ecological entity organization in proper order.

2. Definition, differences, and example of biotic vs. abiotic factors.

3. Difference between habitat and niche.

4. Different types of community interaction: Competition, Predation, Symbiosis(3 categories).

5. What is competitive exclusion principle?

6. Different type of organisms within an ecosystem (e.g. Autotrophs and different types of heterotrophs).

7. How energy flow thru ecosystem: Energy, biomass, and number pyramid.

8. Food Chain vs. Food web.

9. Water, Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorous Cycles.

10. Primary vs. Secondary Ecological Successions.

11. Different Population growth curves and associated conditions; Concept of carrying capacity.

12. Know the typical examples of land biomes (from HW).

In terms of textbook, this exam will cover Chapter 2, Chapter 3 - Unit 3.1~3.2.
Focus should be on the class notes!

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 11/2/2007

To My Students:

Your assignment for this weekend is as follows:

Regent Chemistry 1:

1) HW #22 - Holt: Read pp. 132-141, Do p. 141 Problems #1, 3, 4, 5, 12.
2) Finish answering all questions for Lab. #8 - No Lab. report needed this time. Due Monday (11/5/07).
3) Next week's lab. #9: Moved to Monday 9th Pd. in Rm. 311.

Living Environment 1:

1) A lot of you didn't turn in the HW #17 today, complete it and turn it IN!
2) Finish answering the question for part A for Lab. #8 (Up to and include page 6). We will finish the lab. on Wednesday.
3) Ecology Exam on MONDAY! STUDY HARD!

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 11/1/07

Dear All,

The following are the assignment for 11/1/2007:

Living Environment 1: HW #17 - Due tomorrow (Yes, it's 17, my mistake):
Glencoe: Read pp. 65-73, Do p. 73 Problems #1, 2.

Regent Chemistry 1: HW # 21 - Due tomorrow
Holt: Read pp. 124-131, Do p. 131 Problems #1, 6, 11

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 10/31/2007

Dear All,

Happy Halloween!

Since most of you are probably too old to go trick-or-treating, I guess you would all have some times to finish up the little assignment that we have for today..

Living Environment 1: HW #16 (Due Tomorrow)
Glencoe: Read pp. 60-64; Do p. 64 Problems #1, 4
Reminder: Unit 3 Exam Next Monday/Tuesday.

Regent Chemistry 1: HW #20 (Due Tomorrow)
Holt: Read pp. 116-122; Do p. 122 Problems #5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 10/30/07

Dear All,

Following is the assignment for 10/30/07:

Living Environment 1: HW #15 (Due tomorrow)
1. Draw diagrams to summarize how water, nitrogen, and carbon get recycled throughout the ecosystem (3 diagrams).

2. How is a phosphorous cycle different from water, carbon, and nitrogen cycle?


Regent Chemistry 1: Steam-off... Relax!


Dr. Liu

Update for 10/29/07

Dear All,

The following are the information update for today.

For Living Environment 1: No HW today.

For Regent Chemistry 1: Study for Unit #3 Exam tomorrow!

For the answers to questions on the review sheet which we did not get a chance to go over:

6) a) Sr2+ (38)
Proton # = 38 ; Neutron # = 50 ; Electron # = 36 ; Size vs. original atom: Smaller
Electron Configuration of Ion: 2-8-18-8

b) I- (53)
Proton # = 53 ; Neutron # = 74 ; Electron # = 54 ; Size vs. original atom: Bigger
Electron Configuration of Ion: 2-8-18-18-8

c) As3- (33)
Proton # = 33 ; Neutron # = 42 ; Electron # = 36 ; Size vs. original atom: Bigger
Electron Configuration of Ion: 2-8-18-8

• With these information you should be able to draw the atomic structure. Remember, number of protons do not get changed, only the number of electrons. And the electron configuration of the ion is going to be different from that of the atom (because of new # of electrons associated with ions).

7A) John Dalton's atomic model:

- What are the key points of John Dalton’s atomic Model?

1. Each element is composed of indivisible particles called atoms.
2. Atoms of a given element are identical in their physical and chemical properties. Atoms of different element would have different properties.
3. Atoms of different elements combine in simple whole number ratios to form compounds.
4. In chemical reactions, atoms are combined, separated, or rearranged, but they are not created, destroyed, or changed.

- List two ways in which his atomic model had been found to be not true.

1) Atom can be subdivided further into subatomic particles.
2) Presence of Isotopes indicate atoms of same element can have different mass.

7B) J. J. Thomson

- What is his major contribution to atomic theory?
ANS.: He discovered the electron, and proposed plum-pudding model of atom.

- What experiment he did to proved his point? What was result of the experiment? What was his conclusion?
• Experiment: Applied a magnet on a beam in the Cathode Ray Tube under high voltage.
• Results: Regardless of materials of electrodes, the cathode rays bent toward the positive charged side of magnet.
• Conclusion: Since opposite charge attract, this subatomic particles must have negative charge - electrons.

7C) Ernest Rutheford

- What is his major contribution to atomic theory?
Ans.: He discovered the presence of a small, dense, positively charged nucleus. Found that the volume of atoms consists mostly of empty spaces.

- What experiment he did to proved his point? What was result of the experiment? What was his conclusion?

• Experiment Conducted: Bombarded thin gold foils with positively charged alpha particles.
• Results: The alpha particles passed through the gold foil most of the time without change in direction; but ~ 1 out of 10,000 times, it bounced back or was greatly deflected.
• Conclusion:
1) Most part of the atom consists of empty spaces.
2) Atoms must have a small, dense, positively charged nucleus that bounces back the alpha particles without being knocked off the position.

7D) Niels Bohr

- What are key points of Bohr’s atomic model?

1. Electron could only orbit at certain specified distance from the nucleus. Each distance represents a discrete amount of energy that an electron can have.
2. The lowest energy level was called the ground state. Since electrons could not have lower energy than the ground state, it could not come any closer to the nucleus and thus would remain stable.
3. In a given orbit, an electron never radiated or absorbed energy.
4. When an atom absorbed exactly the right amount of energy, the electron would rise to a higher energy level (referred to as excited state). Conversely, if the electron fall from this excited state back to a lower energy level, it would release an energy that would appears as photon of light.

8) Ans. Orbital: a region of space around the nucleus in which there is a high probability of finding the electrons.
- Electrons are represented as electron clouds since there is no distinct orbits, and the probability of finding electrons vary gradually and have no sharp boundary.

9) Ans. When electron absorbs energy to go from the lower energy level to a higher energy level, it is said to make an energy state transition from the ground state to the excited state. Since electrons are unstable in the excited state, it would drop back to the lower energy level and releases photon with energy corresponds to the difference between the two energy levels; this would lead to the formation of characteristic line spectrum. This spectrum is different for each element and thus can be used as a “fingerprint” for the element.

Dr. Liu

Update for 10/26/07

Dear All,

Now that I have a chance to talk to some of your parents and discuss what had happened during the past marking period, I just want to emphasize a few things:

1. Do your labs: If you don't come to the labs, not only will you get a shoddy course grade, you won't be eligible for Regent exam, and you might have to go to summer school or retake the course over again if you want to graduate. If you had attended the lab., complete your lab. report and hand them in!

2. Homework counts: Some of you overlook this part of the course grade thinking it is unimportant. Your marking period 1 grade should have prove you wrong!

3. Come to class and ready to learn: Your exam and quiz depend on how much you have learned from everything you did in class and at home.

Everyone of you can pass the class if you did all the work to the best of your ability and tried your best to learn. You will enjoy the reward so much more once you give it your best shot and honest efforts.

Now for the weekend update:

Living Environment 1: Finish HW #14 and complete any labs. write-up that is still missing!

Regent Chemistry 1: Work on the review sheet, do your best and we will go over it on Monday. Unit Exam #3 on Tuesday! Also, complete that lab. report #7.

That's all, have a nice weekend!

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 10/25/07

Dear All,

Following is the assignment for 10/25/07:

Living Environment 1: HW #14 (Due Monday 10/29/07):
Glencoe: Read pp. 45~49; Do p. 49 Problems #1, 2, 3.
Reminder: Lab. #6+#7 write-up past due!!!

Regent Chemistry 1: No HW today. Finish up your lab. #7 lab. report (due Monday).
Reminder: Exam next Tuesday (Hmmm... Smells like a conspiracy theory to me...)

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 10/24/2007

Dear All,

The following are the assignments for 10/24/07:

Living Environment 1: HW #13 (Due tomorrow)
1. Compare and contrast a food chain and a food web.
2. If the Sun was to produce less energy and then finally burned out, what effect will it has on the living organisms.
• Reminder: Finish your lab #6~#7 write-up and hand them in!!

Regent Chemistry 1: HW # 19 (Due tomorrow)
Do p. 99 Problems 5, 6, 7.
• Reminder: Start working on your lab. report #7. Exam next Monday.

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 10/23/2007

Dear All,

The following are the assignment for 10/23/07:

Living Environment 1: With our in-class discussion today, I think you can finished the remaining questions for the Lab. #6 and #7 write-up. Complete it for tonight and hand it in tomorrow (Wednesday).

Regent Chemistry 1: HW #18 (Due tomorrow)
Holt - Read pp. 96~99. Do p. 99 Problems 1, 2, 3.

Dr. Liu

Update for 10/22/2007

Dear All,

For Living Environment 1:
• Start working on answering all the questions in Lab. #6 and #7.
Due date: This Friday (10/26/07).
• For those of you (and there's a lot of you) who didn't submit HW #12 today, make sure you complete it and hand it in for tomorrow.

For Regent Chemistry 1:
Just make sure you submit Lab. Report #6 and HW #17. No additional HW today.
Reminder: Lab # 7 tomorrow.

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 10/19/2007

Dear All,

Here is the assignment for the weekend...

Living Environment 1:
1) Finish HW # 12 - due Monday.
2) Complete answering questions in Part I of the Lab #6: Diffusion through Membrane.
3) Bring Lab. Sheet for Monday: Part II of the Lab. Read the sheet before the lab. to get some idea.

Regent Chemistry 1:
1) Finish Lab. Report #6 - due Monday.
2) HW #17 (Due Monday): Holt - Read pp. 90-95. Answer the question:
• Describe the contribution of each of the following scientists to the development of atomic model:
a) John Dalton
b) J. J. Thomson
c) Ernest Rutherford
d) Niels Bohr

Have a nice weekend!

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 10/18/2007

Dear All,

Following are the assignments for 10/18/2007.

Living Environment 1: HW #12 (due Monday 10/22/07)
Glencoe: Read pp. 41-44, Do p. 44 Problems # 1, 2.

Regent Chemistry 1: No HW today. Make sure you start to work on your Lab. Report #6 which is due next Monday.

That's all, folks!

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 10/17/2007

Dear All,

the following is the assignment for 10/17/2007:

Living Environment 1: (Due tomorrow - Thursday):
HW #11: Glencoe: Read pp. 38-40. Answer the following questions:
1) Find an organism in your community, and differentiate between the habitat and niche for that organism.
2) Explain three different kinds of symbiotic relationship.
*For my Period 2 class: your due date for this assignment will be Friday 10/19/07.

Regent Chemistry 1: (Due tomorrow)
HW # 16: Holt: Read pp. 74-78; Do p. 78 Problems #3, 5.

Dr. Liu

Update for 10/16/2007

Dear all,

No HW assignment for today!

10th and 11th graders: Remember PSAT tomorrow! Arriving at 7:30 AM.
9th and 12 th graders: Report at 10:40 AM to your 3rd period classes, then go to your 5th period class for next class.

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 10/15/2007

Dear All,

Let's make it a fresh start for the second marking period! It's not difficult to pass the class, but you've got to do your part to earn your grade.

Living Environment 1: HW #10 (Due tomorrow)
Glencoe: Read pp. 32~40, Do p. 40 Problems 1, 2.

Regent Chemistry 1: HW #15 (Due tomorrow)
Holt: Read pp. 79~89; Do P. 89 Problems 1, 2, 3

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 10/12/2007

Dear All,

Now that the Unit #2 Exam is done, that's is it for the first marking period!

Living Environment 1: Make sure you complete the write-up for Lab. #5 and answer all the questions (only thing you don't need to do is Going Further section). Due Monday 10/15/2007.

Regent Chemistry 1: Complete the Lab. No. 5 report and answer all the questions. Due Monday 10/15/2007.

Have a good weekend, I know mine is definitely full because I'll need to grade all your works! :-(

Dr. Liu

Update for 10/11/2007

Hi All,

For Regent Chemistry 1: STUDY! STUDY! STUDY!
Unit #2 Exam Tomorrow! Your last chance to make a passing grade for Marking Period 1!

For Living Environment 1: Time to relax a bit after today's Exam...
Tomorrow: Lab. # 5.

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 10/10/07

Dear All,

All of you should start studying hard for the Unit Exam #2 (which will goes into this marking period's grades).

Living Environment 1: No HW today, Just studying for the Exam tomorrow!
Specific Topics to be covered for Unit Exam #2:
1. Characteristics of living things
2. Metabolism and Homeostasis
3. Common elements found in living things.
4. Sub-atomic particles of atoms and their characteristics, including atomic # and mass.
5. 4 types of biological macromolecules: Know a few examples and their functions. For protein you should know it is made up of 20 different amino acids.
6. Enzyme as a biological catalysts. How enzymes work. Factors affecting enzyme's rate of reaction.
7. Basic definition of Acids, Bases, and pH scale.
8. Difference between covalent bond, ionic bond, and Van der Waals forces. Properties of Water as example (Hydrogen bond).
9. Theory of Spontaneous Generation; Theory of Biogenesis.


Regent Chemistry 1: Work on the review sheet. Bring specific questions tomorrow.
Unit 2 Exam on Friday!

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 10/9/07

Dear All,

The following is the assignment for 10/9/07:

Living Environment 1: HW #9 (Due tomorrow)
Glencoe: Read pp. 401~407. Do p. 407 Problems #2, 3.
Reminder: 1. Deadline for all lab. write-ups and make-up HW is Wednesday 10/10/07.
2. UNIT EXAM #2 on THURSDAY.

Regent Chemistry 1: No HW for today.
Reminder: 1. Deadline for all lab. reports and make-up HW is Wednesday 10/10/07.
2. UNIT EXAM #2 on FRIDAY.

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 10/5/07

Dear All,

Here are the assignment for this upcoming weekend:

Living Environment 1:
1. Complete the write-up for Lab. #3 and Lab. #4. Both are due Tuesday (10/9/07).
2. Make-up any homework that you have missed. If you are not sure, e-mail me so I will give you a list of what I have graded so far. Last make-up homework acceptance date is Wednesday (10/10/12). After that I will not accept any more make-up homework.
3. Begin to study for the unit exam next week, which is going to be on the basic chemistry of life. Use your notes and assigned homeworks as guideline.

Regent Chemistry 1:
1. HW. #14: Holt Read pp. 431-432, Do p. 432 Problems #5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Due Tuesday (10/9/07).
2. Lab. Report #4 due Tuesday (10/9/07).
3. For the few people who've been missing homework or lab. report, make it all up by next Wednesday (10/10/07) or I simply will not accept it beyond that date.
4. Prepare for the unit exam next week.

That's all, hopefully I can get in one more exam to help you bring up the grades, as quite a number of you do need to bring it up after the first unit exam...

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 10/4/07

Dear All,

The following are the assignments for 10/4/2007:

Living Environment 1:
1. Lab. #3 write-up is due (10/9/07) Tuesday of next week. You are to answer every questions (Pre-lab discussion + Analysis & Conclusions) except the Going Further part.
2. HW #8 is due tomorrow (10/5/07).

Regent Chemistry 1:
HW #13 (Due tomorrow)
Holt-Read pp. 426-431, Do p. 428 Problems 1, 2. p. 431 Problem 2.

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 10/3/07

To All,

The following are the assignement for 10/3/2007.

Living Environment 1: HW #8 (Due Fri 10/5/07)
Glencoe: Read pp. 156~160. Do p. 160 Problems #3, 4.
Reminder: a) Lab. #3 Thursday, Lab. #4 Friday.
b) Exam next Thursday.

Regent Chemistry 1: HW #12 (Due Tomorrow)
Holt: Read pp. 421-425, Do p. 422 Problems 11, p. 425 Problems 1, 2.
Reminder: a) Lab. #4 report due next Tuesday.

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 10/2/07

Dear All,

The following are the assignment for 10/2/07:

Regent Chemistry I: HW #11: Holt - Read pp. 416~422; Do p. 422 Problems 4, 5, 8.
The report for lab #4 done today will be due next Monday.

Living Environment 1: No HW today, make sure you make up for the missing HWs since end of first marking period is approaching...

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 10/1/07

Dear All,

The following are assignment for 10/1/2007:

Living Environment 1: HW #7 (Due Tuesday 10/2/07):
Glencoe: Read pp. 166-171; Do p. 171 Problems #2, 3.
Reminder: Turn in HW #6 (past due, Monday).

Regent Chemistry 1: Where is that Lab. report #3 you're supposed to turn in today??
Otherwise, post-exam steam-off! Remember, Lab. #4 tomorrow!

That's all, folks!

Dr. Liu

Update 9/28/2007

Dear All,

Sorry I couldn't make it to the school today. On Thursday afternoon I sensed the precursor of flu has started to take over, which made me felt miserable by the time day ended...

For Living Environment 1: HW #6 Assignment for 9/27/07 is due on Monday
Glencoe: Read pp. 161-165. Do p. 165 Problems 1, 3.
We will make up Lab. #3 in class sometimes next week.

For Regent Chemistry 1: I've made copies of the solutions to the Unit 1 Exam Review sheet, hopefully the substitute teachers have distributed them to you guys. Look it over, learn it, and review your notes for the Exam on Monday (if all goes well).
• Reminder: Lab Report #3 due on Monday.

Have a nice weekend.

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 9/26/2007

Hi All,

The following are the assignment for 9/26/07:

Living Environment 1: HW #5 (Due tomorrow)
Glencoe: Read pp. 148-155; Do p. 155 problems 2, 3.

Regent Chemistry 1: HW #10 (Due tomorrow)
Holt: Read pp. 62~63; Do. p. 63 Problems 6, 8.

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 9/25/2007

Hi All,

the following are the assignment for 9/25/2007:

Living Environment 1: HW #4 (Due 9/26/07, Tomorrow)
Glencoe: Read pp. 4-10; Do p. 10 Problems 2, 4

Regent Chemistry 1: HW #9 (Due 9/26/07, Tomorrow)
Holt: Read pp. 54~59, Do p. 59 Practice Problems 1, 2, 3

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 9/21/2007

Dear All,

Here are the assignments for 9/21/2007:

Living Environment 1: Complete your Lab. #2 Write-up. Due Monday 9/24/07.
Exam on Monday: Scientific Inquiry Method & General lab. safety.
Use your class notes as basis, and if you choose, you can supplement it with reading from the textbook pp. 11 ~ 21.

Regent Chemistry 1: HW #8 (Due Monday)
Holt: Read pp. 42~45; Do p. 45 Problems #7, 8
Reminder:
a) Submit HW#7 on Monday if you had troubles on your first try.
b) Lab. Report #2 due Monday.
c) Start reviewing your notes; exam next week.

Have a nice weekend!

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 9/20/2007

Hi All,

Here is the assignment for my Chemistry class for 9/20/2007:

Regent Chemistry 1: HW #7 (Due Tomorrow 9/21/2007):
Holt: p. 19 Do problems #8, 9, 10

Reminder:
1. Living Envirnment Unit 1 Exam next Monday 9/24/07 (Scientific Inquiry).
2. Chemistry Unit 1 Exam either next Tuesday or Wednesday.
3. All Classes: Lab. #2 Report/Write-up due on Monday.

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 9/18/2007

Hi All,

The assignment for 9/18/2007 is as follows:

Living Environment 1: No new HW assigned today. Make sure you complete HW#3 which is due tomorrow. Particularly you should answer all parts of Question #2.
Reminder: Unit 1 Exam on Monday!

Regent Chemistry 1: HW #6: Holt - Do p. 28 Problems #10, 11, 13.
For Lab. #2 just completed this week, make sure you write a separate lab. report according to the outline given; staple your lab. sheet on the report and make sure your name is on both before you hand them in next Monday.

Dr. Liu

Homework Assignment 9/17/07

Hi All,

The following are the homework assignment assigned on 9/17/2007:

Living Environment 1:

HW #3 (Due Wed. 9/19/2007)
1. Differentiate between independent and dependent variables.
2. Design a controlled experiment for the given statement: "Exercise can affect a person's blood pressure". In this experimental design,
a) Rewrite the statement in the form of a hypothesis.
b) Identify the independent and dependent variable variable from the hypothesis.
c) Identify the control group and the experimental group from your experimental design.

Regent Chemistry 1:
HW #5 (Due tomorrow 9/18/07)
Holt: Read pp. 27~28; pp. 457~459; Do p. 28 Problems #1, 9, 12.

Reminder: All Lab. write-ups are due on the following Monday. Make sure you hand it in on time.

*For Chemistry 1, if you miss the Lab #1 on laboratory safety last week, after Tuesday's 9th period lab for this week we will make up that lab. Make sure you attend that one since I do not give make-up labs as a rule.

Dr. Liu

Assignment for 9/12/2007

Hi All,

Following are the assignments for 9/12/2007 (Due Monday 9/17/2007):

Living Environment 1: Complete Lab. #1 worksheet questions. (If you did not hand in HW#2 on Wednesday, make sure you make it up -- partial credit is better than none).

Regent Chemistry 1: HW #4: Holt Read pp. 21-28; Do p. 28 problems #3, 6, 7, 8.

Have a good weekend!

Dr. Liu

Homework Assignment 9/11/07

Here are the homework assignment for 9/11/07:

Living Enviornment 1: Complete HW#2 (see previous post).

Regent Chemistry 1 (Due 9/12/07): Holt: Read pp.10~19; Do p. 19 Problems #2, 5, 6.

Homework Assignment 9/10/07

Dear All,

The following is the homework assigned on 9/10/2007, makes sure all heading information is on your homework to be handed in (HW #, Assignment pages/problems, Name, Class period, Date):

Living Environment 1: HW #2
Glencoe: Read pp. 11-15; Do p. 15 Problems # 1, 2.
1. Describe the characteristics of science.
2. Define scientific theory.
Due: Wednesday 9/12/2007.

I am still waiting for the books to be inventoried, and before that is done I won't be able to distribute the textbook. Regardless though, I'd like you try to answer those questions which I have typed out over here for your information.

-----------------

Regent Chemistry 1: HW #2
Holt: Read pp. 4~9; Do p. 9 problems # 3, 5, 6, 7
Due: Tuesday 9/11/2007.

------ Remember, I'd like to see that you're putting in the efforts; if I don't see it, you will get a low grade on the HW assignment...

Dr. Liu

Online Text Book Access Info.

Hi All,

I am posting information for accessing online textbook so you can simply copy & paste (eliminate the problem associated with the typos).

Living Environment:
Website: http://www.glencoe.com/sites/common_assets/science/ose/
Login ID: GLNLIVEN07
Password: qOa5LefR

Regent Chemistry:
Website: http://my.hrw.com/
Login ID: ithschem
Password: drliu2006

Make sure you tryout the access to the online textbook this weekend. Assignment based on the textbook will begin on Monday. If you need a textbook, let me know on Monday.

Have a good weekend..

Dr. Liu

Welcome Back ITHS!

Welcome to all my students in Living Environment and Regent Chemistry Classes!

We've begun a new academic year, and I wish that we will all work hard to help make something out of each and everyone of you. Remember, to live you life fully is to give your best to everything that you do; even when we fail we learn something that we can build on to achieve bigger and better things!

HW #1: (All Classes)
1. Student's and Parent's signatures on the student Contract -- Due 9/5/07.
2. Verify whether you can access online textbook from home.

That's all for today...

Homework for the coming week, starting June 11

STUDY FOR REGENTS!!!

Consider using edusolution.com and regentsprep.org to test yourself. I am available during 9th period for extra help.

Also, consider making up any missed labs (numbers 15-22) on Saturday at 11:00 AM.

Good luck and do well on the Regents!

Course Syllabus

Course Curriculum The requirements for this course are as follows: Once these requirements have been fulfilled, a student can then take the Regents Exam in June, 2006. (a) A minimum of 30 Labs. ( 15 Labs. each semester) (b) A passing grade in Living Environment The following Topics will be covered: (I) SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY: (a) The Scientific Method (b) Controlled Experiment (c) Independent and Dependent Variables (d) Graphing Data/ Tables and Charts (II) CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING THINGS: (a) Living vs. Non-Living (b) Similarities amoung Living Things (III) CELLS: (a) Cell Theory (b) Plant and Animal Cell (c) Transport-- Active Transport, Diffusion, Osmosis and Plasmolysis (IV) ORGANIZATION OF LIVING THINGS: (a) Cellular Organization-- Cells->Tissues->Organs->Systems->Organism (b) Living Systems-- An Overview (c) Microscopes--Making Slides and Viewing Cellular Structures (V) HUMAN SYSTEMS: (a) Digestive System (b) Chemistry of Life (c) Circulatory System (d) Respiratory System (e) Excretory System (f) Nervous System (g) Immune System (h) Reproductive System (i) Endocrine System (j) Musculatory and Skeletal Systems (VI) HOMEOSTASIS: (a) Maintaining a Stable Internal Environment (b) Diseases associated with an Imbalance in Homeostasis (VII) CELLULAR RESPIRATION: (a) Where does a cell get their Energy from? (b) Mitochondrial Respiration (VIII) PHOTO-SYNTHESIS: (a) How Plants make their Food (b) Light and Dark Chemical Reactions (IX) ENZYMES: (a) What are Enzymes? (b) What are Catalysts (c) What factors affect the activity of Enzymes? (X) REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT: (a) Asexual and Sexual Reproduction (b) Budding and Conjugation (c) Mitosis: Cell Division (d) Meiosis: Sex Cells (X) FERTILIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT: (a) Haploid (sperm) + Haploid (egg) = Diploid (zygote) (b) Internal Fertilization / External Fertilization (c) Internal Development / External Development (d) Stages of Development of an Embryo: Cleavage, Blastula etc. (e) Embryonic Growth: Placenta and Yolk Sack (XI) DNA: (a) What is DNA? (b) DNA Structure and Chromosomes Structure (c) DNA Replication (d) Importance of Maintaining DNA Structure (XII) RNA: (a) What is RNA (b) RNA Structure and Function (c) Types of RNAs (d) Difference between RNA and DNA (e) What is Transcription? (f) Importance of RNA (XIII) PROTEIN SYNTHESIS: (a) What are Proteins (b) What are Genes (c) How Proteins are Incorporated/Made from Genes (d) What is Translation? (e) What role does DNA and RNA play in Protein Synthesis (f) Disorders and Malfunctions in Protein Synthesis (IVX) MENDELIAN GENETICS: (a) Who was Mendel? (b) Genes, Alleles, Multiple Alleles and Traits (c) Dominance and Recessive genes (d) Laws of Segregation and Independent Assortment (e) Punnet Squares and Test Crosses (f) Incomplete and Complete Dominance (XV) GENETIC DISORDERS: (a) Mutations (b) Sex Linked Diseases (c) Autosomal Diseases (XVI) GENETIC ENGINEERING: (a) Selective Breeding (b) Transformation (Bacteria, Animal and Plant) (c) Transgenic Organisms (d) Cloning (e) Gel Electrophoresis (f) Steps in Analyzing DNA (XVII) EVOLUTION: (a) Charles Darwin and the Galapagos Islands (b) Natural Selection (c) Factors that drive Evolution: Natural Selection Environmental Factors Geographic Isolation Mutations OverPopulation (d) Evolution of Populations (e) Phylogenic Trees (f) Similarities among Organisms (XVIII) ECOLOGY: (a) What is Ecology? (b) Energy Flow and Energy Pyramids: Producers---> Tertiary consumers (c) Food Chains and Food Webs (d) How are Ecosystems Organized? (e) Factors that make up an Ecosystem: Abiotic and Biotic factors (f) Water, Carbon and Nitrogen Cycles (g) Ecological Succession (h) Biomes: Land and Water Biomes (i) Factors affecting Population Growth in Ecosystems (XVIV) HUMANS AND THE ENVIRONMENT