Friday, November 30, 2007

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

Thursday, November 29, 2007

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

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

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

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

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

Monday, November 26, 2007

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

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

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

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

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

Monday, November 19, 2007

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

Friday, November 16, 2007

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

Thursday, November 15, 2007

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

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

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

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

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

Friday, November 9, 2007

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

Thursday, November 8, 2007

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

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

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

Monday, November 5, 2007

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

Sunday, November 4, 2007

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

Friday, November 2, 2007

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

Thursday, November 1, 2007

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