What is the purpose of this lab?
I did this lab because I want to get the points so I can have something, but also I get to do a really small and fun experiment to do and learn about.
What did you need to know to do the lab?
To be able to do this lab and understand it we learned how how to read the electron count on the periodic table and how reaction work. For an example the type of chemical reaction we where learning was a Ionic bond reaction where a element with a spare electron shares it with a element with a almost full electron shell so that they can fill the shell of the other one without making a new element. Water is a good example. The element Oxygen(O) has only 6 electrons with means that the first electron shell is full, but the second one is missing two. The rule for shells is all can only have a maximum of 8 except for the first one with only two. Which mean it need two more the be stable. So by adding two hydrogen which has only one electron. They complete each other To make H20 or Water.
What happened?
For the lab we made water with citric acid and a magnesium. The critic acid has a a extra hydrogen(H) on it which makes reactive. by adding the magnesium takes the acid and ignores the hydrogen leavening go of on its own. So we had put some magnesium ribbons in to start it reacting then quickly putting the balloon on the top to catch the hydrogen. Something cool that happened is that since hydrogen is lighter than air so the balloons floated in the air. My group tried to make it have neutral buoyancy (making something same weight as the thing its in). We almost had it and batting it around was really fun, but now we are going to burn it. By burning the balloon, we will release the hydrogen fast enuff to see some water being made with the hydrogen and oxygen in the air.
What did you do in the lab(your participation)?
Since there was five people in my group and little of the experiment materials to go around. I felt like I did little but in reality I did a lot for what we had, but everyone was willing to do it but only about three where able to do anything for agian, lack of material.
what can you take from this experience, and apply to your other work?
This Will help me understand how Combustion works and better understand the reaction of our rocket motors for are main project.