A Chemistry Tour

 

  1. In the chapter, ŌThe Atmosphere is Massive,Ķ the air is described as having a lot of weight, but people donÕt notice because there is equal pressure everywhere.  How do you know if something is filled with air, or whether ther is a vacuum present which means there is not air?  In some of the readings it talks about vacuums being present.  How can something have a vacuum and not be collapsing?

 

  1. Do atoms have colors?

 

  1. Why does carbonation in water keep it fresher than water without it?  Does this mean when I buy bottled water, the type with carbonation will last longer than the type without?

 

  1. Coleridge describes the strange sensations that nitrous oxide gave him as disappearing almost immediately after he removed the mouthpiece.  Ihave never had laughing gas, but know it is used today in dentistry.  How is it we can knock people out for a long time if Coleridge said the sensations went away as soon as he took the gas away?

 

  1. Do the other sciences such as biology, physics, math, etc, have such well-recorded and interesting evolutions?

 

  1. In the beginning of chemistry, it seemed that there was a strong connection with spirituality (e.g., mythology, religious symbolism, and ideas).  Do you believe that science and spirituality try to separate themselves?  If so, why if the connection between them worked well before?

 

  1. Why were the chemists hesitant in accepting or noticing other discoveries of other chemists?  For example, Priestley continued to believe in the phlogiston theory throughout his life, refusing the idea that the phlogiston theory was disproved.  If the situation were different would science and technology have expanded at a faster rate?

 

  1. Why would Priestly nominate Ms. Fulhame to be part of science society if they had opposite views, especially regarding the phlogiston theory?

 

  1. I donÕt understand how the chemists were able to find the atomic weight and number.  We the information more logical or physical?

 

  1. What makes lactic acids optically active compounds?  What exactly are optically active compounds?

 

  1. What is a free neutron?

 

  1. Page 80.  The question arose in the book, ŌShe was puzzled as to why learned people did not adopt chemistry as a religion.Ķ  This would be good to discuss.

 

  1. How can our internal pressure equal the outside pressure?

 

  1. How do chemists know where to start?

 

  1. Who really discovered oxygen?

 

  1. How was CavendishÕs experiment conducted leading to the discovery of the earthÕs mass?

 

  1. How did the Boylean vacuum pump work?

 

  1. Why were Mercury and Sulfur recognized early as elements and not others?

 

  1. How did Robert Boyle prove air is necessary to transmit sound?

 

  1. The arts and sciences seem to be closely related.  Are there any modern artists who create paintings depicting chemicals (chemical themes)?

 

  1. How closely was religion related to the thought process and theorizing of the elements?

 

  1. How accurate were the devices used in early alchemy?  How did they slow down or prevent discovery?

 

  1. Did witchÕs potions actually work?

 

  1. X-ray crystallography:  What is it?  How does it work?

 

  1. Did early scientists only use detailed pictures to describe their findings?  If so, why wouldnÕt they just write texts about it?

 

  1. Was the idea of chemistry sparked by alchemists because of their concern with the structure of metals?

 

  1. DidnÕt alchemists realize that one cannot change one metal into another?

 

  1. ŌLavoisier is justifiably the father of modern chemistry.Ķ  What sets him apart from the other, more notable, scientists of the time?