Introduction and Chapter One: Geography is DestinyPages 3 – 31

1. As you read, you will encounter words that you may not be familiar with. Record and define at least nine of these words.

2. What is the connection between mercury, Dr. Rush’s Bilious Pills, and Lewis & Clark? 3. Which element’s symbol comes from the word hydragyrum and what does this word mean in Latin? 4. An electron configuration is simply the distribution of electrons in atomic orbitals. On page 11, you will find

an abbreviated electron configuration, [Xe]6s24f15d1. After doing some research, determine which element this abbreviated electron configuration represents.

5. On page 13, the author mentions that there are 112 elements “as of now.” This book was written in 2010, however. Are there still only 112 elements?

6. There are only two elements on the Periodic Table that are liquids at room temperature, which ones are they?

7. Leucippus and Democritus invented the idea of the atom. Who minted the term, “elements” and what does it mean?

8. Virtually every element seeks out other atoms to form bonds with, bonds that mask its nature. This returns to the theme of The Symposium and Plato’s theory. What was Plato’s theory?

9. Which element on the Periodic Table has never reacted with another substance and has therefore, only been a pure element?

10. What is it called when atoms lose or gain electrons to form charged atoms? 11. Using the book, summarize at least one half of this chemistry course in one sentence. 12. What analogy does the author use to describe the size of an atom, electrons, and the proton-rich nucleus? 13. According to the author, who was the best scientist never to win the Nobel Prize? 14. Briefly describe the difference between weak acids like vinegar and strong acids like sulfuric acid? 15. According to the pH scale, how much does dropping one unit (from 6 to 5) boost an acid’s strength? 16. What is the strongest solo acid? 17. During World War II, Lewis was passed over for the Manhattan Project, which is perhaps the most

vitalizing exchange of scientific ideas ever. After some research, briefly describe what the Manhattan Project was.

18. What smell is a sign of cyanide gas? 19. Why were the lanthanides and actinides moved to the bottom of the periodic table? 20. What percentage of an atom’s mass is the nucleus? 21. What is the variation of atoms with different numbers of neutrons called? 22. What is the simplest and most abundant element in the universe? 23. According to Geoppert-Myer, magic happens at atomic numbers 2, 8, 20, 28, 50, and 82. After some

research, determine what the last “magic number” is. 24. Describe the nucleus’ shape, element’s abundance, and steadiness of elements stranded far between two

magic numbers? 25. Which ones are more intimately related, elements in the same column, latitudinal neighbors, or elements in

the same row, horizontal neighbors?

Due Date: ____________________________________ Anchor Point Value: 25 points