(Geodesic Domes @ Eden Project in Cornwall. Photo Credit)

In Chemical Bonding chapter of Basic Chemistry Syllabus (O Levels, etc), you have learned about the term Allotropes as well as Macromolecules.

To be more exact, you learned that Allotropes = Compounds with the same element with different structure.

The two examples you learned are Diamond and Graphite, which are Allotropes of Carbon.

Now, i would like to introduce to you another allotrope of carbon that have found so many applications into our daily modern lives. Think of Apple, iPod, iPad, Macbook, iPad, Blackberry, Nokie, smaller and thinner electronics consumable products.

This is FULLERENE. C6o – highly symmetrical spherical football-shaped molecule – which was obtained by firing a powerful laser at a sample of graphite at a temperature of 10, 000 degree Celsius. It was named as Buckminsterfullerene in honour of the architect R. Buckminster Fuller, who used to be the principle of the geodosic dome in many of his buildings.

Molecular Model of C60, Fullerene (Photo credit St Stev)

Look at the molecular structure and you will realised that the alternating 5- and 6-membered rings in C60 gives a bonding pattern similar to the struts in a geodosic dome.

In fact, from the point C60 was found and honoured, other fullerenes such as C70, C76, C78, C90, etc has been synthesized and i expect many more to be synthesize to open up more exciting new areas of Chemistry and its application in the modern world.

As stated earlier on, fullerenes found its many application in the semi-conductors industry.

Now, time for you to put on your thinking caps:

Question:

Is fullerene a good or non-conductor of electricity? Explain with reference to its structure and bonding properties.

(Clue: Refer to structure and bondings in Graphite (Good Conductor) and Diamond (Non-Conductor))

PS: I would love to hear from you. Think about it and leave your comments below. It is actually very easy. =)

(Photo credit Ingy The Wingy)

Besides sharing Chemistry Tips and Exam Strategies, the other aim of this chemistry blogsite is to encourage students to learn the Chemistry Theories and Concepts in a more experiential and interesting way – HOW ? By relating chemistry theories to everyday life processes and experience.

Thermit Process came to my mind several days back when i was passing by the railway track in the west area of Singapore, and today i am going to share with you more on how Thermit Process – which is a highly exothermic reaction is used to weld together steel railway lines. It involves the reduction of iron (III) oxide to iron by aluminium.

Now, let’s check out a chemistry question that requires your concepts in several chemistry topics, namely:

• Energy Changes (Endothermic/Exothermic Reactions)
• Redox (Oxidation/Reduction)
• Mole Calculations

Question:

In the highly exothermic Thermit Process to weld railway lines, aluminium is used to reduce iron (III) oxide to iron based on the balanced chemical equation below:

2Al   +   Fe2O3   ->   Al2O3   +   2Fe

(a) Indicate the state symbols for all the reactants and products involved

(b) Calculate what mass of aluminium is needed to react completely with (more…)

(Photo Credit: pet-rubber-duck)

Books, Books, Books! They are something we cannot do without – be it in leisure (novels, magazines, etc), academic (school textbooks, revision books, workbooks, etc) or self-improvement (motivation, self-development, etc).

Even with the advance of technology, the kindle, the ipad, the macbook, the netbook, etc – we all still need and want books.

In fact there is a group of people that simply love old books. They love the smell, feel and look (usually torn and with dark brown patches) of these old books – usually fragile and tattered.

Now, what causes the book to turn brown, black and fragile? We need to studyinto the manufacturing of papers before they are imprinted with words and binded into books.

Chemistry Concepts behind the Fragile Looks of Old Books:

During paper manufacturing, the chemical Aluminium Sulfate is often used to treat the papers, before they are imprinted with words and binded into books.

Over time, the aluminium ions (due to dissociation from aluminium sulfate) in the paper will react with moisture in the air to produce Hydrogen Ions (H+).

These hydrogen ions break down the Cellulose in the paper (paper is organic in nature and made of cellulose) and make the paper brittle. This is the reason why the pages in old books become very fragile after long use.

Now, can we do something to slow down the rate of the papers of old books becoming fragile? ie, can we slow down the rate of reaction – can we slow down the rate of formation of (more…)

I was surfing the Youtube and came across a youtube video that i had produced sometime in Oct 2008.

It is a pleasant surprise that the video has over 36,000 views after a short one-and-a-half year. Saw many encouraging and interesting comments also.

Set A: COCA-COLA ZERO + MENTOS MINTS
vs.
Set B: PEPSI MAX + MENTOS MINTS

You can check out via the youtube link HERE

As in all chemistry experiment, we have tried to keep all parameters/conditions the same (if not similar):
1. Surrounding Temperature the same
2. Surrounding Pressure the same
3. Volume is the same (both are 1.5L by volume)
4. Equal amount of Mentos Mints were added

PS: Let me know how you feel about this experiment. I would love to hear from you.

PS: Another experiment (failed) also has over 10,000 views.  Check it out HERE.

(Photo credit: mandy&john)

Endothermic and Exothermic Reactions & Processes are commonly observed in our everyday life.

These energy changes are either occurring naturally (combustion/burning, photosynthesis, respiration, boiling, freezing, etc) or being employed by mankind to make our lives better through its numerous application.

One of the most common application is the use of Cold Packs in our daily lives.

When you have a headache, applying a cold pack relieve the pain. Most of the commercially available cold packs contain chemicals which take in heat when they react. This is why cold packs causes a cooling effect on their person’s head and temporarily relieve the pain.

Chemistry Concepts behind the Use of Cold Packs:

What really happens is that when the cold pack is used, the chemicals inside the pack are made to react with each other and this reaction (i call this the SYSTEM) is highly Endothermic in nature – heat energy is taken into the SYSTEM from the SURROUNDING. The SURROUNDING in this case is the (more…)

Dear Readers and Subscribers,

All of us here at SimpleChemConcepts.com & Winners Education Group (parent company) would like to sincerely wish you and your family “Happy New Year” and a most wonderful festive season! This is that special time of year to reflect on all the things we are so grateful for and also a time to set our goals & inspirations as we enter 2010.

2009 was a massive year for me – both personally and on my Chemistry blog / coaching

As we reflect, we acknowledge all the milestones we have achieved in 2009 and all the amazing support that we have received and had the opportunity to give; as well as the spectacular results achieved together.

Thank you all so very much ~ we are eternally grateful!

Let’s take a look at some of the “Best of SimpleChemConcepts.com 2009 (Academic Year)“:

• Chemistry Exam-Based Questions & Answers (Summary): Must-Read for students
• Qualities of a Good Teacher
• Chemistry Phenomenon – Gift from my best friend on his wedding
• Revise Early & Stay Positive – your School Teacher will be Asking You to Quit Chemistry
• How to Revise Effectively for Mid-Year Exams
• How to Revise Quickly & Effectively
• How to Revise for GCE “O” Levels Chemistry Exams: Summary
• Chemistry Exam Preparation – 1 Day before
• Best way to Revise: Review your Past Mistakes, Learn from it
• Professional Guest Speaker @ Association of Professional Trainers, Singapore
• Successful Completion of Organic Chemistry Mastery Workshop (Transformer as Co-Trainer)
• Mole Calculations Challenging Questions 2009: Seems like students still Hates Mole!
• Teacher’s Day 2009: Pleasant & Teary Surprise!
• 2009 Graduation Classes: Proud to have coached these students!
• Errors in Marshall Cavendish Textbook “CHEMISTRY Matters” – 3 parts series
• Score 100% Chemistry MCQ Mastery Workshop – Rave Reviews
• 2009 Dec Holidays Chemistry Revision & Headstart Workshops
• Chemistry Phenomenon – Trip to Perth; A place of Fun & Chemistry

We’re also very excited about entering the next decade together and are looking forward to continuously offering you our best in (more…)

Sean with Kangaroos in Caversham Wildlife Park

This blogpost has been delayed for quite awhile, after we  (Winners Education Group) came back from our backpacking trip to Perth, Western Australia in early December.

The theme of this chemistry blog is meant primarily for students / educators / parents to know more about Chemistry theories and how they are linked to our everyday lives. It is also fused with discussions on Chemistry Tips as well as Exam-based strategies to help students to score in the GCE ‘O’ Levels, IP and IGCSE chemistry examinations.
Having said that, i always believed that “All work but no play makes Jack a dull boy!”. As such, i would like to share with you the other side of me besides being a Chemistry Coach and an author of this chemistry blog. I love to travel and see the world!!!

Let’s get started…

Perth is the capital & largest city of Western Australia. The pace of living over there is so much slower and relaxing as compared to other Australia Cities such as Melbourne and Sydney. Most of the shops & eateries are closed after 6pm and the streets will be quiet at about 8pm.

Enjoying my cup of coffee at 7am in morning

As usual, looking for connection with CHEMISTRY – no wonder my students commented that i “Eat, Sleep & Shit about Chemistry!”

What a discovery! The signage must be there to welcome me!

Besides the City of Perth, we also ventured out to “nearby” National Parks with daily tour operators, and i am amazed with several sites that are linked to Chemistry! Yes! Chemistry theories and terms in real life!

Welcome to The Pinnacles Desert – limestone formations contained within Nambung National Park

The raw material makeup of the Pinnacles are essentially limestone (that is Calcium Carbonate, CaCO3) came from seashells in an earlier (more…)