
Web Links
Unit A
1.0: The understanding that particles make up the underlying structure of matter has led to advancements in technology
Text Pages 4-5
Methane Hydrate - check out the following links for more information on this promising and controversial new energy source:
- Methane Gas Hydrate - has a movie of the substance burning.
- Methane Clathrate - an excellent overview of methane hydrate as a potential energy source.
Text Page 7
Safety in the Laboratory - these links will supply you with excellent support in your quest to create a safe learning environment in your science lab:
- Alberta Safe & Fair Workplaces - information for new and young workers on workplace safety.
- ScienceAware - everything from general lab safety to weird science stories.
- High School Lab Safety - discussions of protective equipment and proper lab procedures.
- Laboratory Fire Safety - information, prevention and procedures regarding fires in science labs.
- Lab Safety Contract - an agreement (.pdf format) between student and teacher for a safe lab experience.
- The Glassware Gallery - solutions and guides for setting up your chemistry experiments.
Text Page 8
What are Household Hazardous Wastes? - Alberta Environment's guide for dealing with dangerous chemicals in the home.
Text Pages 9-10
Laboratory Guidelines - consulting these sources will help you acquire the chemical and safety information you need:
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety - an MSDS database showing chemical products used in hundreds of Canadian companies.
- Material Safety Data Sheets on the Internet - a collection of several free sites that supply MSDS information.
- The Development of the MSDS - would you believe the history of the "MSDS" dates back over 4000 years!
Text Page 13
Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter - the fundamental methods that we use to classify matter.
- Physical Properties of matter - a flowchart to define which properties are physical properties.
- More on the Physical Properties of Matter - discusses physical properties based on the amount of matter present.
- Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter
Text Page 14
Pure Substances and Mixtures - there are several categories substances may belong to based on their composition and purity.
- Elements, Compounds & Mixtures - an overview of this classification of matter.
- Physical and Chemical Properties: A Review - includes properties and evidence of change in both physical and chemical areas.
- Cereal Flake Races - physical properties of molecules in a mixture retain their original properties. Don't believe that's really iron?
Text Page 16
Evidence of Chemical Change - new substances formed, gases released, energy change, distinct colour change and change in odour are pieces of evidence that indicate chemical change has occurred.
- Evidence of Chemical Change - check the list against your observations.
- Chemical vs. Physical Changes - a guide through the differences between these two terms.
Text Pages 18
Food Safety - don't get sick! Learn more about food preservation:
- Food Safety through the Ages - this page follows the various methods of food preservation from ancient times to present day.
- US Center for Home Food Preservation - general information, plus how-to guides on each type of preservation.
Text Page 18
Traditional Approaches to Chemistry - native cultures employed basic chemistry priniciples. Find out more at these sites:
- Ancient Egyptian Science - how this civilization may have provided the beginnings of early chemistry.
- Traditional Herbal and Plant Knowledge - focusing on the Anishinaabeg, a First Nations group from the Great Lakes area.
Text Pages 19-20
Metallurgy - learn more about the science of metal extraction:
- A Short History of Metals - metallurgy through the ages.
- Early Civilizations and Copper - traces copper and its importance to early civilizations.
- Coppers of the 'Ksan - an explanation of these important traditional artworks.
Text Page 20
Famous Greek Philosophers - here are two very famous Greeks:
Text Page 21
Early Chemistry and Chemists - the history of chemistry has many fascinating moments:
- A Brief History of Alchemy - a site explaining the confusing and mystical art of alchemy... with a great Flash interface option as well!
- About Alchemists - a discussion of the 2000 years of alchemy, with an optional RealAudio spoken-word file.
- Robert Boyle - a biography of Robert Boyle.
Text Pages 21-22
Early Atomic Theory - learn more about the scientists and developments that led to the modern model of the atom:
- Atomic Structure Timeline - an excellent chemistry timeline with links to all of the major players involved in the development of chemistry as we know it.
- John Dalton - developer of the theory that all matter was made of tiny, indestructible particles.
- JJ Thomson - discoverer of electrons, without whose invention TV would be impossible!
- JJ Thomson speaks - a lecture from Thomson on the nature of the electron.
Text Page 23
Ernest Rutherford - a Biography - from the site commemorating his 1908 Nobel prize.
Text Page 23
Ernest Rutherford - Atomic Theory - an illustrated description of this famous experiment, where alpha particles are shot through gold foil.
Text Page 24
Atomic Theory - all you could want to know about atomic theory.
Text Pages 24-25
Deep into the Atom - here are some very interesting sites for in-depth atomic information:
- A Different Approach to the atom - an introduction to quantum mechanics and the resulting model of the atom.
- The Nucleus - a discussion of strong nuclear forces.
- The ABCs of Nuclear Science - an explanation of nuclear forces.
- The Quantum Atom - knowing that each element emits a unique colour allows us to understand electrons and their position in the atom.
Text Page 26
Chemical Engineers - an exciting occupation in the field of science.
- www.chemicalengineer.com - the site for all information about his exciting career.
- Being a Chemical Engineer in Alberta - everything you need to know, from schooling to career opportunities.
2.0: Elements combine to form many substances, each with its own set of properties
Text Page 28
The Chemistry of Colour - for many people, knowledge of chemistry allows for beautiful colours.
- Dye Chemistry - if you do hands-on work with colours, pigments and chemistry are very important to you.
Text Page 25
Properties of Matter - how to tell apart all those elements in a crowded room.
- Properties of Matter - a flow chart approach to defining matter.
- Metals. Nonmetals & Metalloids - a nice summary of properties.
- Matter - an interactive guide to what is matter.
Text Page 25
Fullerenes - also known as buckyballs, have been touted for everything from new microprocessors to a cure for AIDS.
Text Page 26
The Periodic Table - some handy sites for review of this amazing organizational device.
- The History of the Periodic Table - like knowing who invented the alphabet!
- Dmitriy Mendeleev - the inventor of the periodic table, from the website of Moscow State Univeristy.
- Periodic Table of the Elements - looks great, and has tons of information about each and every element.
- The Wooden Periodic Table - a fun source of information on the periodic table, plus lots of great photos.
- The Periodic Table - a periodic table that, with a simple mouse rollover, provides plenty of information.
- The Chemicool Periodic Table - the Fonzie of peri.. wait, you don't know who Fonzie is, do you? Ayyyyyy!
- Visual Elements Periodic Table - HTML or Flash versions, with the latter so pretty you might catch yourself staring!
- It's Elemental-Periodic Table - another good source of information on each element.
- Periodic Table handouts - .pdf files of various periodic tables, including one that is totally blank.
Text Page 31
Transition Metals - a special group of metals worth reading about.
Text Page 32
Atomic Theory - three subatomic particles and a whole lot of empty space.
- The Atom - an overview of many of the concepts covered in science 10.
- Is the Atom Fundamental? - use the arrows in the top right corner to navigate towards the answer.
- Electron Energy Level diagrams - where electrons are found around their nucleus. Has a nice quiz as well.
- Whizzy Periodic Table - showing the electron energy shells for the lighter elements.
Text Page 32
Supernovas - amazing subatomic shenanigans on a massive scale.
- Distant Supernova (SN1997ff) - an actual supernova found with the Hubble Space Telescope, shown in excellent images.
- Latest Supernovae - the "CNN" of supernovae, up-to-date information and images of each newly discovered supernova.
Text Pages 33-34
Atomic number, Mass number, Atomic molar mass & Isotopes - it all sounds confusing, but it will clear up after you skim through these links.
- Atomic Number - the number of protons (positively charged particles) in the nucleus. There is also a quick explanation of isotopes here.
- Isotopes - what they are, and how their different atomic masses are measured.
Text Pages 34-35
Ions - as every element tries to become as stable as possible, ions are formed as electrons are gained and lost.
- Looking at Ions - a nice introduction to ions, and a discussion of valence electrons.
- Ions and Compounds - how ions join to form compounds.
- Ion Propulsion- how ion propulsion engines work for space travel.
Text Page 35
Sodium's reaction with water - sodium, a very reactive element!
- Sodium and Potassium in water - a movie showing how badly these metals want to gain electrons?
- Step-by-step guide to the Sodium.Water Experiment - video showing the safety and procedure of this lab demo.
- When good labs go bad - testing the pH and temperature of a sodium/water reaction - a good example of a poorly planned and definitely NOT recommended procedure.
Text Page 35
Reactivity of Metals - it was questions such as this that helped Mendeleev to devise experiments that lead to the development of the periodic table.
- The Reactivity of Metals - descriptions, examples and a ranking of most to least reactive metals.
- Alkali Metals and Reactivity - movies showing the increase in reactivity as we move the alkali metal family. Text Page 36
Combining Capacity (valence) - different elements, and groups, gain and lose different numbers of electrons.
- Valence Electrons - everything you could want to know about valence electrons.
- Lewis Diagrams for Compound Formation - showing valence electrons' interaction in compound formation, as well as elements in a periodic table layout.
Text Page 38
The Octet Rule - an explanation with some practice problems as well.
Text Page 38
Discovering New Elements - since the mid twentieth century, new elements have been discovered, but not in ways you might imagine!
- The Search for Heavy Elements - a discussion of almost every element discovered after uranium.
- Naming the Rarest of Atoms - the process is not over once a new element is discovered.
- My Romance with the Transuranium Elements - an article written by the man who has discovered many of the elements found in the past 50 years.
- Element 118: The Scandal - sometimes they are really too rare to be true.
Text Pages 40-41
Ionic Compounds - joining one positive and one negative ion together.
- Ionic Bonding - definition, examples and crystal lattice illustration.
- The Formation of Table Salt - a great video showing the formation of table salt, with an animated explanation that follows.
Text Pages 42-43
Naming Ionic Compounds - the steps to follow to correctly write and name ionic compounds.
- Ionic Formula Unit - the formula written with the most reduced set of subscripts for each atom.
- Chemical Nomenclature - a nice review of naming chemical compounds.
Text Pages 46-47
Compound Basics - a contrast between ionic and molecular compounds.
Text Page 47
- Covalent vs Ionic Bonds - simple illustration of the fundamental differences.
- Electron Sharing and Covalent Bonds - an interactive explanation.
Text Page 48
Molecular Elements - certain nonmetals form covalent bonds between a single type of atom to form larger, pure structures made of single elements.
- Diatomic & Polyatomic Elements - an explanation and illustration of these special nonmetals.
Text Page 48
Mercury - a liquid metal? A polyatomic ion? This is worth some reSEARCH!
- Mercury - just the facts.
- Mad as a Hatter? - you will be after you read this.
Text Page 51
Writing a Hypothesis - If you learn how to write an effective hypothesis, then you will have a rewarding experience in your science labs.
- Writing Hypotheses: A Student Lesson - how to write a good hypothesis, then how to write an excellent one! Also see the proper formatting of a hypothesis, and how to link the hypothesis with your conclusion.
Text Pages 51-52
Properties of Ionic Compounds - solid at room temperature, conducts electricity in a solution, high melting point, and other important details.
- Characteristics of Ionic Compounds - another nice overview.
- Cesium Chloride: An Ionic Compound - a nice look into the crystal lattice of this compound.
- Mixing Ionic Materials with Water - step-by-step guide examining individual water and salt molecules.
Text Page 55
Electrolytes - in a solution with water, ionic compounds are often called electrolytes.
- The Mercury Cell - this process, using the process of electrolysis, is an industrial standard, although toxic mercury is rarely the anion now.
- Electrolysis: Fuel on Mars - a hypothetical source of fuel for travel on the red planet.
Text Page 56
Precipitates and the Sugar Beet - sometimes precipitates can cause problems.
Text Pages 56-58
Solubility - Different solutions interact in different ways - from no reaction to violent reaction! We can predict with accuracy what will happen based on some rules of solubility.
- Predicting Precipitation Reactions - impress your friends at parties with your amazing ability to see into the future...
- Predicting Solubility of Ionic Compounds in Water
Text Pages 58-59
Properties of Molecular Compounds - two non-metals sharing electrons.
- Properties of Covalent Compounds - a list of properties common to molecular compounds.
- Comparison of Properties of Ionic and Covalent Compounds - a side-by-side comparison of properties.
Text Page 59
Molecular Compounds as Crystals - even though many crystals are ionic compounds, there are some interesting molecular crystals as well.
- Crystals - did you know that glass is not really solid, but is a supercooled liquid?
- Snow Crystals - a whole website dedicated to snow.
- Wintergreen Lifesavers Spark Debate - why do sparks shoot from your teeth when you chew wintergreen lifesavers? Covalent crystal structures, of course.
Text Page 60
Special Properties of Water - as weird as water is, it is a good thing there is so much of it around!
- IAPWS - The International Association for the Properties of Water and Steam.
- Water Science for Schools - this site is all wet in a good way!
- Water is Weird - there are some very unique properties of water.
- Water Properties - start with a water quiz to see how much you really know.
- The Chemistry of Water - how being polar helps to make water so unique.
- Antarctica Ice - facts about this important mass of sea ice.
Text Page 60
Hydrogen Bonds - for a weak bond, they are responsible for some important things.
- The Chemistry of Water - hydrogen bonds, "the glue of life".
- The Hydrogen Bond - the attraction much weaker than ionic or covalent bonds.
- Polarity in Water - hydrogen bond formation in water.
- Hydrogen Bonds - some biological effects of the hydrogen bond.
- The Secret Nature of Hydrogen Bonds - water just gets stranger and stranger.
- Intermolecular Bonding: Hydrogen Bonds - several substances that rely on these bonds are mentioned.
- New Ways to Investigate the Hydrogen Bonds in DNA - the weakest, the most important, the least understood, and the hardest to measure bonds there are.
Text Pages 62-63
Acids and Bases - almost every liquid we use is an acid or base. Do you know which is which?
- Acids and Bases - an introduction and glossary of terms.
- Acid Animation - a great animated discussion of the ions responsible.
- Acids, Alkalis and Neutral Substances - properties, animations and illustrations.
- Acids, Bases and pH - how water contributes to acidity.
- Properties of Acids and Bases - some video hi-lights.
- Acids and Bases - while this site can be a slow-loader, there are some terrific illustrations and animations.
- Blood, Sweat and Exercise - how the body's pH changes during physical activity.
- pH in plain language - what it is, and how it is used.
Text Page 62
Ascorbic Acid Fact Sheet - how much do you know about vitamin C?
Text Page 62
Indigestion - not all biological experiences with acids are pleasant.
- Dyspepsia - not a pleasant problem.
- Acid Indigestion & Heartburn - prevention, treatment, and more.
Text Page 63
Indicators - if there is no probe available for accurate pH readings, a chemical indicator can reveal approximate pH values.
- Some Common Indicators - a list of indicators and their colours at different pH levels.
- pH Detection - click on the indicator names on the right to see what pH, and what colours, to look for.
- How Simple pH Indicators work - an in-depth explanation on how and why.
- Universal Indicators - one product that tries to do it all.
- Universal Indicator video - showing the range of pH it can reveal.
Text Page 64
Acid Rain - along with the greenhouse effect and the ozone layer, one of the most publicized effects humans have had on the environment.
- Acid Rain - the Environment Canada site for national information.
- Environmental Effects of Acid Rain - the impact on nature is studied.
- Acid Rain - an encylcopedia of information.
Text Page 64
What are Acids and Bases? - we know an acid has a low pH, but what does that really mean?
- Acids & Bases - an illustrated introduction to acids and bases.
- Acids & Bases - a tour through the world of pH.
Text Pages 64-65
Naming Acids - an introduction to the sometimes confusion world of acid names.
- Nomenclature of Inorganic Acids - a nice overview of rules, with practice questions at the end.
- Naming Acids - some tips.
Text Page 65
Strong and Weak Acids - if you can transfer your H or OH, you are strong like ox!
- Strong and Weak Acids and Bases - uses examples to explain.
- Acid/Base Reactions - an explanation and many examples.
Text Page 66
Vitamin C - very good references on this vital vitamin:
- Vitamin C Concentration in various foods - relative concentration of vitamin C from several sources.
- Vitamin C? - Everything you ever wanted to know about vitamin C.
- Concentration of Vitamin C in Fruit Juices - look familiar?
- Vitamin C and Smoking - a study that seems to show smoking - even exposure to second hand smoke - lowers vitamin C levels in your body.
Text Page 67
Recognizing Acids and Bases by their Formulas - as a rule of thumb, if it starts with H it can be an acid, and if it end in OH then it could be a base.
- Acid and Base Formulas - an in-depth look at naming.
- Recognizing Formulas - look for the hydrogen and oxygen, and see what they are bonded with.
Text Page 67
Distilling Acidic Polluted Water - a way of dealing with a threat to drinking water supplies?
- Home Drinking Water Treatment Systems - explanations of distillation included.
- Solar Still - natural source of energy for clean water.
Text Page 68
Muriatic Acid - there are several uses for it around the home - just be careful!
Text Page 68
Neutralization - acid + base --> water + salt
- Neutralization - an 'animated' explanation of the theory behind neutralization.
- Neutralization - all about neutralization.
Text Page 70
Hazardous Chemical Materials - there are many chemicals that we rely on that become hazardous once we dispose of them.
- Waste Management in Alberta - links to answer all your hazardous waste questions in the province.
- Household Hazardous Waste Program - proper disposal practices.
- Hazardous Waste Treatment Plant - the Swan Hills, Alberta website.
- CFCs - what they are, their historical uses, and their effect on the ozone layer, as well as the benefits of phasing them out and recycling them.
Text Page 71
Alcohol - a toxic chemical knowingly abused by people.
- Alcohol, Chemistry and You - complete account of alcohol and its effects.
- Alcohol - AADAC's information on alcohol.
Text Page 72
Nicotine - usually delivered in a toxic mix known as tobacco.
- Nicotine Addiction can begin in days - research article plus teacher guide.
- Nicotine- history plus effects of nicotine.
- Nicotine - what is it, effects of smoking, and effects of quitting smoking.
- Nicotine Junkies - information on nicotine addiction.
- The Truth - an excellent website that leaves no doubt as to where they stand on smoking and tobacco companies.
- The Alberta Campaign for Action on Tobacco - see what recommendations this group has to reduce smoking in our province.
- Action on Smoking and Health - how effective is anti-smoking legislation?
Text Page 73
Benzene - a very toxic material that is found on many worksites.
- Benzene - an encyclopedia of information.
- Benzene - a fact sheet answering the most frequently asked questions about this toxic substance.
- Benzene Levels - information from Alberta Environment.
Text Page 74
Chemistry-Related Careers - there are many careers that require chemistry knowledge, including food technology and cosmetics formulation.
- Careers in Chemistry in Alberta - look up information on becoming a Chemical Engineer, Chemical Engineering Technologist, Chemical Technologist or Chemist... or maybe a high school science teacher?
- Institute of Food Technologists - a site for this profession.
- Working as a Cosmetics Formulator - the chemistry behind looking so good.
Text Page 75
Acetone - striking a balance between using a useful chemical and disposing of it safely can be difficult.
- ToxFAQs for Acetone - good information from the Agency for Toxic Substances.
- Toxilogical Profile for Acetone
3.0: Chemical change is a process that involves recombining atoms and energy flows
Text Page 78
Chemical Change - recombine atoms to produce new molecules.
- Solid Rocket Boosters - the large rockets that take payloads out of Earth's punishing atmosphere and gravity.
- Camera on External Tank gives unique view - a video showing a shuttle launch from a camera attached to the large external fuel tank.
Text Page 79
Examples of Chemical Change - look for the formation of new substances, or sometimes more subtle clues.
- What is a Chemical Reaction? - plus examples.
- Chemical Reactions - the basics.
- Chemical Change in a Flashlight - a description and interactive demonstration.
- Rechargeable Batteries - an explanation of these money-saving devices.
- What is Ethylene? - and what processes is it involved in?
Text Pages 79-80
Chemical Reactions that form Gases - generally thought of as explosions, although some are very fast, and others are very slow.
- The Chemistry Behind an Airbag - a reaction that can save lives in a millisecond.
Text Page 81
Exothermic Reactions - reactions that give off energy as heat, light, electricity or sound.
- Exothermic Reactions - theory behind exothermic reactions.
- Exothermic Reactions - theory plus a set of fill-in-the-blank review questions.
Text Page 81
Endothermic Reactions - theory plus a set of fill-in-the-blank review questions.
Text Page 81
The Kinetic Molecular Theory - everything is made up of particles, the particles are always moving, and the particles often collide with each other.
- Kinetic Molecular Theory - an introduction.
- Kinetic Theory - a simulation where you choose the number of particles and animation speed, and watch the number of collisions go up.
- Energy Transfers in Chemical Reactions - advanced discussion of the various types and amounts of energy required for a chemical reaction to take place. A discussion on rates of reaction as well.
- Reactions - a discussion that includes energy as a factor in rates of chemical reactions.
Text Page 82
Biochemical Reactions - reactions that are directly responsible for life on Earth.
- What is Photosynthesis? - an overview of water + carbon dioxide + sunlight.
- Photosynthesis
Text Page 82
Making Inferences - coming to a conclusion based on the evidence presented to you.
- Inference Rubric - where would your inference skills be?
- An Uncritical Inference Test - look at all the evidence before making an inference.
Text Pages 83-85
Conservation of Mass - no matter how large the chemical changes may appear, no matter is either created or destroyed.
- Antoine Lavoisier - the history of how Lavoisier discovered this important law.
- Conservation of Mass - with animated tutorial.
Text Page 85
Forest Fires in Alberta - how large a contribution do forest fires make to the greenhouse gases released in Alberta?
- An Open Letter to the Premier - Kyoto, greenhouse gases and what some feel needs to be done.
- Fighting fire in the forest - has an interesting take on climate as well.
Text Page 86
Writing Chemical Equations - using chemical symbols and formulas to represent the formation of new substances.
- Chemical Word Equations - practice writing reactants and products.
- Word Equations in Biology - photosynthesis and cellular respiration written in word equations.
Text Page 86
First Noble Gas Compound Ever Produced - at UBC, xenon reacted with fluorine gas.
Neil Bartlett - the UBC scientist who was responsible for xenon difluoride.
Text Pages 87-88
Writing Balanced Formula Equations - by the Law of Conservation of Mass, every atom must be accounted for.
- Practice Balancing Equations - and get feedback immediately.
- Writing Word Equations - steps to write a balanced reaction from a word description.
Text Page 89
Catalysts - get things going in a chemical reaction.
Text Page 91
Five Simple Types of Chemical Reactions - similar characteristics among millions of chemical changes allow scientists to classify them into groups.
- The Categories of Chemical Reactions - a review of the five reactions, plus a mention of acid/base reactions.
- Classifications of Chemical Reactions
Text Page 91
Fuel Cell Technology - alternative fuel for the future.
- How Fuel Cells Work - a great overview.
- What is a Fuel Cell, and how does it work? - described as the reverse of electrolysis.
Text Pages 91-93
Formation Reactions - A + B --> AB, also known as synthesis reactions, creating a compound.
- Synthesis Reactions
- Sodium + Chlorine: Pass the Salt, please - formation of table salt, includes video of reaction. Part of the excellent reaction collection at Angelo State University.
- Burning Magnesium - the formation of magnesium oxide, includes a video of the reaction.
- Reaction of Chlorine with Iron - the formation of iron (III) chloride, includes images of the reaction.
- Burning Iron - iron burns in pure oxygen, includes a video.
Text Page 94
Decomposition Reactions - AB --> A + B, the breaking down of a compound.
- Decomposition Reactions
- Ozone - the formation reaction as well as its decomposition (by uv radiation or CFCs), and the health effects of too much ozone depletion.
- Electrolysis of Water - using a Hoffman apparatus, with video.
- Thermal Decompositions - copper (II) carbonate decomposition.
Text Page 95
Hydrocarbon Combustion Reactions - hydrocarbon + oxygen --> carbon dioxide + water.
- Combustion - commonly known as burning.
- Wood Combustion in Pure Oxygen - the rapid combustion of wood in pure oxygen, includes a video of the reaction.
Text Pages 96-97
Single Replacement Reactions - A + BC --> B + AC
Text Pages 100-101
Double Replacement Reactions - AB + CD --> AC + BD
- Double Replacement Reactions
- Lead (II) nitrate + sodium iodide - still images of the formation of a precipitate.
- Sodium iodide + silver nitrate - formation of a precipitate.
Text Page 105
The Haber Process - the formation of ammonia from hydrogen and nitrogen.
- Haber Process - chemical background of this important industrial process.
- The Effect of the Haber Process on Fertilizers - on agriculture and explosives.
- Ammonia - a description of this important industrial chemical.
- Fritz Haber - the father of modern chemical warfare?
- The Tragedy of Fritz Haber - there is more to this story about nitrogen than you might think.
Text Pages 107-111
The Mole - can you think of a better name for 6.02 X 1023 of something?
- The History of the Mole - from Avogadro to covering Texas in sand.
- Amedeo Avogadro - who he was, and his contributions to science.
- National Mole Day Foundation - how many shopping days until the next mole day?
Text Page 108
What is Molar Mass? - a definition, plus a guide to finding the atomic molar mass of a compound.
Text Page 111
Moles & The Law of Conservation of Mass - balance the number of atoms in a chemical equation.
- Conservation of Mass in Chemical Reactions - where moles, molar mass and multiple molecules meet.
- What is Stoichiometry? - you do not need to know all of this yet, but your foot is now in the stoichiometric door.
Text Page 114
Air Quality - the impact of air quality legislation affects our health and the environment, while at the same time furthering scientific discovery.
- CASA Data Warehouse - the Alberta Ambient Air Data Management System (AAADMS).
- Cleanair.ca - a website for Canadians concerned about clean air.
Text Page 115
Chemical Reactions Involving Magnesium - this alkaline earth shows some typical properties when reacting with various compounds.
Magnesium - properties of this element, including reactivity with different groups.
Unit B
1.0: Investigating the energy flow in technological systems requries an understanding of motion, work, and energy
Text Page 124
Hero's Pop Can Engine - you can construct a Hero's engine model from a pop can. This site provides movies to demonstrate the construction, and also poses questions. Note the links on the left hand side for easy navigation through the activity.
Text Page 124
Hero Engine Links - there are many interesting information and activity pages available regarding the Hero's steam engine:
- Soda Can Pop Engine - NASA's version of the pop can Hero engine.
- Hero's Engine Pictures - clear photos of several versions of Hero's engine.
- History of Hydraulics: Hero of Alexandria - a good summary page that shows original Hero invention illustrations and describes several of them.
Text Page 124
Brief History of Rockets - this NASA page chronicles rocketry from Hero's engine all the way up to modern military rockets and satellites.
Text Page 124
The Apollo Missions - some of NASA's most exciting space adventures:
- The Apollo Program - NASA's page devoted to the Apollo missions. By clicking on any of the missions, you will be taken a detailed description of the spacecraft and missions, with excellent photographs, and even movies of the mission broadcasts.
- Project Apollo - great information.
Text Page 126
The Route of the Tour de France - an animated view of the entire route on an excellent map of France.
Text Page 127
How Maglev Trains Work - very good description of electromagnetic propulsion.
Text Page 127-130
1-D Kinematics - an excellent series of motion description tutorials:
Text Page 131-133
Describing Motion with Velocity vs. Time Graphs - another excellent motion description tutorial!
Text Page 132
Speedy Animals and Machines! - try the following links to get you started on the fastest of everything:
- Animals
- Extreme Science Index of World Records
- Track and Field Events
- M2P2 - the fastest space propulsion (simulation movies)
- Physics Factbook
Text Page 137
Scalar and Vector Quantities - can't quite understand? Try these sites, they do a great job of explaining the difference:
Text Page 139-140
Motion in Two Dimensions - clear examples, and you can quiz yourself too!
Text Page 139-140
Vector Fundamentals - get all the basics here!
Text Page 141-143
Velocity - clear examples, and you can quiz yourself too!
Text Page 144
WWW Unit Converter - this is just one of many good unit conversion utilities on the Internet.
Text Page 146-147
Acceleration - clear examples, and you can quiz yourself too!
Text Page 146-153
Acceleration Records - it's tough to find good data on acceleration, but try searching these sites:
Text Page 146-153
1-D Kinematics - an excellent series of motion description tutorials:
- Lesson 1: Describing Motion with Words
- Lesson 2: Describing Motion with Diagrams
- Lesson 3: Describing Motion with Position vs. Time Graphs
- Lesson 4: Describing Motion with Velocity vs. Time Graphs
- Lesson 5: Free Fall and the Acceleration of Gravity
- Lesson 6: Describing Motion with Equations
Text Page 155-156
Newton's Laws of Motion - a description of all three laws in detail.
Text Page 155-156
Did you ever wonder what it would be like to pop a water balloon in space? - NASA's microgravity science division does the experiment for you, and shows you the result with QuickTime movies. An excellent way to start your study of balanced forces.
Text Page 155-156
Newton's First Law of Motion - an excellent tutorial that includes clear diagrams and poses some excellent questions about balanced and unbalanced forces.
Text Page 155-156
Physics Glossary - confused by all the terms used to describe motion in physics? Read over this list of terms and all will become clear!
Text Page 155-156
Amusement Park Physics Free Fall - this site explains the forces involved in those scary rides! Don't miss the weightless water trick at the bottom of the page.
Text Page 155-156
Forces, Accelerations & Car Accidents - this collection of movies portray graphic examples of the effect of large forces on objects (and the consequences in vehicle collisions).
Text Page 157
Definition and Mathematics of Work - for a clear explanation of what constitutes work. Once you have read the lesson, try some of the questions.
Text Page 157
Work-Energy Theorem - Just because you apply a force does not mean work is done! Once you have read the lesson, try some of the questions.
Text Page 159-160
All About Energy - the following links will tell you more about the Joule (and the scientist the unit was named after):
- Watt's a Joule? - an entertaining introduction to the concept of energy.
- The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester: Joule and Energy - an amazing site that includes multimedia presentations on Joule and his experiments, hosts a virtual question and answer session with James Joule, and explains his scientific work in detail.
- Energy Lesson - this lesson thoroughly explains potential and kinetic energy, and Joule's role in demonstrating energy conversions. A mini potential-kinetic energy conversion experiment is included!
- What Type of Energy Is It? - an entertaining introduction to different energy types and forms.
2.0: Energy in mechanical systems can be described both numerically and graphically
Text Page 164
University of Waterloo museum of games - check out the other games of the Inuit.
Text Pages 165-166
The Joseph Henry Papers Project - a large site hosted by the Smithsonian Institution, devoted to the life and work of Joseph Henry.
Text Page 165-166
The Life and Work of Michael Faraday - try the following links for more information on the fascinating life of Faraday:
- Michael Faraday - wonderful information on one of history's most important scientists.
- Historic Figures: Michael Faraday - a great summary of his life from the BBC.
Text Pages 168-169
Is it Possible to Generate Electricity Directly from Heat? - it turns out there are several ways it can be done - some of the ways are described here.
Text Pages 168-170
Thermodynamics Science Toys - here are some ideas for constructing simple toys that demonstrate the laws of thermodynamics and energy conversion. Make sure you take appropriate safety precautions before building any of these toys.
Text Pages 169-170
Count Rumford - visit the following sites to learn more about the man and the scientist:
- Count Rumford - did you he is responsible for improving the design of fireplaces? Find out more here.
- Rumford, Benjamin Thompson - a short but informative biography.
Text Pages 173-177
Potential Energy and Energy Conversions - how does energy change forms? Find out exactly what happens with the following links:
- Potential Energy - here you will find a good description of how to determine an object's potential energy. When you have read the tutorial, try the questions.
- Bouncing Balls - such a simple activity, but it's an excellent illustration of the conversion of potential to kinetic energy, and back again. Part of the Science of Baseball site - you may also want to visit the Science of Hockey site for more discussions of motion and energy.
- How Roller Coasters Work - there is no better example of interacting potential and kinetic energy than a roller coaster. Learn all about the intricacies of coasters at this site.
- Mechanical Energy - this type of energy can be hard to understand - it is the energy due to an object's motion and/or stored energy. This site has many excellent mechanical energy examples and descriptions.
Text Pages 173-177
Pyramids: The Inside Story - amazing amounts of energy went into the construction of the pyramids. Find out more about them at this amazing resource from NOVA, which lets you thoroughly explore the pyramids.
Text Page 177
Acceleration Due to Gravity - the following links will point you in the right direction if you want to perform an experiment on gravity determination, and also provide some numbers for gravity at different locations on Earth.
Text Pages 179-181
Kinetic Energy - your key to energy in motion:
- Kinetic Energy - learn what kinetic energy is and how it is measured. Includes a few kinetic energy questions.
- Kinetic Energy - this site focuses on the concept of kinetic energy with a good definition and example.
Text Page 181
Windpower.org - this is the ultimate place to start your search for windpower information. Videos, activities, links, quizzes and much more.
Text Pages 186-188
The Circular Motion of a Pendulum - why does a pendulum's back-and-forth motion turn into a circular motion? Find out why at these links:
Text Pages 190-194
Energy Conversions - the links below lead to good descriptions of several types of energy converters:
- How Hydropower Plants Work - the ins and outs of hydro power.
- How Nuclear Power Works - the ins and outs of nuclear power plants.
- How Solar Cells Work - a very well done set of pages answers all your solar cell questions.
Text Page 194
NASA Human SpaceFlight: The International Space Station - does the ISS intrigue you? It is a marvel of engineering - find out more about it from this NASA page devoted to it. It is an especially good example of solar cell application. You may also want to check out these detailed pages that cover all the aspects of the ISS engineering and function.
Text Page 195
Aprilia Enjoy Fuel Cell Bicycle - information on Time Magazine's 2001 "Inventions of the Year", the fuel-cell powered bicycle.
Text Page 195
Fuel Cell - here are several links to explore to learn more about the amazing technology of fuel cells:
- How Fuel Cells Work - excellent overview of the technology.
- Online Fuel Cell Information Centre - fuel cell charts, function explanations, pictures of actual fuel fuel cells, and much more.
- Hydrogen Fuel Cells and Infrastructure Technologies Program - big name, lots of info.
3.0: Priniciples of energy conservation and thermodynamics can be used to describe the efficiency of energy transformations
Text Page 198
The Official Rube Goldberg Web Site - a biography, plus a great gallery. You will also want to check out the Rube Goldberg machine contest, there you will find a neat video of some wild Rube Goldberg type machines.
Text Page 202
The Museum of Unworkable Devices - struggling to make that perpertual motion machine work? Perhaps you should check out this page first - it has detailed descriptions of approaches to perpetual motion machines, adn why each of them cannot work. If you desire more interesting perpetual motion machine links, try these:
- Perpetual Motion - descriptions and debunking of very interesting theories.
- HPs Perpetuum Mobile - this may be the most comprehensive site on the Internet regarding perpetual motion. It contains an amazing amount of information and analysis - go from page to page by clicking the lick at the bottom "next chapter". Read it all, it's excellent!
Text Pages 203-205
Heat Engine Concepts - detailed explanations of heat engine examples.
Text Pages 203-205
How Air Conditioners Work - excellent set of pages clearly explains air conditioners. You should also see the related page on heat pumps.
Text Pages 203-205
How Gas Turbine Engines Work - jet engines are good examples of heat engines. Find out how they work here. You might also want to check out these pages for more jet engine information:
Text Page 204
Entropy - what is it? Will the universe eventually experience a "heat death"? Find out at the following links:
- The Physical World: the Restless Universe - a detailed but interesting discussion of entropy and thermodynamics.
- PhysLink: Expert Answers - physics professors and students offer opinions on entropy and heat death of the universe.
Text Page 205
How Refrigerators Work - maybe now that you know how refrigerators work, you won't stand in front so long with the door open! This site explains all the parts and details the operation of modern refrigerators, but also discusses other methods of keeping things cool.
Text Page 206
Archimedes Screw - a fascinating device:
- Archimedes Screw - amazing illustrations and engravings, combined with a great deal of historical information and modern applications. Part of the pages devoted to Archimedes at Drexel University.
- The Archimedes Screw History Project - an interesting archive of sources on screw technology.
Text Pages 208-209
Steam Engines - don't get steamed! Here are a bunch of great steam engine links:
- Savery Engine - view this movie of an Savery engine model, then view a detailed description.
- The Newcomen Steam Engine - details and pictures of Newcomen engines.
- How Steam Engines Work - excellent diagrams, descriptions and animations of how steam engines operate.
- Steam Engines of the Eighteenth Century - this site is a labour of love - the author of the site has constructed many 18th century steam engines in miniature, and has posted pictures and descriptions of his models, along with some of their history.
- Steam Engine History - everything you need to know!
Text Pages 210-211
How Car Engines Work - wonderful animations of the inner mechanisms of a car engine that clearly explain the internal combustion engine. Also probvides complete explanations of engine subsystems.
Text Pages 210-211
Back to the Basics - a simple but clear description of the four stroke engine operating sequence, or otherwise known as the "Otto" cycle.
Text Page 213
Solar Sail Technology - let's hope we see this technology developed soon:
- BBC Space: Solar Sails - an explanation of how solar sail technology could change space travel. This page is part of a whole BBC series on Space Exploration.
- How Solar Sails Will Work - the concept of solar sails is described in detail.
Text Page 213
Big Steam Engines - visit the following sites for interesting information on the engines that powered massive machines:
- Technical Facts About the Titanic - probably more than you want to know about the Titanic's construction!
- The Power Train of the Queen Mary - includes original photos with clear explanantions of engine part functions.
- Union Pacific Steam Locomotive History - history and photos of some very big locomotive engines.
Text Page 220
How Thermoses Work - wonder how those flasks and mugs keep your beverages warm? Find out here!
Text Pages 221-223
Energy Sources, Efficiency and Conservation - if you need more information on a particular energy source, you'll find it here:
- Fossilfuels.org - provides descriptions of fossil fuel types, but also annotated educational support links for each sub-category.
- Canadian Nuclear FAQ - technical questions and answers regarding Canada's Nuclear Industry.
- Atomic Energy of Canada Limited - learn more about nuclear power plants and nuclear waste management.
- Beyond Fossil Fuels - a very educational interview.
- Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy - The U.S. Department of Energy provides pages specific to different types of renewable resources, just click on the one you want!
- The Coal Association of Canada Classroom - just about everything you could want to know about coal as an energy source.
- Overview of Renewable Energy Technologies - a good summary, part of the useful National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
- Canadian Wind Energy Association - lots of wind energy information here.
Text Pages 221-223
Fusion - learn more about fusion! Check out these sites:
Text Page 224
Fossil Fuels - find out more about the "burning" issue of fossil fuels!
- Energy story - Coal, oil and natural gas details.
- All Energy is Not Equal - a funny apporach to comparing energy sources.
Text Pages 225-227
Sustainability - how can we make our energy sources last?
- Sustainable Energy Coalition - a coalition of many organizations with the common goal of energy efficiency and promoting renewable energy technologies.
- The Sustainability Report - pages devoted to exploring issues and trends associated with sustainable development in Canada.
Text Page 226
Canadian Power Plants - learn more about these specific power generation facilities:
Text Page 229
Transportation Energy Sources - try these links!
- Office of Transportation Technologies - you will find a ridiculous amount of information about methods of providing energy for transportation!
Transportation and Energy - a detailed essay/analysis.
Unit C
1.0: Our current understanding of the cell is due in part to developments in imaging technology
Text Pages 240-241
The Walkerton Disaster - showing the importance of providing clean drinking water.
- Walkerton E. Coli Tragedy Archive - a huge collection of dated articles which chronicle the entire disaster.
- E. Coli and Drinking Water - excellent disease and contamination information.
- Health Canada - E. Coli - a government health page devoted to E. Coli.
- Dr. Glen Armstrong - the scientist who developed Synsorb, a drug to help those affected in the Walkerton disaster.
- Environment Canada: Drinking Water - the Canadian government website concerning water quality safety and regulations.
- Drinking Water Treatment Methods - as well as general safety concerns.
Text Pages 241
Filtering Giardia - can it be done? You just have to choose the right filter!
Text Pages 243-244
A Window on a New World - viewing microscopic living processes opened up an entire new world for scientists of the 17th century.
- History of the Light Microscope
- Microscope Timeline
- Museum of Microscopy - take a virtual tour through the development of the microscope.
- The Janssen Microscope - with 9X power!
- Robert Hooke - a very complete account of Hooke's work.
- Robert Hooke - including images from his book micrographia, of a flea, a needle and a razor drawn by Hooke based on what he saw with his invention.
- Antony van Leeuwenhoek - although he used a single-lens microscope, he was the first to note the presence of micro-organisms.
Text Page 247
Spontaneous Generation - until the invention of the microscope, micro-organism behaviour resulted in people believing in spontaneous generation.
- Spontaneous Generation - sweaty underwear + wheat husks = mice? These beliefs were popular until proved wrong by Louis Pasteur 150 years ago.
- Louis Pasteur
Text Page 248
Working with the Microscopic - there are many interesting and challenging careers in the fields of microbiology, immunology and biochemistry.
- Microbiologist & Biochemist - Alberta career profiles.
- How About a Career Exploring Unseen Worlds?
Text Pages 250-251
Hay Infusion - how many living organisms could there be in a handful of hay?
- Making a Hay Infusion - Good advice on hay infusion creation.
- Microbes from a hay infusion - a complete printable pdf guide to the hay infusion.
Text Page 251
The Cell Theory - all living things are made up of cells, all life functions take place within cells, and all cells come from other cells through the process of cell reproduction.
- The History of Cell Theory - with illustrations.
- Cell Theory History - all the way back to the ancient Greeks.
Text Page 252
Louis Pasteur - a very important scientist in early microbiology.
Text Pages 253-260
Developments in Microscopy - there are various techniques and technologies that improve our ability to view the microscopic world.
- Staining Cells - an introductory lab in this technique.
- Contrast in Optical Microscopy - quite technical, but has an interactive tutorial showing how changing contrast on a light microscope effects visibility. This gallery shows how effective this technique can be.
- Aperture and Resolution - what is the smallest detail we can see through our microscopes?
- Fluorescence Microscopy - with an image gallery as well.
- Darkfield Microscopy
- Phase Contrast Microscope - nice explanation with a cool simulator viewing area.
- Special Microscopy Techniques - including darkfield, phase contrast, polarised light, and interference microscopy.
- Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) - thin image slices.
- How a Scanning Electron Microscope works - narrated animation.
- Scanning Electron Microscope image gallery - see how powerful these microscopes are.
- Scanning Electron Microscope - including how it works, and images.
- Virtual scanning electron microscope - samples to view.
Text Pages 261-263
Gene Mapping - with new microscope technology, we can study the actual structure of DNA.
- The Human Genome Project - gene mapping of all 46 human chromosomes.
- Human Genome Project Information - including ethical, legal, and social issues.
- The Future Of Genetic Research - includes images of DNA from a scanning tunneling electron microscope.
- The International Rice Genome Sequencing Project - interestingly, the entire rice genome is available for you to download... as long as it is for non-commercial purposes.
- Issues and Bioethics: Plant Genome Projects
Text Page 262
Immunostaining - how microscopes help to identify antibodies attacking invaders.
Text Page 264
Three Dimensional Structure of Molecules - how can we create accurate 3D models of molecules?
- X-ray Crystallography: Protein Function - because of a close form/function relationship, seeing a protein can help determine its function.
- Atomic Force Microscopy - imaging can be dome as processes occur, unlike classic crystallography.
- High-Pressure Diffraction - measuring response to high pressure reveals structure.
- Molecular Modeling - and its importance in the chemical workplace.
Text Page 264
Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) Technology - how a jellyfish is helping to better understand neurological disorders like Huntington's Disease.
- Protein Linked to Movement Disorders - by using GFP technology, scientists are discovering where these diseases originate.
- Glowing Controversy - GFP technology is not always used for medical purposes...
2.0: Living systems are dependent upon the functioning of cell structures and organelles
Text Pages 267-270
Cell Organelles - every cell is specialized to perform a certain function and interact with its environment in an open, yet selective, way.
- Animal Cell Model - and plant cell model, interactive illustrations.
- Plant Cells - great illustrations and information on organelles, as well as comparison to animal cells.
- Inside a Cell - interactive tour.
- Cell Structures & Functions
Text Pages 271-272
Secondary Metabolic Products of Cells - there are many substances made by cells that are not used for the actual structure and function of the cell.
- Essential Oils - used for everything from aromatherapy to mite control in honeybees to agricultural production of the oils found in Alberta.
- Mycotoxins - produced by fungi, help to reduce competition and reduce the appetite of herbivores, can cause allergies in humans.
Text Pages 271-272
The Cell Membrane - allowing some materials to enter, while keeping everything harmful out.
- The Cell Membrane
- A Cell Membrane Water Channel - how does a cell move water in and out?
- Cell Membrane
Text Page 273
Cell Membrane Proteins - glycoproteins, proteins embedded in the cell membrane with sugar groups hanging off the end, are integral to the movement of substances.
- Membrane Proteins - look for the proteins extending all the way through the membrane, with red sugar groups on the ends.
- Glycoproteins - up close and personal.
Text Page 274
The Particle Model of Matter and Cell Transport - we must understand how particles move to understand the purpose of cell membranes.
- Transport In and Out of Cells - complete coverage of methods and theory.
- Transport Across Cell Membranes - methods, and potential hurdles.
Text Page 275
Diffusion - the natural movement of particles from high to low concentration.
- Transport by Simple Diffusion - general rules about this method of cell membrane transport.
- Diffusion Across Membranes - both passive diffusion and active transport are shown.
- Diffusion - an illustration.
Text Pages 277-278
Osmosis - simple diffusion of water molecules across a semi-permeable membrane.
- Osmosis - explained, with video.
- Principles of Diffusion and Osmosis
- Osmosis - passive diffusion of water across a semi-permeable membrane by diffusion, animation that will download to your computer.
Text Page 278
Facilitated Diffusion - movement with the concentration gradient, but with an added bit of help from some proteins.
- Facilitated Diffusion - an introduction.
Text Pages 278-279
Active Transport - moving molecules against the concentration gradient, using up energy along the way.
- Comparison of Passive and Active Transport
- The Sodium-Potassium Pump: Active Transport - a video downloaded to your hard drive detailing how the active transport process works.
Text Page 281
Endocytosis and Exocytosis - when you have a large molecule to move, and normal membrane channels just won't do, use a vesicle to finish the job.
Text Page 284
Membrane Proteins and Disease - how can we use knowledge of receptor proteins to help fight disease?
- How Viruses Take Strong Hold of Cells
- New HIV Receptor, New Hope - can we stop HIV by blocking it from attacking immune cells? This doctor thinks so.
Text Page 285
Synthetic Membrane Technology - by creating 'fake' cell membranes, scientists can deliver medicine to very specific sites in the body.
Text Page 286
Transport of Protein Hormones - regulatory hormones are proteins used by the body to bind to a receptor protein and change the behaviour of that cell.
- Hormones with Cell Surface Receptors - with insulin used as an animated example.
- How the body utilizes food and the Effect of Diabetes
Text Pages 286-287
Peritoneal Dialysis - by using the concept of concentration gradients, sufferers of kidney failure may still remove wastes and lead an otherwise normal life.
- How Peritoneal Dialysis Works - an animated tutorial.
- Hemodialysis vs Peritoneal Dialysis - advantages and disadvantages of each.
Text Pages 287-288
Reverse Osmosis - just like it sounds; force water through a membrane in the opposite direction it wants to go.
- Managing Water for Peace in the Middle East - desalination may be used to supply all of the people in the Middle East with healthy drinking water.
Text Pages 289-293
A Cell's Ratio of Surface Area to Volume - the larger a cell becomes, the more difficult it is for that cell to survive.
- Why Are Cells So Small? - if it gets too large, there is no way to get it the materials it needs to function.
- Why Are Cells So Small? - the tyranny of mathematics.
- Why Are Cells So Small? - to keep the SA:V ratio low.
- The Sizes of Living Things
- Compensating for a Low Surface Area: Volume Ratio - there are many solutions, from cell shape to transport system to folding membranes.
Text Page 293
The Range of Ratios of Surface Area to Volume - in human cells and plant cells.
- Relative Size of Cells and their Components - did you know a virus is 1000 times smaller than an animal cell?
- Cells and their Sizes
- How Big is a...
3.0: Plants are multicellular organisms with specialized structures
Text Pages 297-300
Plant Structure - what we think of as fairly simple organisms are actually filled with different cells, tissues, organs and organ systems.
- Plants and their Structure - covering everything from the two basic organ systems to specific cells.
- Plant Cell Illustration - with information on all structures.
- Plant Tissues - what they are, and what they do.
- Introduction to Plant Tissues - with plenty of great information and images.
- Plant Structure and Function - with nice illustrations.
Text Pages 301-302
Specialization in Plant Cells - like all multicellular organisms, plants must have specialized cells and tissues to survive.
- Plant Growth - includes apical and lateral meristems.
- Root Hairs - information on these important nutrient gathering tissues.
- Root Hair Photos - and even more.
- Basic Anatomy of the Leaf - with stomata and gurad cells, among others.
- Stomata - also with guard cell information.
- Stomata - and guard cells, as seen through a light microscope.
- Plant Vascular Tissue
- Plant Vascular Tissue - including xylem (cells whose function it is to move water throughout the plant) and phloem (moving sugars).
Text Pages 303-305
The Cells involved in Photosynthesis - by studying the functions of specific cells, we can make more sense of the entire process of photosynthesis.
- The Photosynthetic Parts of the Leaf - get an overview of photosynthesis.
- Research into Photosynthesis
- Highlights in Photosynthesis Research
Text Pages 303-305
Chloroplasts - found only in plant cells, these organelles are where photosynthesis take place.
- Chloroplasts - these structures are green in colour, because they contain the pigment chlorophyll.
- Chlorophyll - structure, function, and an interesting graph showing which colours chlorophyll is most sensitive to.
- Photosynthetic Pigments - chlorophyll is not the only one.
- Cytoplasmic Streaming - another site showing chloroplasts moving through the cytoplasm of Canadian pondweed (Elodea canadensis), both in images and video.
Text Pages 305-308
Gas Production in Plants - two processes, one producing carbon dioxide, and the other producing oxygen.
- Gas Exchange in Plants - both photosynthesis and cellular respiration are discussed.
- Respiration and Photosynthesis Compared
Text Pages 306-307
Activity C15 Supplement: Close-up Movie of Bubbling Stem - this QuickTime movie shows the result of this QuickLab.
Text Pages 309-313
The Leaf Tissues and Gas Exchange - there are many layers of cells in a leaf.
- Leaves - information and illustrations.
- The Leaf - with nice illustration.
- What Makes Stomata Open and Close? - carbon dioxide, light, potassium ions and ABA.
- Leaf Stomata as Bioindicators of Environmental Change
- Lenticels - pathways through the outer epidermal layers for gas exchange.
- Gas Exchange in Plants - narrated animation of the leaf.
Text Page 313
Leaf Structure in Agriculture and Horticulture - how can knowledge about the leaf help those who work with plants for their living?
- Glyphosate - this common herbicide ingredient absorbed through the leaves.
- Plants that Grow when the Lights are Low - how can plants with leaves that are adapted for growing well in the shade help to feed astronauts?
Text Page 315
Transport in Plants - how do plants move water and nutrients with an animal-like circulatory system and heart?
- Capillary Action - water is 'sticky' enough to climb up porous materials.
- Capillary Action
Text Page 316
Cohesion and Adhesion in Water - the molecular structure that gives water its unique properties.
- Cohesion and Adhesion - being attracted to yourself and/or your neighbour.
- Water Properties - what makes water 'sticky'?
Text Pages 316-317
Root Pressure - the movement of water into the roots of the plant, forcing more water up the stem.
Text Page 317
Colourful Carnations - don't have time for this activity? Here is an image that clearly illustrates the effects of water transport.
Text Pages 317-318
Water Transport in Plants - partly the pushing pressure of water being absorbed into the roots, partly the pulling pressure of transpiration in the leaves.
- Water Transport in Plants - from root to leaf.
- Transport of Water and Minerals in Plants - the properties of water are integral to the survival of plants.
- Hypertonic Solutions - water flows out of plant cells and into hypertonic solutions through the process of plasmolysis.
- Osmosis and Tonicity - scroll down to the bottom to read and see isotonic, hypotonic and hypertonic solutions and their effects on plant and animal cells.
Text Pages 320-321
Sugar Transport in Plants - solid materials travel through the phloem of the plant.
- Translocation of Food - what is moved through the phloem, and how it moves.
- Pressure-Flow Theory - also known as the Mass Flow hypothesis, describing how sugars, minerals and water all work in conjunction.
Text Page 321
Cell Enlargement - check the end of this page for sieve tube cell information.
Text Pages 323-327
Control Systems in Plants - unable to react as quickly as animals to their environment, plants have developed some amazing ways to adapt.
- Tropisms - time-lapse movies of several different types of tropisms.
- Tropisms - descriptions of phototropism and gravitropism.
- Phototropism - video of a cress seedling.
- Phototropism - video of arabidopsis seedlings.
- Gravitropism - how gravity affects plant growth.
- Heliotropism - video of a cress seedling.
- Auxins - plant hormones and directional growth.
- Auxins
- Plant Hormones
Text Page 328
When Will the Flowers Bloom? - when, and why, do plants bloom, from a desert perspective.
Text Page 329
Biotechnology Research Scientist - designing ways to learn about living systems.
Text Page 329
Interview with Dr. Olga Kovalchuk - visit the Alberta Innovation Web site to listen to a radio interview with Dr. Kovalchuk to learn more about the fascinating research taking place at the University of Lethbridge.
Reach and Discover Magazine - Click on the Spring 2005 publication and go to the article called "Desirable Destination".
Text Page 331
Cellular Transport - medical and industrial careers that involve knowledge of how cells move materials.
Unit D
1.0: Climate results from interactions among the components of the biosphere
Text Pages 340-341
Champsosaurs and Prehistoric Global Warming - find out the possible connection from these articles:
Text Pages 340-341
Changes at the Poles - a huge proportion of the world's fresh water is found frozen on the Arctic ocean and the Antarctic continent.
- PRISM: Polar Radar for Ice Sheet Measurement - a NASA funded project to map global ice sheets to track changes in thickness. Note that on the right hand side of the page there are links to movies that describe the ice-measuring technique.
- The National Snow & Ice Data Center - focus on ice and snow coverage throughout the world, including the arctic.
- Stories in the Ice - like having a time machine that can go back 300,000 years.
- The Melting of Antarctic Ice - a short NASA animation of the changes in ice coverage of Antarctica over the past 20,000 years.
- NSIDC - National Snow and Ice Data Center - a great source of info regarding changes at the poles.
Text Page 341
Climate and Tree Growth - not only can you count the rings in a tree's trunk to estimate its age, but you can also learn what each growing season was like over the life of the tree.
- Trees as Indicators of Climate Change - tree rings may not reach as far back in time as ice cores, but they reveal conditions for a specific location for a specific growing season.
- Ultimate Tree-Ring Web Pages - everything you have always wanted to know about dendrochronology!
Text Page 342
SHEBA homepage - a small collection of SHEBA information.
Text Page 342
The Biosphere - unique to the Earth, the biosphere consists of all living organisms and the environments where they exist.
- The Biosphere - general information.
- The Earth's Spheres - biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.
Text Page 342
The Atmosphere - 500 km of gases that provide a buffer between the Earth and outer space.
- The Earth's Atmosphere - characteristics and composition.
- The Earth's Atmosphere - information plus links to other sites of interest.
- Why is the Sky Blue? - the answer is in the atmosphere!
- The Atmosphere - information about the Earth's atmosphere from the perspective of entrants in an around-the-world balloon race.
Text Pages 344-345
The Troposphere - the part of the atmosphere closest to the Earth.
- The Troposphere - general information.
- Tropospheric Ozone - when ozone is found low in the atmosphere, it is regarded as a pollutant.
Text Pages 345-346
The Stratosphere - the layer of atmosphere above the troposphere, where the ozone layer is found.
- The Stratosphere
- Live from the Stratosphere - tons of information from the KAO aircraft that cruises the stratosphere collecting everything it can about this unique layer... and beyond.
- Ozone in the Stratosphere - where it comes from, and why it is important.
Text Pages 345-346
The Mesosphere and Thermosphere - the outer layers of the atmosphere.
- Mesosphere - "middle sphere"
- Thermosphere - "heat sphere"
- The Thermosphere - where the space shuttle orbits the Earth.
Text Page 346
Earth's Lithosphere - the shape of the Earth.
Text Page 346
The Hydrosphere - all the water on Earth.
- Hydrosphere: Global Climate Change - near real-time data on the hydrosphere.
- The Cryosphere - from the US National Snow and Ice Data Center.
Text Page 346
Interactions between components of the Biosphere
- Earth System Science Analysis - a nice system used to describe the interactions between the Earth's spheres.
- Earth System Science Online - a huge collection of information of spheric indicators.
- Earth System Visualization - biospheric visualizations of components interacting with each other.
Text Pages 347-348
Air Temperature and Altitude - increases in altitude can result in large changes in temperature.
- The Temperature-Altitude Profile of the Atmosphere - explanation, diagram and helpful mnemonic device for memorizing spheres.
Text Page 348
Inversions - hot air always rises... or does it? Mountains can often contribute to the effect... no, that is not an ocean.
- Temperature Inversions - how temperature inversions occur in Rapid City, South Dakota.
- Inversion - from the perspective of a pilot.
- Temperature Inversion - how hot air can trap pollution in the lower troposphere.
Text Pages 350-351
Climate Affects All Organisms - biodiversity partly comes from changes in climate from region to region.
- Canada's Ecozones - each region is discussed in terms of biodiversity and climatic conditions.
- Climate Change and Wildlife - Canadian and international cases.
- How Animals Adapt to Alberta's Climate Extremes
- El Nino Tough on Migratory Songbirds
- Midges Reveal Past Climate - changes to ancient organisms can reveal qualities of the climate at that time.
- Climate Information on Australia - with a wide range of climates, and of course some excellent examples of biodiversity.
Text Pages 352-354
Global Climate Change - why does the climate change, and what impact might humans have on this change.
- Alberta Environment: Climate Change - information and legislation from the Alberta government.
- The Climate System - a nice overview.
- CICERO - Center for International Climate and Environmental Research.
- Inuit Observations on Climate Change - hunters and trappers from Banks Island in Canada's north reveal changes in the local climate.
- Scientific Evidence of Climate Change - used to support or disprove the theory that climate change is caused by humans.
- IPCC - The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
- The Kyoto Accord - opinions for and against ratification in Canada.
- The PEW Center on Global Climate Change - non-profit, non-partisan and independent.
- Global Climate Change - from the US National Science Foundation.
- Global Warming - a site aimed at the younger audience.
- Bad Meteorology - common misconceptions about weather and climate.
3.0: Changes in global energy transfer could cause climate change, and impact human life and the biosphere
Text Pages 411-412
Changes in Greenhouse Gas levels - evidence, trends and predictions.
- Changes in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide levels - measured over the past 50 years in Hawaii.
- Ice Core Timeline - scroll down to see atmospheric gas levels over the past 200 years.
Text Pages 413-416
Greenhouse Gases and Human Activity - we know greenhouse gases can be produced naturally, but how much do humans contribute?
- Greenhouse Gases, Global Climate Change, and Energy - with US estimates of 80% of greenhouse gases being produced by fossil fuel use.
- Human Activity and Climate Change - scroll down for graphs of recent gas emissions.
- Earthlights - not only showing where we live on the Earth, but also where we use the most electricity.
- An Alternate Scenario for Global Warming - maybe it would be easier to try to reduce methane emissions instead of carbon dioxide emissions?
Text Pages 415-417
Evaluating the evidence of Climate Change - as good scientists, how do determine which evidence is best, and what conclusions can we draw from what we see.
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - an unbiased look at climate change.
- The Science of Global Warming - a review of the scientific evidence used to support enhanced global warming.
Text Pages 415-417
Global Warming - what are the effects of humans increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
- Global Warming - from the US Environmental Protection Agency.
- What Evidence suggests Global Warming? - fairly neutral opinions at this site.
- Enhanced Greenhouse Effect: Global Warming
Text Page 418
Nature's Atmospheric Detergents - how hydroxyls and nitrates in the air help clean the atmosphere.
- Measuring Hydroxyl Radicals - there are not many, but they remove greenhouse gases quickly.
Text Page 419
Scientific Collaboration on Climate Change - greenhouse gases know no borders.
- Metlinkinternational Weather Project - a huge collection of information and links to study weather conditions throughout the world.
- Get/View Online Climate Data - a wide range of data can be found on-line.
Text Page 420
Dr. Andrew Weaver - the global warming guy.
- Dr. Andrew Weaver's home page - with a link to the climate modeling group he is a part of.
- Andrew Weaver - page from the School of Earth and Ocean Science website.
Text Pages 421-424
Political Collaboration on Climate Change - the policy makers in government must work together if there is to be changes made for the benefit of the Earth's climate.
- International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) - attempting to integrate international efforts at sustainable development, and includes a Canadian perspective.
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - a framework for co-opertive nations to use to reach greenhouse gas emission targets.
- Kyoto Protocol and Greenhouse Gases - interactive maps showing past, present and future greenhouse gas levels.
- Kyoto in Canada - several viewpoints and multiple sources of information from a Canadian perspective.
- International Finance Commission - all about Kyoto, including what emission credits are, and how they can be traded.
- Trading of Emission Reduction Credits - an attempt to make compliance easier financially, and therefore become more successful.
- Economic Impact of the Kyoto Accord - a negative report from the US Department of Energy.
Text Pages 421-424
Reducing Greenhouse Gases - there are many ideas, both old and new, natural and man-made, to reduce the amounts of greenhouses gases produced.
- Carbon Sequestration - many methods are discussed.
- Sequestering Carbon Dioxide for Petroleum Recovery - pumping CO2 into wells to force out more oil.
- How much Carbon Dioxide do Forests Absorb? - images, animations and theory.
- Fuel Cells - reducing greenhouse gases.
- Renewable Sources of Energy
Text Page 425
Reducing Greenhouse Gases and Saving Money - is it possible for businesses to be both environmentally friendly and stay profitable?
- Energy Star - an American group which aids businesses in becoming greener without harming their bottom line, with a link for business improvement.
- Calculate Your Footprint - a calculator that shows you carbon impact.
Text Page 425
Assessing the Impacts of Climate Change - as our climate changes, how will our surroundings change along with it?
- If Climate Changes - several impacts of changing climate in North America.
- Early Warning Signs - interactive global map showing early evidence.
Text Page 428
Taiga Rescue Network - this page on climate change is only a small part of the Rescue Network resource.
Text Page 430
Impacts of Climate Change in Alberta - everyone would feel the impact of a changing Alberta climate.
- Climate Change in Alberta - scroll down to find areas affected.
- Health - effects on the old, young and those with other illnesses.