Geocaching

Geocaching

Geocaching is using a GPS to find Geocaches. Geocaches are basically hidden boxes filled with little goodies and paper to sign who found it.

I learned about the GPS and how to find these Geocaches.

I found one Geocache, and my group total found three the last time we went out. It was a lot of fun, and we get Ice cream for reaching our goals finding three in one class period. :)

Chromatograpghy

What is it? Chromatography is a method for analyzing complex mixtures (such as ink) by separating them into the chemicals from which they are made. Chromatography is used to separate and identify all sorts of substances in police work. Drugs from narcotics to aspirin can be identified in urine and blood samples, often with the aid of chromatography.

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How does it work? A mixture of various components enters a chromatography process, and the different components are flushed through the system at different rates. These differential rates of migration as the mixture moves over adsorptive materials provide separation. Repeated sorption/desorption acts that take place during the movement of the sample over the stationary bed determine the rates. The smaller the affinity a molecule has for the stationary phase, the shorter the time spent in a column.

What is the purpose of using it? In any chemical or bioprocessing industry, the need to separate and purify a product from a complex mixture is a necessary and important step in the production line. Today, there exists a wide market of methods in which industries can accomplish these goals. Chromatography is a special separation process for a multitude of reasons. First of all, it can separate complex mixtures with great precision. Even very similar components, such as proteins that may only vary by a single amino acid, can be separated with chromatography. In fact, chromatography can purify basically any soluble or volatile substance if the right adsorbent material, carrier fluid, and operating conditions are employed. Second, chromatography can be used to separate delicate products since the conditions under which it is performed are not typically severe. For these reasons, chromatography is quite well suited to a variety of uses in the field of biotechnology, such as separating mixtures of proteins.

Whats happening? Because molecules in ink and other mixtures have different characteristics (such as size and solubility), they travel at different speeds when pulled along a piece of paper by a solvent (in this case, water). For example, black ink contains several colours. When the water flows through a word written in black, the molecules of each one of the colours behave differently, resulting in a sort of “rainbow” effect.

Many common inks are water soluble and spread apart into the component dyes using water as a solvent. If the ink you are testing does not spread out using water, it may be “permanent” ink. In such cases, you will have to use a different solvent such as rubbing alcohol.

When Was this first used or invented? This was invented in the early 1900s.

Who first used or invented this technique? Mikhail Semyonovic was the inventor.

Bibliography:

http://www.islandnet.com/~yesmag/projects/paper_chroma.html

http://www.rpi.edu/dept/chem-eng/Biotech-Environ/CHROMO/chromintro.html

http://www.answers.com/topic/who-invented-chromatography

Termite Colony Observation

1. For this jar set up, we put sand, wood, water and termites in the jar. The jar was being displayed on a stand.

2. As time went on, the sand changed into mostly termite waste and the wood was eaten. What was left had moisture. The termites were not moving much at all. In fact, most were dead.

3. The termites ate and left waste inside the jar.

4. Well like with any small creature, being messed with by a much larger being would work them up a little :P When being messed with, they would move around faster than they would comfortably.

5. I enjoyed working with Termites. My favorite part was just studying them. My least favorite part was having to pull their intestines out and watch them die in pain. NOT COOL MARGGRAF!

6. I would like to watch a queen termite live her life.

Termites Intestine under microscope

These are two images of our termites intestine under the microscope in water. We had to grab the head of the termite, and the little piece sticking out from its abdomen. We had to grap the intestine by that piece and pull it out. This lab was very interesting and disturbing for me.

Plankton Net

The Plankton Net is used to catch Plankton.
How to use this tool:
1. Take the cap off.
2. Place the net in the ocean.
3. Drag the net through the water.
4. Pull it out.
5. See ur results.
6. Empty the water then, put the cap back on.