GENERAL CHEMISTRY 2 | Portfolio

MICHELIA JULIENNE BADURIA 12 - Solinas

Life in

Chemistry

MICHELIA JULIENNE BADURIA 12 STEM Solinas

To the women in Chem,

W.I.S.K

Include three (3) items that you think will help you a lot this quarter. Explain why each of these items are important in surviving the course.

The first item that helped me was my laptop. This is most obvious since the lesson materials are found in our Google Classroom. Given that, when it came to reviewing for midterms and finals, this came to aid me look back at the lessons. If not in the Google Classroom, using my laptop I could scour the internet for videos that would help me be confident in my mastery of the lesson. Other than that, I found it easier to fulfill my requirements with my laptop.

True enough, using my laptop to review for the midterms by searching for practice problems, I was able to achieve an HP in the said summative. Even for the finals, which I got an HP in, I felt confident that I would pass because of the research I did on my laptop. Even as I write my lab reports and this portfolio, I make use of my laptop. All of these prove that my Laptop was an essential for this quarter.

Hand-in-hand with my laptop, however, are my papers. No matter how digital education has transitioned to, I still prefer note-taking and solutions on traditional paper. These help me better comprehend and recall the lessons learned. It is also a bonus that this does not strain my eyes as much as staring at a screen for so long. These papers are what I used to review lessons for midterms and practice problems (although I already lost them), solve for the second lab report, and take notes in class for finals. Evidence of the use of this items and how important it is also lies in the grade I got. If I hadn’t made use of these papers to do multiple exercises, I wouldn’t have had a mastery of the lessons; especially, balancing.

Since there were a lot of solutions to do and this quarter’s chemistry was mathematics heavy, it is always important to have my calculator. Funny enough, but I would always double check if my calculator was with me and I couldn’t leave the house without it. I would also sometimes bring two calculators because sometimes someone would need it. That in itself already shows how important a calculator is in this class. If we look into the solutions I did on paper, we can also see how either super large or super small the numbers are. With these numbers, it is time consuming to solve them without a calculator. This is most evident

in the midterms. If I didn’t have a calculator, I would probably have exhausted the time on stoichiometry. And, I would also not be able to cram the item I overlooked in time.

Testing Time.

Include a test item from a formative or summative assessment that you are proud of. Explain why the item is something worthy to share.

Since classes and lectures have mostly been onsite, I found it more difficult to keep up with the lessons and master them. I was scared that I would fail since I would not be able to understand anything. One of the lessons that I did not fully understand was Rate Laws. This was the lesson that I felt overwhelmed. I knew that out of all the modules, this was one that I would have to study again and take my time. I studied this lesson up until the morning of our final exam, where I stared at the board analyzing the solutions my classmates had written. Even beforehand, I studied the drills and consulted YouTube to really grasp it up until the point where it was almost all I studied. When it came to the final exam, it was no surprise that a question regarding it would come out. Fortunately, I felt that it was embedded in me how to solve it because of how much time I gave to the lesson. Upon seeing the question, I did not think twice and proceeded to answer it. Doing so felt like muscle memory, especially because this was a similar question to the drills and what I studied right before the exam. In the end, I was able to garner an HP (Breakdown: SAAS) for my final and for the Item C that was about Rate Law, I got an A. Essentially, I am proud of this because I started with being really confused but since I worked hard, I was able to answer well and get a good result. It also proves to myself that although onsite classes may be a change we have to face, I can still be able to learn as I work hard.

mornong of the test staring at the board!

drills!

Debugging Incorporate a question from lesson content, home tasks, or any assessment that you made a mistake on. Describe why you failed to arrive at the correct answer. Now, you must state the correct answer to that question.

Like any other exam, a time limit was imposed on our Chemistry midterm. During this I was taking my time, but somehow, it became the root of how I did not notice a question. It was the second question of Item C that I was not able to answer entirely well. I only saw it a little over five minutes before the test ended and it was about Stoichiometry which would have been difficult to solve in the given time. Even then, it was the time-pressure that got to me, causing me to not be able to process the item. The first question I was successful in answering, but the following question I failed to get the correct anwer. I was internally panicking, so I was only able to put a solution that was harder than it was supposed to be. If I was more careful going through the items in the exam, I would not overlook the question, then I would have been more calm so that I could analyze the question well. Looking back at it now, it was certainly a question that I knew how to answer. I knew the formulas for that topic and it shouldn’t have been that difficult. In essence, I failed to arrive at a correct answer because I was not carefully reading the questions to the point where I did not see it.

I had to speed through it at the end with the little time left; hence, failing to analyze it.

expectations vs reality >_<

TEA Time.

Focus on the onsite laboratory activity of the course. Elaborate on scientific skills or attitudes you have acquired and practiced along the way. Narrate why it has made you a proud STEM person in the

The utmost skill we acquired and practiced was collaboration as we were tasked to work in groups. In the said group, we each performed different roles during the experiment.

Although it was not discussed, we all somehow did our own part in it. Someone would record the data, another would document the experiment, and the rest would perform the experiment and clean. For instance, in the second laboratory activity, I would get the mass, Yana would get the temperature, Railee would record the data, and Audrey would document. Sometimes, roles would also be interchanged, like when I would have to document and Audrey would get the mass. Even after the experiment, our roles would also be established for the lab reports. More than that, we would discuss it to be sure we understood the topic and it was correct.

While on the topic of lab reports, during these we would also employ and develop our skills of communicating. This was needed in order to properly deliver the process and results of the experiment. Although having to write different parts, our works were able to be seamless as if only one person did it. I would even go so far as to say that this was practiced well as we were able to get an E in the first lab report. Moreover, I feel that our second lab report was as substantial and clear, especially since we also got an E. I believe that this lab report was also better in terms of depth. This serves as evidence that communication was a skill that we utilized and improved.

Alongside this, the attitude of honesty also had to be practiced. For an accurate report, the correct data had to be presented. This meant that we could not alter the data so that it could be analyzed accordingly. This was heavily employed in the second lab report since for our experiment we had a different number of trials. Instead of three trials, we only did two.

Furthermore, we also only reported two trials. None of the data we reported from either lab reports also differed from the recorded data during the experiment. Most of the data we reported was also supported with documentation of the experiment, exhibiting utmost honesty.

Lastly, during the experiment we were also able to exercise our skill of measuring. The use of this skill began with the first lab report. We had to record the temperature of the ice and I would say it was successful since we were able to report a temperature. Likewise, we enhanced this skill even more as we had to gather data about the mass in the second lab activity. Here, we made use of a thermometer and a triple beam balance. I could also say that this skill was well utilized with the measurements we recorded.

Overall, these are skills that a chemist should have and it makes me proud to be able to manifest them. More than that, these are skills and attitudes that help a chemist help other people from their findings. With collaboration, chemists can expedite their work and learn from each other. With communication and honesty, the chemists are able to relay their data accurately and share it with the world. Through these, it could help others. And, with the skill of measurement, their data could be as accurate and as precise as it can be so that the results presented are too. In essence, it makes me proud to possess these skills and attitudes as it not only helps me as a chemist in the making, but others as well as they learn from me.

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Popular Chemistry.

Look for a short TV or movie clip that details or explains a wrong chemistry concept and idea. Apply what you have learned in the course to explain why the information is erroneous. Further, present a short correct solution or alternate scientific-based notion to resolve the inaccuracy.

Superheroes are the perfect representation of inaccurate chemistry, or science in general, in movies. To give an example, there is an instance where Superman literally goes back in time because of his failure to save someone and I would say, disappointment with himself. It shows that he was able to do this with his super speed. For one, it is impossible for a human to attain enough speed to reverse time. Even then, scientifically, it is impossible to reverse time. This is because of a topic we discussed in this subject Entropy. From our lectures, I learned that entropy is the randomness of things. I also learned that, by the second law of thermodynamics, the entropy of the universe continuously increases along with time. With it just increasing throughout time, it means that there is only a forward motion. Moreover, it also increases for spontaneous processes and these are irreversible. Putting the two together, the entropy is increasing for the universe and for spontaneous processes; then, the process of the universe, we could say in this case time, is irreversible. Therefore, going back in time is scientifically impossible. On the other hand, from another perspective, if it were possible, then the universe as a system would be a reversible process and the entropy of the universe would not change.

Since it is impossible to go back in time, what can be done is to just learn from what has happened. We cannot go back and change what already took place, but we can use our experience to change what will happen.

watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoCaeI5RffI

In a Nutshell.

Summarize all that you learned from the entries 1 to 5 into a reflection piece.

Explain what transpired during the semester that changed you, the “what” and “how” were changed by the course.

As the second and final chemistry class in high school comes to a close, heads held high are present in the atmosphere. Behind these are exam items with completely correct answers, that more than the solution it taught, enlightened many that hard work truly does pay off. In the perfect time it came where it felt like none of it was worth it, it became a reminder that it is worth the great lengths taken. Regardless of this triumph, it cannot be denied that there is a share of shortcomings that led to this moment. These, however, have transformed to be positive as it serves as a guide to become aware of their own mistakes. More than that, one learns to move past it and improve as she debugs and dives deep into the “why.” Unlike fictional characters who defy science and what one learns, what once was an “almost” for a person because of the panic and pressure, turned to be their strength in what they ought to face. Together with these experiences are tangible items that now hold more than what people would perceive. A paper and a video would now be a constant reminder of the skills and attitudes one needs to have, especially in the field of chemistry. These are the skills of measuring, communicating, collaboration, and honesty. Even items such as the laptop, calculator, and papers are also physical objects that now hold the experiences we have as we continue to attribute them to each other. Each of which played their own unique role into the success right at this given moment.

Within all these are the realities that can be paralleled to scientific adventures. Specifically, the aspect of life where difficulties and losses have to be faced; just like in Superman’s life.

Here there is also panic and pressure. There are certain tools, people, skills, and attitudes that are gained to improve oneself; backed with tangible items associated with these. These may be gone, yet Life keeps moving forward.

Aside from Entropy and the second law of thermodynamics supporting this, my shared personal experience of losing an essential part of this course also taught me that life continues forward. This fundamental part was lost, yet lessons and teachings continued. We would always show up in class day after day, even when a part of it was lost. Because of this, I became a person who persevered. I became a person who would continue forward despite being bombarded with hardships. This experience was indeed difficult, but because of it, I found myself as a person who believed in herself and that there was better on the other end; that I looked forward to what was to come. Amidst this, I also became one who found sparks of love and joy. Not only did I keep moving past what was, I also learned to find joy in small things. I found that I was changed in this way because I grew to love parts of chemistry. This subject involved my forte–mathematics–which made me enjoy it. Being able to see this and being aware of the joy I felt, I found myself looking for joy and love in everything; just as I did in chemistry.

Tying all these together, with the experience of the class apart from the subject itself, I became a person continuing life and looking for joy in it. Our efforts paid off as we got good and well-deserved grades, but it was more worth it as we are able to improve as people. In classes, whether we enjoy them or not, we grow as individuals because of the opportunity it brings. At the end of the day, in striving to be better in class, it mimics a bigger picture—the real life we have; the one where we pursue our dreams, longing to be better individuals.

MICHELIA JULIENNE BADURIA 12 - Solinas