Combustion Reactions

     A combustion reaction is a major class of chemical reactions. It is a type of chemical reaction where a compound and oxidant is reacted. Usually occurs when a hydrocarbon gets mixed with oxygen and it produces carbon dioxide and water. Combustion involves a reactions between any material that is a combustible and an oxidizer and it mixes and produces an oxidized product. Combustion releases heat becase it is an Exothermic reaction. An Exothermic reaction is a chemical reaction that produces heat. Sometimes the combustion reaction mixes slowly you cannot realize the temperature change. There are good signs that you can know if you are dealing with a combustion reaction correctly. Include having the presence of oxygen as carbon dioxide or reactants and water and heat as the products.  

Source: http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemicalreactions/a/Combustion-Reactions.htm

Synthetic Meat

     Ethan Brown, CEO of Beyond Meat, makes almost perfect meat for the world to enjoy. Brown Manufactures meat substructure made from soy, pea, and amaranth. Each serving of Brown's chicken strip, is the same amount of protein a regular chicken that you would eat. Even though it is the same amount of protein, it has zero cholesterol and trans fat. Brown says that factory chickens aren't treated like regular farm chickens would be treated. According to Brown, there is a little difference between his product and real chicken. 

     The United Nations expects global population to increase to 9.6 billion from where it is now at 7.2 billion by the year 2050. Brown says the planet must rethink how they get their meat. Brown is trying to address the issue by supplying as perfect meat as he can. Brown's company, Beyond Meat, has a refrigerator full of company-grown meats.

Source: 

http://www.popsci.com/article/science/can-artificial-meat-save-world

Hunting The Elements

Think Past

Before I watched the movie, I did not know that much about the periodic table. I knew the 12 elements and I knew some names of them. I also knew that they had numbers by their number. I knew that all the elements were put into specific categories. 

Think Present

After I watched the movie, I learned that there is a lot more to the Periodic Table than what I knew from before. I learned that some of the elements are man-made and not all are made by nature. I didn't know that nature and man could come together to make elements. I found out that not all elements are on earth that you can see the next day. 

Think Future

In the future, I would like to learn a lot more about the periodic table and elements. I wanna know how they find every single one. I would like to see how long it would take to make a man-made element. I would want to know if the shark repellant worked on the fishing pole. I would like to see and learn about the crazy elements and their reaction.

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/new-element-117-vies-seat-periodic-table-n95921

Energy Production

Energy is a concept at the center of scientific discipline. For example, a bottle of water can produce about enough energy to power a house. Chemist Dan Nocera expressed how he can photosynthesis process. His reaction uses sunlight to convert the energy. The energy that he uses is carbon dioxide and water. Nocera said he has no problem with seeing a house that can make its own electricity. Even though Nocera is cheap, it doesn't have problems. Nocera can produce 30 kilowatt hours of energy. The process can also create energy to hydrogen. The process can also be remade to generate electricity.

http://spectrum.mit.edu/wp-content/images/2009-spring/energy-natures-way.jpg

Fox, S. March 4, 2010. http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-03/video-artificial-photosynthesis-produces-enough-energy-power-house-one-bottle-water. Accessed Jan 2015. 

How Mirror Mazes Work

      Whenever I was in a mirror maze at my State Fair, I was curious about how they worked. The mirrors are to be placed at exactly 60-degree angles. The mirrors are around one or more equilateral triangles that form rhombic and hexagonal arrangements. One section of the maze has to be decorated with pillars so that it can produce a special effect. Another section had to have exotic plants that are covering the pillars because it gives the reflection that it is a garden surrounding a mosque. The first mirror maze was created in Prague, Czech Republic. It was in a pavilion in an exhibition that was held in 1891. The Petrin mirror maze without a doubt is the oldest surviving maze.The mirror maze is still standing in a wooden building to this day. Where the mirror was installed, how long it was standing for is still not clear. Similar mazes were built after the first mirror maze.   Link for picture:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_mirrors