Day Two: Biology Involves Chemistry? What?

Sorry guys, Day Two doesn't have pretty pictures.

I have many expectations for my biology class, I mean who doesn't? We've prevailed through the torturous trauma of physics and chemistry. I think it's about time to delve into something new, something different. So when I stashed my Chemistry for Dummies book in the darkest realms of my bookshelf after my chemistry final, I'd been fully convinced that I would never need it again. But how was I supposed to know that the second day of class would involve chemistry? And it wasn't just chemistry. It was everything I tried so hard to understand last year but couldn't. I guess I should have known chemistry would come back sooner than I thought. I mean, our first unit is called Biochemistry. That definitely doesn't have anything to do with chemistry.

I guess the worksheets weren't too bad. I started to figure stuff out that I hadn't fully understood last year, like polarity, and covalent bonding. And the practice quiz I took today on basic chemistry wasn't that bad. I only got one wrong, which was a lot better than what I thought I'd get.

But yeah, the lesson for today isn't exactly biology related, but if we look at things in a psychological way, then we're discussing how the brain might perceive an event or occurrence, which would mean we're looking at the brain, which is an organ, which is part of biology, so therefore these not-really related lessons are actually related to biology. In short, today's lesson is like biology's third cousin twice removed.

Lesson #1: Covalent bonding and polarity aren't actually that hard. You just need to remember the specific atom's valence electron count and its electronegativity.

Lesson #2: Don't be scared by big words like electronegativity. Google it.

Lesson #3: Never assume you won't come across something or someone again. Chances are, that final goodbye might not be the end to your story. Especially chemistry. Chemistry will come back to bite you in the butt.

So those are Rena's valuable words of wisdom for today. Now to find my Chemistry for Dummies book. Until next time.

Day One: Introductions and Pretty Colors

Hello and welcome to day one of my honor's biology class. Now, one might think that since it is only the first day of class, we wouldn't be doing anything too "hard core". However, we were proved wrong. Not only were we told to "think outside the box" but we were also forced to watch the evolution of pretty colors! Oh the torture!

Anyone ever heard of the experiment called "Dancing Milk"? I know. It sounds difficult. How does one make milk dance? There is a way. So go on and prepare your potions kit.

We're going to need...

• milk (any type will do)
• food coloring
• dish soap
• something to put the milk in (a pan, dish, etc.)

In class we were told to choose a substitute for milk if we desired. These substitutions ranged from ammonia, coffee, soy milk, corn oil, and water. My fabulous lab partner Michelle and I decided to use whole milk and corn oil.

The directions for the experiment are the same regardless of the substance. 

1. Pour milk (or other substance) into the container
2. add a few drops of food coloring
3. add one drop of dish soap
4. watch the dance

As expected, the milk began to move after the dish soap was added, making the food coloring swirl and creating the pretty colors. What I wanted to see was whether the same effects would take place in the oil. 

Here's a video of the experiments!

Here are the end results of both the milk and the oil.

 As you can see, the dish soap caused both the milk and the oil to "move" but the effects were different. And the reason for that, as our teacher pointed out, is the density of the two substances.



















      Now for how's and why's: brought to you from the words of my class, carefully weaved together by Mr. Quick.

Let's start from the top and "mixture".

We have a mixture, which can or can not be milk. Each of these mixtures has some form of fat made from lipids. Now we're taking you back to your chemistry class. Lipids are have non-polar bonds. So the fat in the milk is non-polar. Dish soap is bi-polar, which as you may have guessed, are when some charges are polar (the opposite of non-polar) and some are not. Because of the opposing charge from the dish soap, the surface tension of the milk weakens creating a reaction which creates movement and therefore, has displacement.

And we didn't just do this experiment once. We did it three times, just to make sure, which is what that last bit on the board is about. In every experiment, the scientists (and in this case, a group of hormonal teenagers) must repeat their experiments to make sure that they control the variables in the experiment. Once you've repeated the procedure, sit back and watch the pretty colors.

So that was our introduction to honors biology. I didn't know what I was expecting when I walked into the class, but I know I wasn't expecting this. I have been told that more intense, and somewhat dangerous tasks are in the near future of this class, along with quizzes, tests, and the occasional squid guts. Until next time.