Term 2 topics

Term 2
Today, Ms Chia told us that we would be covering Physical Quantities and Units, Diversity, Measurement and the Kinetic Particle Theory.

The Physical Quantities and Units were quite hard and frustrating as we must memorise tables and tables of SI units and Prefixes.

Prefix was the hardest as we must learn the prefix, multiplying factor and the symbol. 

Luckily, we did not have to learn Tera and pico, as they are not in the syllabus. However, learning the rest were already enough to "kill" you :P 

The other topic is Interactions/Diversity. We must distinguish among solute, solvent and solution. Also, we must learn the different factors which affect solubility and the rate of dissolving of substances. Through Ms Chia's lesson, I learnt that elements and compounds are pure substances, whereas suspensions and solutions are mixtures.

example of a suspension (sand in water)

example of a solution (salt in water)

Not only that, we must also learn the separation techniques. We must explain what separation technique can be used to separate the mixture into its constituents. In total, we must learn 7 separation techniques. They are : filtration, evaporation to dryness, separating funnel, crystallization, distillation & fractional distillation, chromatography and magnetic attraction. 

The separation technique which I found was the most difficult to explain and complicated was distillation & fractional distillation.

 

Luckily, I managed to understand it fully after days of revision and lessons with Ms Chia. 

:D

The hardest of all in the topic of Diversity is the Kinetic Particle Theory. The Kinetic Particle Theory states that matter is made of tiny discrete particles(atoms or molecules), which are in constant and random motion.

Unfortunately, I did not really understand what Ms Chia was teaching. Even after much revision, I only understood a small part of it. However, I believe that as long as I have the will, nothing can stop me! 自强不息!