Week 4: Green Chemistry

Catalyst of the week: Amylase

The enzyme Amylase is found naturally occurring in our human saliva. It helps our bodies break down starches into sugars from which we derive the fuel for our functioning. Amylase was the first enzyme to be discovered and isolated. Many human societies have survived on starch based diets like potatoes and rice and have been able to do so thanks to Amylase. Without this wonderful natural enzyme, we would not be here. Thanks, Amylase!

Just how close are we to a Green Economy?

I think the entire question is focused on the wrong issue. For starters, the word "Green" is very general. Most of the time it means sustainable, which I think of as something that puts in as much as it takes out and can keep going like that in perpetuity. I would argue that we need to look beyond sustainability to regeneration: making things better than when we started, generating even more than we take. Another aspect of this questions is that it is offered up within the boundaries of the status quo, as if to ask, "how close are we to making THIS economy green?". It could be said that this economy, based in capitalism, central distribution and the monetary system among other things, is fundamentally unsustainable and therefore could never be truly green.

That being said, I do think that in recent years there has been a sort of awakening beginning to happen in the main stream. The more people are willing to see that there is a problem with business as usual, the more likely we are to make changes. I just hope we don't spend too much of our precious time and resources trying to patch what may be unfixable. When we collectively realize that " We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them" (Albert Einstein) then perhaps we will actually be on the road to creating a better social and economic interaction between each other and the Earth and all of her non-human inhabitants.

Atom Economy Link

I was not excited about the details of this link but the over all concept is a good one. The Atom economy is another important consideration we must make if we are to continue to utilize chemistry to make our everyday products. It seems obvious that we should try to not produce waste if possible, but we seem to overlook the obvious if it is not declared a priority.

Week 3: Molecular Structure and Bonding

Transition Metal of the week: Copper!

Copper is such a beautiful transition metal, whether seen in its fresh faced copper colored form, or its corroded green patina. Copper is soft and malleable making it easy to form into different shapes. It is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity, in fact it is the second most conductive metal behind silver. With its pliable nature and ease of forming into wire, Copper is responsible for many of the technologies we enjoy today. Found in the same column as Gold and Silver, Copper shares many of the same properties as these two metals that are usually considered much more valuable. Records of Copper use span over 10,000 years of human history and my guess is that it will continue to aide us in our future endeavors.

Neptune's Medicine Chest

I have mixed feelings about Neptune's Medicine chest. On the one hand I would encourage scientific research and discovery when it gives us an economic reason to not trash the ocean since we (Western Culture/Civilization) seem to need an economic motivator for everything.

However, the purpose of Neptune's medicine chest makes me hesitate. It perpetuates the endless mouse wheel of creating drugs to "fix" diseases caused by drugs we have already invented. A stronger antibiotic resistant bacteria is caused by the overuse of the antibiotics we already made. Our bodies are amazing ecosystems that can fight infections and cancers on their own. We bombard our bodies constantly with cancer causing agents and then mistreat the immune systems we were born with to fight off the infections we give ourselves. There is a symphony of microbes and bacteria that deal with these foreign invaders, but every time we take and antibiotic, the good is wiped out with the bad with no concern for the consequences.

This is not to say that antibiotic discoveries are not a good thing. They have saved many lives, but perhaps they would not have been needed if we would stop creating the pathogenic environment that attacks us.

Link Review: Water Concepts

I like the interactive visuals found in this link. It helped me to understand hydrogen bonds and the various aspects of a water molecule. I think they could have done a better job with the graphics, but in general they serve their purpose.

Element of the week: Carbon

Carbon is the sixth most abundant element in the universe. Because of Carbon's ability to make long complex chained compounds, all life forms found on our planet are Carbon based, which I think makes this element pretty darn cool. Another interesting thing about Carbon is that when it takes the form of diamond, it is one of the hardest naturally occurring substances on Earth and when it is graphite, it is one of the softest natural substances on Earth.

Its versatility gives it the ability to not only build and foster, but also to be a danger to life. Carbon dioxide being released in to the atmosphere by human activity is the most abundant green house gas that is warming the planet and causing climate shifts.

Carbon is the element the wears many hats. It makes up our fuel and flowers and with out it we would not be here. =)

Elements, Compounds and Mixtures: Review

I found the animation on this page to be very helpful in my understanding of the differences between each combination of gases especially compounds and mixtures. My understanding of the difference between compounds and mixtures of elements is now clarified.

Ozone?

Ozone is an inert gas that is made in the upper atmosphere. It is not harmful, but too much can become harmful. It shields animals from harmful UV rays. It is also sometimes used as a food preservative. Human made chemicals have been eating away at the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere leaving the animals on Earth less protected from harmful UV rays.

Chemistry Quiz: 50% or 70% depending on how we are scoring =)

Thoughts on class discussion

I enjoyed the class discussion a lot. The subject of green technologies and the state of our changing world, climate and culture fascinates me.

The legal highs article reminds me that our culture lacks the community support and human interrelationships that are necessary to make us healthy and happy and unfortunately we find dangerous ways to fill that void. Not to say that there is not a tendency of people to be curious and want to experience a shifting of consciousness by getting high, but it seems the extremes of risk that are taken these days point to a deeper reasoning then just simple curiosity.

The carbon neutral city was inspiring. It's a lot easier to do when there are only a few thousand people to organize, but of course it is very possible to do on a larger scale as well. I would certainly love to live in such a place. The idea of a town working together towards a goal is very attractive to a lot of people who feel a hunger to help others and be a part of something larger than themselves.

As for the pill pushers, that article and discussion was discouraging as it reminds me of how powerful (read: rich) those calling the shots are. They are able to lie, cheat and steal our health to make more money and it seems like there is nothing to stop them. I want to think that it will get better, but my fear is that it will only get worse.

Bio of ME:

I am a carbon based life-form and also a student at ACCHS. This is my second trimester and so far I am enjoying the experience immensely!

Likes: singing songs, giving hugs, cooking and eating plants, laughing, learning TCM, the color purple (the actual color, not the book, but actually I like the book too), animals, children, flowers, natural building, appropriate technology, good conversation, massages, honesty, jumping, skipping, funness and more...

Dislikes: rinsing dishes (I prefer to wash), mean people, negativity, bullies, getting burnt out, being too cold, being punched ( I really don't like being punched), feeling sad...

If you have any questions or would like to know more, please come talk to me. =)