Science & Technology Time!

Graham and Parks School
"Okay"-Room 201
Thursday
March 27, 2003
by
Ali Taalebinezhaad, PhD

Magic of Chemistry!

Last Thursday , we observed the inflation of a balloon by mixing material that you can easily find in your kitchen. Namely,
Vinegar + Baking Soda --> Gas + Water + (some kind of salt).
See the Chemistry Photo Gallery to find out about the experiment.

Chemists describe this chemical reaction by
CH3COOH + NaHC03 --> CO2 + H2O + CH3COONa
and read it as follows:
(Acetic Acid) + (Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate) --> (Carbon Dioxide) + (Hydrogen Oxide) + (Sodium Acetate).

Confused? Don't be! It just seems complicated but it is not that hard.
Chemists use simple symbols to show the fundamental elements in each
material. For example:
C for Carbon,
O for Oxygen,
H for Hydrogen,
and
Na for Sodium, (adopted from its Latin name, Natrium).


Please send your comments and questions to: taalebi@ai.mit.edu