If you are using LaTeX to write up reports, then it may be useful to be able to confidently type set how electrons are arranged in their shells and subshells.
if we take an example for Boron from the above website, we can type set this in $\LaTeX$ using math mode:-
$1s^22s^22p_x^1$
The result is a nicely typeset electron configuration.
This is not perfect as it should display the final x as a subscript (below) the the 1 as a superscript next to this. But it should be possible to fix.
This tutorial is sort of related but may be useful for drawing diagrams.
To draw the orbital diagrams you need to use :-
\usepackage{ amssymb }
Then in the document use
\upharpoonleft and \upharpoonright
$\upharpoonleft$ and $\upharpoonright$
For this article I used detexify to figure out the \LaTeX code for the graphics.
Update : 25/2/2022
Having asked on the OU forum about this, in this thread reply I have been advised to use the mhchem package and this will type set the orbitals much better.
\usepackage[version=3]{mhchem} % you may prefer the spacing using version=4
...
$\ce{1s^2 2s^2 2p_x^1}$
Following my previous attempt at this. I am now repeating the experiment with pure Sodium Chloride. I am also using a 250ml conical flask, which is much larger.
This time I used hot water from the kettle, taking a precaution of warming this up with warm tap water first, just in case the sudden temperature changed caused the flask to shatter. I then added Sodium Chloride powder.
I am now leaving this to hopefully grow some nice crystals which I would expect to be more of a cuboid shape. This prediction is based on:-
Pictures of similar results
The molecular shape of Sodium Chloride.
I am doing this for:
Support the STEM Group events
Hopefully can use this in a school to help children grow their own crystals.
I have two of the courses, that I completed with FutureLearn. The printed certificates should be on the way to me. These two courses are :-
[Teaching Primary Science : Getting Started]
[Teaching Primary Science : Chemistry]
Also identified lots of other courses,which demonstrate a commitment to keeping knowledge up to date. These will also be very useful while working as a TA within education settings.
Anyone looking at undertaking this course with Open Learn, I have set up a thread on discourse to facilitate further discussion.
Chemistry lies at the centre of our modern life, playing a part in areas as diverse as the development of new drugs and materials, analysing our environment through to more mundane activities such as washing your clothes and making your tea. But to truly understand the role chemistry plays you need to have a sound grasp of a number of fundamental principles.
This free course, Discovering chemistry, introduces you to some of these concepts, beginning with the idea that everything that you can see is made of building blocks called atoms. This leads on to a look at the chemical elements and how they are arranged in the Periodic Table, enabling chemists to rationalise patterns in their chemical and physical behaviour.
Next you will consider chemical reactions, specifically how atoms combine with other atoms to form molecules, and how molecules combine with other atoms or molecules to form bigger molecules. You will meet simple (tried and tested) theories to explain the bonding in molecules and at how their shapes may be explained, and indeed predicted. And in a wider sense you’ll be looking at why reactions happen at all and how fast they go.
This is also a beginner’s level course in the language of the chemist; you’ll learn about symbols, formulas and how chemical equations which represent reactions are constructed. Finally you will see how chemists count atoms and molecules, essential for making up solutions of a known concentration in order to carry out a reaction, or performing a chemical analysis.
Reposting this due to adding a link to a Science Forum post.
As Salt (Sodium Chloride) dissolves in water, you can grow salt crystals quite easily. There are lots of instructions on the internet, on how to do this with Salt, as well as other chemicals; such as, Alum (Aluminium Sulfate), Borax (Sodium Borate) for example.
For the purpose of my attempt, I used
*a conical flask from my old Chemistry set,
* a wooden lollipop stick,
* string
* paper clip (to hold the string in the solution)
This is illustrated in the first picture, while the 2nd is a photo of the resulting crystal formation.
Update 17/10/2021
I took more photos on the 4th October to illustrate further growth of the crystals
It is probably worth mentioning that table salt contains Sodium Chloride but also a Anti caking agent called Sodium Ferrycyanide which according to that wikipedia article is a yellow solid.
I am not sure if this somehow affects the growth or shape of the resultng crystals. At some point I should try the same experiment pure NaCl
Manganese could make luminescent materials and the conversion of sunlight more sustainable
Sounds like an interesting development. You can read more on Science Daily [2]. I think the significant part of this discovery is that Manganese [2] is cheaper and more readily available. Please feel free, to open a thread on Discourse [3] in order to discuss further.
Depending on if you prefer Chemistry or Computer Science here are two takes on the Screaming Jelly baby.
Firstly Chemistry
Now lets look at the Raspberry Pi version. This is simply using a jelly baby as a switch to trigger a sound being played. So two wires inside the jelly baby connect together when the jelly baby is squeezed.
I prefer the Chemistry version, despite the fact it is probably far less interactive as in I don't think students are allowed to actually perform this demonstration.
Graphic :