Saturday, December 14, 2013

12.16.13 - Thermodynamics and upcoming lab

Thermodynamics

This week, we focused on Thermodynamics. We learned that entropy is the number of the most probable discernible microstates (or degrees of freedom) in a system which tended to be the most probable. Boltzmann's equation of entropy is S=klnW

Laws of Thermodynamics
1. energy contained in the universe is constant
2. the entropy of the universe is increasing

Basically, if delta S is positive, the particles in the system are moving faster (more randomness), or there are more particles in the product than the reactants. If delta S is negative, the particles are slowing down, or there are less particles in the product than the reactants.

In class, we worked on several worksheets, Thermodynamics II and Thermodynamics III, in order to understand the concept. We were also given some equations and changes in heat (or heat of formation) in order to find the enthalpy change of the system.

upcoming lab

There is a lab due next week on Friday. We are given a couple of reactions, in addition to the materials we need to find the heat of combustion for the reaction. We determined the equations for this in class. There will be more on this on next week's blog.

Main Ideas

This unit is probably the hardest unit for me. I understand the material whenever we go over it in class, but it takes me a while to understand the concepts of this unit, such as change in heat, enthalpy, and entropy. I still feel that I don't quite understand the general concepts of the topics I've mentioned, but I think it'll become more familiar when I review for next week's test. I was also confused on how the lab is going to work. How do we find the heat of combustion by doing the experiment? How do we get the measurements, let alone the accuracy of the combustion? For one of the steps, how do we create water from hydrogen and oxygen atoms? In summary, I don't feel confident about this unit, although it is starting to make a little bit more sense.

Saturday, November 9, 2013

11.11.13 - Liquids, solids, Vapor Pressure, Lattice Energy, and Conductivity

Liquids

We had a lecture quiz on solids and liquids. Viscosity depends on the strength of the intermolecular forces. As force increases, viscosity increases. As temperature increases, the viscosity decreases. Cohesives v. Adhesive: cohesive forces happen when similar molecules bind together. Adhesive happens when intermolecular forces bind a substance to a surface. For example, water's adhesive forces between the H2O and glass are greater than the forces between the h2o molecules (creating a meniscus).

Solids

There are two groups of solids: crystalline (highly ordered arrangement) and amorphous (no particular arrangement). Covalent-Network solids, like diamonds have a high melting point and are often times hard. In order to vaporize this, the covalent bonds must be broken. Molecular solids are when atoms are held together with van der Waals forces, such as graphite. These tend to have lower melting points.

We had a lecture quiz on this to help us understand the material. We also had a worksheet called Intermolecular Forces 11 Worksheet to put together what we learned so far.

Vapor Pressure

Vapor is what we call a gaseous substance that is usually liquid at room temperature. Dynamic equilibrium occurs when the liquid molecules evaporate at the same rate as the vapor molecules condense.

Temperature affects vapor pressure. As temperature increases, more and more molecules at the surface have enough kinetic energy to escape the surface, therefore making the vapor pressure increase. When vapor pressure of a liquid reaches the atmospheric pressure, it boils. That's why water boils at a lower temperature when the elevation is high. Also, higher boiling point equals a lower vapor pressure. vapor pressure decreases with the molecular weight increases.
We had a lecture quiz to become comfortable with the material.

Lattice Energy

A quick review: There are three types of bonds. Ionic (electrostatic attraction between ions), Covalent (sharing of electrons), and Metallic (Metal atoms bonded to several other atoms. Cation surrounded by a sea of electrons). 

Lattice energy - The energy required to completely separate a mole of a solid ionic compound into its gaseous ions.

Smaller ions lead to increased lattice energy. Greater charge leads to increased energy. The effect of charge is greater than the effect of distance.

Conductivity

We worked on a small lab on conductivity. We tested several substance's conductivity. Here are the results:

We understand that in order for a substance to be conductive, there must be a sea of electrons that conduct the electricity from one wire to the other. In the case of NaCl, solids does not conduct because the atoms are in place. however, in it's liquid state, we are able to loosen the atoms and conduct the electricity through the substance.

Main Ideas

This week, I generally understand the main ideas. However, I still have trouble understanding vapor pressure and Lattice Energy. What exactly is Lattice energy, and where does it come from? What exactly is vapor pressure, what does it measure, and what are it's effects on a substance's properties? I feel quite secure on viscosity and the sea of electrons concept, however I feel I need more help on understanding the characteristics of all the other properties, such as why graphite is soft while diamonds are extremely hard.

Saturday, November 2, 2013

11.4.13 - Intermolecular forces v. Intramolecular forces, and Water

Intermolecular Forces v. Intramolecular forces

This week, following out ionic and metal worksheets, we worked on understanding Intermolecular forces and intramolecular forces. Intermolecular forces are the forces between the molecules, while the intramolecular forces are between the actual atoms. For example, intermolecular forces hold together the H and O atoms in H2O, while the intermolecular forces hold together the molecules so that it stays together to form solids, liquids, or gas, depending on the temperature of the environment.

There are three types of intermolecular forces: induced dipole-induced dipole (London dispersion forces), Dipole-dipole, and Hydrogen bonding.

London dispersion force occurs between any two molecules because there is a momentary concentration of electrons on one side of the atom, causing a momentary dipole in the molecule. This is what holds molecules with no dipole moment. London dispersion force occurs in all molecules.

The next strongest intermolecular force is the dipole-dipole force. Molecules with this have attraction between the molecules due to the partial charges on the molecules from the dipole moment.

The strongest force is called the Hydrogen bond. This occurs between any molecule that has a Hydrogen atom bonded to either Nitrogen, Oxygen, of Florine atom.

To help learn the material, we went over two worksheets: Intermolecular Fores and Intermolecular Forces 1 Worksheet.

Water

We also went over a pogil about Water. We learned a little about why Salt (NaCl) dissolves in water. The hydrogen bonds override the ionic bond between the Na and Cl, breaking the ions apart. 

Main Ideas

This week, the main ideas connected because we need to know the characteristics of the intermolecular forces and intramolecular forces in order to understand why salt dissolves in water. The model with the molecules helped me because it was easy to understand which side attracted to which molecule. It also helped me understand why ice is less dense than liquid water, something I have been wondering for a very long time. I am becoming unsure, however, about the materials we covered in this weekend's lecture quizzes, "Liquids and Solids". I don't think I quite understand why liquids have surface tension.

Saturday, October 26, 2013

10.28.13 - Test on Covalent Bonding, Hydrogen Bonding, Ionic bonding, and Metals

Testing on Covalent Bonding

This Tuesday, we had a test on Covalent bonding.

Overall, I felt better about this test than the last test on Stoichiometry. I haven't looked back at my test yet so I don't know what I got wrong.

Hydrogen Bonding

We also got introduced to hydrogen bonding this week. We read an article about the osmosis of paintballs and the reason behind it. It turns out that there are small attractions called hydrogen bonding between the hydrogen and the oxygen atoms because of the positive polarity on hydrogen and negative polarity on oxygen.

To help understand the material, we wrote an essay on a Paintball essay by Brian Rohrig called "Paintballs"

Ionic bonding

We started our next unit on ionic bonds. In an ionic bond, the electrons are freely moving within the material, unlike covalent bonds where they are sharing electrons. The ionic bond is between a Cation (positive) and an Anion (negative). In NaCl, the sodium ion is smaller than the chlorine atoms because it looses one row of electrons to the Cl.

To help understand this, we did a pogil on Ionic Bonding. 

We also learned that those with an anion or cation with a higher charge has more force between their attraction. The smaller the ionic compound, the larger the melting point. Melting point depends on how much energy it takes to break or spread the bonds between the ions.

Metals

There is a lecture quiz due this Sunday on Metals.

Characteristics of metals include:
  • conductivity
  • malleable (able to be pressed into different shapes)
  • ductile (able to be drawn into wire)
  • metals aren't as brittle as other solids
They are not covalently bonded, but they have extremely strong bonds between the ions.

Electron-Sea Model is a representation of how electrons on the outermost valance swims around freely inside the sample. The rest of the ions are structured like this
This explains its conductivity.


Alloys are mixtures of elements that have property characteristics of metals. This can be a metal within a metal, or can be a non-metal within a metal (they are located in the staircase on the periodic table). Solution alloys are solutions such as Steel (Carbon and Iron). They can be substitutional alloys where solute particles take the place of the solvent metal atom, or an interstitial alloy where the solute particles are so small they can fit into the holes between the solvent metal ions. Therefore they are usually more dense than substitutional alloys.

Main Ideas

The main idea that was new this week was the introduction to ionic bonds and metals. I feel relatively comfortable with these ideas because a lot of this material has been gone over last year in SG Chem 1. The only think that I'm wondering about is what is the charge on these atoms measured in? (what is the unit of charge? Coulomb?)

Friday, October 18, 2013

10.21.13 - WebMO, hybridization, sigma/pi bonds, test next week

WebMO

This week, we've mostly worked out building our VSEPR balloon models on WebMO. To build a model on WebMO, we first placed out elements on the program and submitted it to clean up the shape of the structure. Then, by creating the structure, we were able to determine the angle measures, the dipole moment, the charges of the elements, and we were able to build the space filling models.

Here are some examples:













By building these models, we were able to understand the dipole moments, polarity, electron domain geometry and the molecular domain geometry. This activity really helped me with determining the different domain geometries and the angles that correspond to each molecule.

Hybridization

I believe we were introduced hybrid orbitals in one of the lecture quizzes, however this week we went over some examples for homework. sp corresponds with two hybrid orbitals, with angle measures of 180 (linear). sp2 corresponds with three hybrid orbitals with angle measures of 120 (trigonal planar). sp3 has four hybrid orbitals with angle measures of 109.45 (tetrahedral). Although there use to be a theory that the d orbitals also exist, we no longer learn this in class because there is doubt in the theory. So, anything above four hybrid orbitals does not have a hybrid orbital.

sigma/pi bonds

On Friday, we went over a little about sigma and pi bonds to clear up some confusion we had since out lecture quiz. A single bond is always a sigma bond. When there is a double bond, there is a sigma and pi bond.

Here is a picture of a diagram of CO


In this way, there are one sigma bond and two pi bonds that make the CO molecule covalent.

Test Next Week

We have a test next week on Tuesday. We will be tested on drawing Lewis structures, calculating formal charges, resonance structures, bond length and strength, VSEPR models, bond order, bond angles and their reasons, shapes of the Electron Domain Geometry and Molecular Domain Geometry, hybridization, polarity, and other material we have covered in this unit.

Main Ideas

This week, the main idea was to become comfortable with the uncertainties we had since our lecture quizzes. Practicing the electron domain geometry and the molecular domain geometry on the WebMO really helped me because I got more practice and understanding to why the molecules take the shapes they take. I'm still unsure about fully understanding the material for this unit. For example, what is the difference between a sigma bond and a pi bond? I understand that there are two different types of bonds in a double bond or triple bond, but I don't know what the differences are. I would like to relearn the unit with a deeper understanding if I ever have time before the AP exam. I still need to work on understanding the general ideas of all the topics (under Test Next Week) because I mix up a lot of the concepts we've learned over the past few weeks, like hybridization and polarity. However, my ideas have changed about atoms: I know they are much more complicated than what I assumed they were like!

Friday, October 11, 2013

10.14.13 - VSEPR, Lab Data, Formal Charges, and Resonance Structures.

VSEPR Theory Lab

This week, we started off by finishing the VSEPR theory lab. In the worksheet, VSEPR Theory Lab (1), we went through 13 examples of molecules and found it's Electron Domain Geometry and Molecular Domain Geometry.

In order to determine the Electron Domain Geometry, you must...
1. Draw a Lewis Structure for the molecule.
2. Count the number of bonded atoms around the central atom.
3. Count the number of lone pair electrons around the central atom.
4. Figure out its molecular class.
5. Find out its Geometric shape.

  • Total of two bonded atoms and lone pair electrons: linear.
  • Total of three bonded atoms and lone pair electrons: Trigonal Planar.
  • Total of four bonded atoms and lone pair electrons: Tetrahedral.
  • Total of five bonded atoms and lone pair electrons: Trigonal Bipyramidal.
  • Total of six bonded atoms and lone pair electrons: Octahedral.
In order to determine the Molecular Domain Geometry, you must...
1. Find the Electron Domain Geometry.
2. Think of what the shape that the Bonded atoms would take (the red balloons, in context of our lab)
  • They would be either linear, bent, trigonal planar, tetrahedral, trigonal pyramidal, trigonal bipyramidal, seesaw, T-shape, octahedral, or square pyramidal.
To follow this main idea, we did a lab using balloons and gum drops. Balloons helped us figure out the Electron Domain Geometry by tying the red balloons (bonded electrons) and the white balloons (lone pair electrons) together. The gum drops represent the Molecular Domain geometry (Orange was the central atom, black was the bonded atoms). The gum drops were tied with toothpicks that depicted the shape of the molecules relatively accurately.

Lab Data

We also finished figuring out the answer to our lab questions from last week (What is the mass percent of copper in a brass sample?). This is our class data:

By using the information given, we figured out the mass percent of copper.

After doing some stoichiometry, we found that the mass percent of copper was 58.7%
Later next week, Dr.J will (try to) give us our lab reports from the last lab back in order to finish our lab this week of brass.

Formal Charges

We had a lecture quiz on formal charges, as well as a Pogil (Lewis Structures (III)) to further become comfortable with the material. To calculate formal charge, you must...
1. Make a Lewis structure for the molecule.
2. Count the number of electrons corresponding to the atom you are trying to figure out.
3. Subtract the number of original electrons (from the periodic table) by the number of assigned electrons.
Here's an example.

Resonance Structures

We also did a Pogil for Resonance Structures (Lewis Structures (III)) to understand which formal charge is the best for each molecule. By figuring out the resonance structures of the molecules, we were able to decide which structure was the best for that molecule (the one with the least number of formal charges).

Main Ideas

I understood most of the material that we learned this week, such as formal charges, resonance structures, bond order, and hypervalancy, however I still have trouble finding the Electron Domain Geometry and Molecular Domain Geometry for molecules. Why can't H2O be linear, instead of bent? Does the structure look like this?
All of the material we learned this week helps us understand the deeper facts of Lewis structures, beyond their models. VSEPR theory is a really interesting idea to me, however I wish I could become more comfortable with it. Next week, I will probably have more questions about the lab as well.

Friday, October 4, 2013

10.7.13 - Bond Order and Bond Strength, Brass Lab, and VSEPR Theory Lab

Bond Order and Bond Strength

First, before the worksheet, we went through some Lecture Quizzes that gave us an understanding of how to draw Lewis Structure Diagrams. Here are the steps:

1. Calculate the total number of valance electrons for the molecule.
2. Draw the skeleton structure for the molecule. The least electronegative element should be the central atom.
3. Make bonds between the surrounding atoms and the central atom.
4. Distribute as many remaining valence electrons to the surrounding atoms until their octet (or duet) are filled.
5. Distribute the rest to the central atom. If there is not enough, borrow lone pairs of electrons from one or more surrounding atoms and create multiple bonds until the Octet Rule is satisfied.

This week, we started off with a Pogil on Bond Order and Bond Strength. Bond Order is the number or pairs of electrons that are shared between two elements. Bond Energy (kJ/mole) is the energy required to sever the bond that holds two adjacent atoms together in a molecule. We found that the bigger the bond order, the bigger the bond energy. Bond length is the distance between the nuclei of two bonding atoms. As bond length increases, bond energy decreases.
We went through lots of practice to become comfortable with this material. I feel that I understood this pretty well, because it is basically a little bit more detail added to the Lewis Structure Diagram.

Brass Lab

Before we started our lab, we received a sheet of productive and non-productive beginning questions.

This week, we started on our Brass lab. The main goal of this lab is to find the percentage by mass (mass percent) of copper in brass screws. As a class, we decided to investigate these question: what is the relationship between the absorbance of the solution and the concentration of copper, and how does deducting concentration visually compare to the measurements of the colorimeter?

The procedure includes reacting the brass solution in HNO3 to produce a light blue solution of Copper.
Then, we took the stock solution of 0.393M and made a serial dilution of 0.200M, 0.100M, 0.050M, and 0.025M. We then measured the absorbance using the colorimeter.

Next week, we will interpret the class data and write our lab report.

VSEPR Theory Lab

We were introduced to the VSEPR Theory on Friday. VSEPR Theory predicts the shape an individual molecule will take depending on their bonding and non-bonding electron pairs.

Electron domains are the number of bonds there are between the elements. For example, carbon dioxide has an electron domain of two, because there is one bond between O and C, and another between C and O.

The shapes of the pairs are not perfect circles or lines. To show this, we tied small red balloons to represent the bonded pairs and larger white balloons to represent the non-bonding pairs. For example, ClF3 would look like this:

To go along with the new material, we did VSEPR Theory Lab (I), as well as the balloon models.

Main Ideas

This week, I feel like we went deeper into the bonds that tie together the elements and the structure of the molecules. However, I still have trouble understanding the shape of the compounds according the the VSEPR theory. The balloon structures representing the region in which the electrons are most likely found make sense to me, but I don't understand how the actual molecules look like. I think I will come to an understanding once we go over this worksheet and see the other models of other molecules. Other than that, I feel I understand the material we went over this week. I think there will be more problems when we enter the next week, where we discuss the results of the Brass Lab and finish up the VSEPR theory lab. Because I was not in class on Tuesday, I don't think I've participated very well this week. My ideas about the structure of a molecule has definitely changed after the VSEPR theory lab. I also feel really excited about doing more labs in this class now that we did a lab with real chemicals and fairly strict safety precautions. I just need to remember to use more drawings in the lab procedures.

Friday, September 27, 2013

9.30.13 - Stoichiometry exam and introduction to the Lewis Structure

Stoichiometry exam

In the exam, we covered all of the stoichiometry we've gone over this year so far. This includes converting moles to grams, finding mass given the mass of the reactants, balancing chemical equations, reaction particle diagrams, empirical formulas, and many other application of stoichiometry and the concept of Moles.

My overall score was an 83.3%. I scored 86.7% on the multiple choice, and 80% on the free response. Most of the questions I missed were not because of the lack of comprehension, however I feel I could have done better if I was more comfortable using the stoichiometry and molar mass tools that we learned in class or over the lectures. The hot potato quizzes helped with the test because they gave very similar questions.

Lewis Structures

Starting last Thursday, we were introduced to the Lewis Structure Diagram. This diagram is based on the atoms' outer valance electrons and their ability to bond with other atoms. The core charges of the atoms are equal to the number of dots in the diagrams. Shared electrons in a covalent bond are expressed with a line between the letters.

Some of the rules for Lewis Structures include:
1. The atom has to have the correct letter to represent the element and the correct number of valance electrons.
2. The sum of the shared electrons and the lone pair electrons must be eight--an octet. 
3. Hydrogen is a duet.


The total number of valance electrons in a compound are the valance electrons of the individual elements added up.

F2=14 valance electrons 
SiH4= 8 valance electrons 
PCl3= 26 valance electrons
O2-2= 12 valance electrons

We did a Pogil ("Lewis Structure(1)")on this to make sure we understood the material. We also did some whiteboarding to compare our answers with other groups.

Main Ideas

Stoichiometry and the Lewis Structure do not connect in my head yet, because the Lewis Structure is still a new topic to us. However, the main idea of this week was to see if we understood stoichiometry (by taking the test) and becoming familiar with the Lewis Structure. I am relatively comfortable with the new material, so I do not have any questions. I feel that I participated a lot this week in our activities because (I think) I lead a lot of the discussions on the questions in the pogil in our group. My ideas changed about the Lewis Structure because I'm a little more comfortable with it, compared to last year. 

Friday, September 20, 2013

9.23.13 - Reaction Particle Diagram, Stoichiometry (limiting reactants and yield), and Empirical Formulas

Reaction Particle Diagram

The main idea of the Reaction Particle Diagram was to learn the standard way of drawing particle diagrams. When given a reaction, you must...
1. Balance the equation
2. Draw the correct amount of molecules before the reaction (all spread out)
3. Draw the correct number of molecules after the reaction (including the excess molecules)

In class, we white-boarded the packet "Reaction Particle Diagrams" to go along with this idea. This helped us because it gave us a lot of examples and lots of practice to get us comfortable with drawing these diagrams.

Stoichiometry - limiting reactants

The main idea of limiting reactants in stoichiometry was to understand how to calculate mass of a reaction with limited amounts of reactants. To find the mass, set up two (or more) ratios of the given masses of the two (or more) elements to find which one produces the least amount of a substance. Then, once you find the least amount of product that can be made, go backwards to find the amount of other molecules used to make that product.

In class, we worked on a few worksheets (Stoichiometry(6), (7)). The worksheets allowed us to get some more practice with the new idea.

Stoichiometry - yield

The main idea of yield is that never in reaction is there going to 100% of all products as the result of a chemical reaction. There will be some left inside the container, making the amount of solution less than what is theoretically predicted.

We also got a worksheet in class (Stoichiometry 8 - Yield) to get use to doing these types of problems.

Empirical Formulas

Empirical Formulas describes the relative number of each type of atom in a compound. It is given as the smallest whole number ratios. For example, although glucose is C6H12O6, its Empirical Formula is CH2O. To find the empirical formula given the percent composition...
1. Assume there are 100g of the product in total. All percents given become grams.
2. Find how many moles of each molecule there are in the product.
3. Divide each number of moles by the smallest number of moles.
4. Make sure they are all whole number ratios.

We worked on a worksheet to become comfortable with the new material. There were lots of practice to do this.

In addition to this, we were introduced to Empirical Units and Molecular Formulas, and Mass Percent. Empirical Units and Molecular Formulas basically take the Empirical formula and multiplies it by the number of atoms in the compound, given the molecular molar mass of the compound. 


Mass Percent is the percent of a specific element or molecule in a compound.

Main Ideas

All the ideas we learned this week connect because we need to know one concept in order to understand the next one. We are not able to find Empirical formulas without knowing the basics of Stoichiometry. This is the same for reaction particle diagrams, limiting reactants, yield, Empirical Units, molecular formulas, and mass percent. I understand the concepts of reaction particle diagrams, limiting reactants, yield, and empirical units/molecular formulas, but I think I need more practice on mass percent. I don't understand the question when it asks "Find the mass percent of the compound in the sample". If the compound is the sample, wouldn't it just be 100%? I understand the steps you take to find the answer, but I don't understand what the number in the answer represents. I feel that I participated well in the learning process because I helped out with white-boarding the answers to the worksheets. I'm fairly confident in the subject we learned this week. I just need to work on mass percent, and maybe a series of random practice problems to know when to use what method of ratios. Because these ideas are a lot like the concepts we learned last week, I have no change in my ideas. However, I'm wondering what kind of questions will be on the actual AP exam? Will these Stoichiometry problems be on there?

Saturday, September 14, 2013

9.16.13 - Stoichiometry and Blue #1 Dye Lab Report

Stoichiometry

The main idea of stoichiometry this week was to understand how to use conversions to figure out a problem containing different units. We have done two worksheets on stoichiometry to further understand and master the concept. For example,

How many grams of gold would be produced from 551g of gold (III) oxide in the reaction 2Au2O--> 4Au + 3O2? (molar mass of gold (III) oxide is 441.93 g/mol)


The main idea is to multiply the given value by different forms of 1 in order to get the same results in a different unit. For example, in the equation above, the numerator and the denominator all equal each other (1 mol Au2O= 441.93g Au2O3). That way, we can change the units of the given number without changing the actual value (anything multiplied by one will equal itself).

Lab Report - Blue #1 Dye

This week, we performed a lab with Blue #1 Dye and different kinds of sports drinks. The question to guide our lab was "What is the Relationship Between the Concentration of a Solution and the Amount of Transmitted Light Through the Solution?" and "How many grams of Blue #1 Dye is there in 500mL of Powerade and Gatorade?". 

As we collected data, we found that the absorbance and concentration of Blue #1 Dye had a direct linear relationship. This was related by the equation y=0.1385x-0.0078 (x=absorbance and y=concentration).

The activity that really tied everything that we learned this week was to find the mass (g) of 500mL of Powerade and Gatorade. We applied our knowledge of stoichiometry to our lab to see how much dye was in our drinks (the equation and process are all in the lab notebook). We found out that there is approximately 1.98x10-4g of Blue 1 Dye in Powerade, while in Gatorade, there were 5.15x10-5 g.

In addition to the lab, we worked on post lab questions. These questions tested us if we knew our material well. The first question asks us how to find concentration given the concentration and volume of the diluted solution. Here, we used the equation M1V1=M2V2to find the concentration in uM.
Here is the work:


The concentration of the original stock turns out to be 17.5uM.

Main Ideas

The main ideas this week were to become comfortable with stoichiometry, how labs work in the class, how to use our lab notebooks, and how stoichiometry can be applied in labs.

I'm still uncomfortable using stoichiometry to convert units. I wasn't sure where to start when we white-boarded our problems for the mass of Blue #1 dye. I feel that I participated well by knowing how to use the colorimeters properly and doing the prelab activities before the lab, however I don't think I understood stoichiometry as well as I should have. My ideas have changed about converting units. I had thought they were very easy to do, however after learning stoichiometry, I understood that there were more steps in the conversion than what I had imagined.