National Mole Day is Friday, Oct 23 from 6:02 am to 6:02 pm in honor of the quantity so commonly used in chemistry, the mole. Can you think of some fun ways to celebrate?

Here were some ideas I found online:

• write a song in honor of the mole and sing it for the class
• drink 18 g (1 mole) of water
• play a game, "pin the tail on the mole"
• have a mole piñata

Chapter 6 Homework Assignments:
Book, page 195: 15-18, 20-22, 33, 36-38, 41, & 46-48 (due Oct 27)
Bonding Packet (handed out Oct 19, due Oct 27)
Review Packet (will hand out Oct 22, due Oct 27)

**Chapter 6 Test is Tuesday, October 27!!!

Here are some addresses for some interesting and helpful chemistry blogs:

Chemistry Resources for Students
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/guides/Education/High-School-Chemistry.xa_1.html

Anne Marie's Chemistry Blog
http://chemistry.about.com/b/

Home Chemistry
http://www.homechemistry.blogspot.com/

Chemistry Tutor
http://mychemistrytutor.com/forums

We are now currently in Chapter 6, Chemical Bonding. We have already discussed metallic and ionic bonding. We also learned how to do Lewis structures for covalent compounds and polyatomic ions. Today we did the Ceramics Fixatives Lab, where students were involved in a simulation. They pretended to be a team of chemists hired to do some research for a ceramics company and had to test four compounds with given criteria to be tested. They had to determine which compound met the criteria the best. Students will compose a letter explaining their choice, why they made that choice, and will discuss how they gathered all of the necessary data. Tomorrow students will learn about the VSEPR theory and will use the model kits to construct a variety of molecules and polyatomic ions, while applying VSEPR theory. We will also discuss hybridization and then intermolecular forces. Our test will be on Tuesday, October 27 over chemical bonding.

Modern Chemistry is a college prep course intended to teach the concepts of chemistry. This course is a must for students considering a four-year degree in a science field or for students who have been successful in previous science and math classes. Students who struggle in mathematics are encouraged to take Principles of Chemistry. Students study metric measurements, atomic structure, periodic classification, bonding, formula writing, chemical nomenclature, chemical equations, types of chemical reactions, calculations involving element and compounds, solids/liquids/gases, water, solutions, acids and bases, reaction rates and equilibrium, organic chemistry, and nuclear chemistry.