In the past week, we changed topics from stoichiometry to Lewis structures. The first half of the week was all review from the stoichiometry ideas we learned the week before, which included doing stoichiometry with limiting reactants, stoichiometry with calculating the yield, and Empirical Formulas. On Thursday and Friday, the Lewis structure was taught. The stoichiometry ideas was related to each other because they all involved the same calculations and conversions, as described in my last blog post. The Lewis structure, which was a very new concept, is so far by itself. I did not see any connections of Lewis structure to anything that was taught these past weeks (excluding the basic chemistry ideas like the periodic table ideas and atom structure). However, I did learn some very important details for the Lewis diagram. I learned that the diagram depended on the number of the valence electrons and the element/molecule being drawn.
What really helped me a lot was the pogils done in class. I worked with my tablemates and we talked about the important ideas. When someone didn't get an idea, others would teach them. Since students usually understand other students very well (because students have same type of tone and not super scientific language), the ideas were taught quickly too. Excluding the pogil, lectures, and powerpoints, I also learned from outside sources. I found chemistry.about.com really helpful too. I read that "A Lewis structure is a type of shorthand notation. Atoms are written using their element symbols. Lines are drawn between atoms to indicate chemical bonds. Single lines are single bonds. Double lines are double bonds. Triple lines are triple bonds. " which summed up everything really quickly.
Overall, my understanding of the Lewis diagram is still about a 5/10. I get the core concepts a bit, but I do not get many things about it. It may because I forgot some stuff about valence electrons. I want to know where to put the dots (valence electrons) around the atom. I need to work on understanding Lewis diagrams more. I think some more online resource searching will help me. Although my understanding is a 5/10, I would say my participation is good, maybe a 9/10.
After this week, I learned a little bit more about stoichiometry but I learned mostly about Lewis diagrams. The Lewis diagram, although the idea still a bit foggy in my head, is the diagram of the valence electrons of a molecule or atom. Now, after last week, I am thinking about the relationship of valence electron to other properties like conductivity and reactivity.
<------lewis diagram for chlorinechemistry.about.com for Lewis diagrams: http://chemistry.about.com/od/generalchemistry/a/lewisstructures.htm
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