The Disappearing Spoon Chp. 16

The Disappearing Spoon Chapter 16

Summary:

    This chapter was interesting but so hard to comprehend due to the uncertainty of it. The majority of the chapter dealt with the crazy characteristics of elements when exposed to extreme conditions of temperature. Kean starts out with the story of a few Englishmen that set out to be the first men to ever be 90 degrees below the equator. Though, Norwegians had already been there first when the five men reached the spot. Matters got even worse for the men because they became stuck in harsh snow storms for weeks and ran out of supplies, including a heat source, due to their tin kerosene holders leaking.

The next part doesn’t focus on certain scientists but more so the fascinating form that matter can take when temperature is either extremely cold or hot. In one example, the scientists dropped the temperature to around 445 degrees Fahrenheit in order to combine xenon and argon as well as krypton to other elements, including the noble gases. Kean then moves on to an even more unimaginable idea of Bose-Einstein condensate. This then moved into an experiment conducted that reached one billionth of a degree above zero where all of the atoms basically combine into one huge super atom.

Reflection:

    This chapter was enjoyable to read because of the Bose-Einstein condensate. Although it was a little difficult to understand it was very interesting to know the form of matter that can take place with different types of temperatures. I also thought that the idea of Bose-Einstein was interesting because it says that all atoms basically combine into one huge super atom. This chapter overall was very enjoyable to read.

Guided Questions

1. Why is it significant that tin can form alpha and beta shapes of its crystals?
This causes their shape to change which causes "Tin Leprosy".

2. Why was it so hard for scientists to make a compound from argon?
It  is hard for them because argon won't grasp onto anything. It also requires very frigid temperatures.

3. What does maser stand for? Laser?
Microwave Amplification By Stimulated Emission of Radiation-MASER
Light Amplification By Stimulated Emission of Radiation-LASER

4. Besides making strong lasers, neodymium can help make the world’s strongest _LASERS_.

5. Why does a Bose Einstein Condensate require such an extremely cold temperature?
The temperature of the condensate is used so that the atoms can somehow not be individual atoms but merge and combine.