This particular module would fit well with units concerning gas laws, crystal structures, and thermochemistry. The concept of density often is included within introductory units. The laboratory work lends itself to data collecting and interpreting with a computer.

Physicists are very interested in latent heat of fusion, specific heat, density, and ArchimedesÕ principle. Technology has a vested interest in the solid state and as such represents a specialized field of study to physicists. Water is a topic in itself that is of special interest to biologists.

New and improved building materials may lead to future industrial changes. Better understanding of condensed states has provided liquid crystals and may be the key to improvements on superconductivity.

(See Language of Chemistry for additional examples of applications in the contemporary world.)

Community Resources

1. Field trips. Local Weather Service, water treatment plant, steel mill or foundry, food processing plant (note Societal Issue #1), museums (gem and mineral collections).

2. Knowledgeable Individuals. Meteorologists, metallurgists, mineralogists, materials engineers, hydrologists, jewelers and gem hobbyists, X-ray crystallographers, civil engineers, mechanical engineers.

Societal (STS Issues)

1. According to University of California Cooperative Extension Service statistics, it takes 4533 gallons of water to produce the food a typical American eats in a day. The water use total includes all water necessary from growth of the food product to processing to cooking and placing the finished product on your dinner plate.

Listed are a selection of food products indicating the number of gallons of water needed to produce one pound of each item for the table.

According to the Examiner article, ÒThe consumer could cut the water use considerably if he got rid of the beef, about four bites of which use enough water to fill the average hot tub, and substituted, say a soy burger.Ó

Discuss with your class the ExaminerÕs statement in light of the increasing pressures upon water resources in this country.

Reference: San Francisco Examiner. (1990, June 24). p. B-1.

2. Polystyrene plastic in the form of Styrofoam Ò cups and containers, is less than 1% of the solid waste stream in the United States. In many locations in the country, there is a rush to replace Styrofoam Ò packaging with paper because of the concern that plastics arenÕt biodegradable.

Most landfill garbage, including paper, undergoes little biodegradation. A landfill which is environmentally sound does not allow the air and light necessary for biodegradation. The only paper which properly biodegrades is that ÒlitteredÓ along roadsides where air and sunlight are abundantly available. Since neither the paper nor plastic degrade in a typical landfill, and since paper is 40 times more abundant in landfills, maybe Styrofoam Ò plastic is not as big a culprit as most people believe. A better solution to the waste problem (paper or plastic) may be recycling. Discuss the pros and cons of this statement with your chemistry students.

This might be a good place to do some extra library research before coming to a decision about this problem. Divide the class up into pro/con Styrofoam Ò groups, study it at the library, and have a lively class discussion.

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