ChemHISTORY was one of my favourite projects we’ve done so far… let me explain why! When we first started learning about atoms, elements, and compounds in class, I didn’t really think much about how these tiny particles could shape the world. But as we dug deeper, I realized just how big of an impact they’ve had on history, on society, and even on the things we use every day.
Atoms, Elements and Compounds!
We started off by learning about atoms. Atoms are the building blocks of everything, and the way they’re made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons is what makes each element unique. For example, the number of protons in an atom determines which element it is. So, carbon has 6 protons, oxygen has 8, and so on. The way these particles are arranged gives each element its special properties, like how they react with other elements or how stable they are.
Then, we learned how differences in the number of subatomic particles affect how elements behave. For example, Bohr’s atomic model shows us how electrons orbit the nucleus in specific paths, while Lewis diagrams help us understand how atoms bond with each other by sharing or transferring electrons. This helped me realize how the tiniest changes in an atom can completely change how an element interacts with others.
The next thing we explored was how different elements come together to form compounds. One of the coolest things we did was a lab where we heated up different compounds and watched how the flames changed colours.
My Final Project
For our final project, we had to create a piece of art about an element using cyanotype, along with a description of its historical or modern-day significance. We first did a rough draft of the cyanotype using leafs just to get a feel on how it works, than we moved on two our actual good copy. I picked iron because I thought it would be cool to make a bridge for my artwork, after all, bridges are made of iron! But when I started researching, I realized that iron has a huge history that I hadn’t even thought about. See down my notes, paragraph and artwork that I did for my final project! 👇
Iron’s Huge Impact
Iron has been used by humans for thousands of years, and it’s played a huge role in shaping civilization. Before people discovered how to make iron tools, they used stone or bronze. Iron was stronger and more durable, so it helped people build better tools, weapons, and even bridges. The first iron bridge, built in the early 1800s in England, changed the way bridges were made forever. Iron bridges could carry more weight and last much longer than wooden or stone ones.
During the Industrial Revolution, iron became even more important. Factories used iron to make machines, which helped industries grow and cities expand. Today, iron (and steel, which is made from iron) is still used to build everything from skyscrapers to railways.
Answering the DQ: What impacts do elements and compounds have on history and modern day society?
So, what impact do elements and compounds have on history and modern society? They’re everywhere! Elements like iron have shaped human history, from tools and weapons to bridges and factories. They’ve helped us build the world we live in today. Learning about how these tiny particles work together has made me realize that chemistry isn’t just about memorizing the periodic table, it’s about understanding how the world works and how we’ve used these elements to build our past and future.