Creating Algae
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Science Concept & Application
You might be wondering how this experiment works. Well I'll tell you. The algae gel contains polymers or long chains of polymers called alginates that were harvested from kelp. The alginate polymers are not alone, they are associated with small molecules of sodium called ions. Because of this, the polymers are called sodium alginate. The sodium alginate polymers are floating around freely in the water of the algae gel. The calcium bath is also full of ions. There are lots of calcium ions floating around in the bath, looking for something to do.
When the algae gel meets with the calcium bath, the chemical reaction begins. Calcium ions replace the sodium ions and associate with the alginate polymers. Because calcium can bind to two alginate polymers at once, the calcium ions form bridges that cross between to link the polymers together. This type of chemical reaction is called ionic cross-linking. Linking the polymers together will cause them to move and form a mesh. The mesh has more structure than the free-floating polymers, which makes your gel into a more solid material. My first experiment was too globbed up and did not form as well. My second experiment was more formed and was a good consistency. But my third experiment was pretty much perfect, it was the perfect shape, form, and consistency. This is because I left it in the solution for the proper amount of time and let it dry correctly. |
Career
I chose a microbiologist for my career because algae is one of the many things they study. To be a microbiologist you have to have a bachelor's degree in microbiology or biology. The average salary is around 63 thousand a year. A microbiologist studies microorganisms such as algae, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. These microorganisms are usually too small to see with our eyes. Microbiologists use a variety of techniques to study these organisms, including microscopy, DNA sequencing, and culturing techniques. They also use biochemical and molecular biology to understand how microorganisms interact with their environment and how they cause disease.
Microbiologists work in a wide range of fields, including medicine, agriculture, food production, and environmental science. They help in developing new treatments and vaccines for infectious diseases, improving food safety, and understanding the impact of microorganisms on the environment. They may also work in research and development for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, developing new drugs and treatments based on microorganisms. Scientist
One of the most famous scientists of microbiology is Alexander Fleming. Many people might not know who he is, but many know what he has done. Alexander Fleming was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, on August 6, 1881, and studied medicine, serving as a physician during World War I. He went to school for many years and at first wanted to become a doctor. Luckily he changed his mind and became a microbiologist.
In 1928 through an accidental discovery, research and experimentation, Fleming discovered a bacteria-destroying mold which he would call penicillin, paving the way for the use of antibiotics in modern healthcare. Penicillin was the first widely effective antibiotic and marked the beginning of the antibiotic revolution. Ten years before his death on March 11, 1955, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for his marvelous discovery. |
Essay
I started my experiment by learning and reading how and what I needed to begin. I read that I needed Sodium Alginate and Calcium Chloride, two things I didn't have, so I had to order them. Once I got them in I gathered all the materials I needed, including things for the gel preparation: a mixing container, sodium alginate, a texture ingredient like vegetable glycerin or aloe vera, water, and food coloring. For the string preparation supplies, I needed a big bowl or something to hold about two inches of water, calcium chloride, and a dispensing tool.
After the long process of getting the items around I began my experiment. You start by taking 1-3 tbsp of your texture ingredient (I used aloe vera), ½ cup water, and up to 1 tsp of your food coloring. Once you add those to a bowl mix it. After it is mixed add about 1 tsp of your sodium alginate powder, and mix until a thick gel begins to form (about 5 minutes). It will be ready to use when there are no more powder clumps. Now that it's mixed add it to a dispensing tool and save for later.
Now, we will use chemistry to change the gooey gel into a solid string. The chemical reaction will start when the alginate in your gel meets the calcium in your calcium bath. Combine 2 cups of water and 2 tsp of calcium chloride, mixing until the calcium is dissolved. Now, use your dispensing tool to add your algae gel to the calcium bath. Let your string sit for a few minutes before removing it.
Now you might be wondering why this happens because I was too. So after some research I figured things out. The algae gel contains polymers or long chains of polymers called alginates that were harvested from kelp. The alginate polymers are not alone, they are associated with small molecules of sodium called ions. Because of this, the polymers are called sodium alginate. The sodium alginate polymers are floating around freely in the water of your algae gel. The calcium bath is also full of ions. There are lots of calcium ions floating around in the bath, looking for something to do.
When the algae gel meets with the calcium bath, the chemical reaction begins. Calcium ions replace the sodium ions and associate with the alginate polymers. Because calcium can bind to two alginate polymers at once, the calcium ions form bridges that cross between to link the polymers together. This type of chemical reaction is called ionic cross-linking. Linking the polymers together will cause them to move and form a mesh. The mesh has more structure than the free-floating polymers, which makes your gel into a more solid material.
My first experiment did not fail, but did not go as it should have. I began by adding all the ingredients correctly. When I began to add the algae gel to the calcium bath it would be too much and the string would be too big. I also wanted to see the difference between leaving it in the bath longer and leaving it for a short period of time. In this experiment I took it out as soon as I put it in. Obviously it wasn't very strong and only hardened a small barrier around the gel.
On the second experiment I took my time and did everything correctly. When I added the algae gel to the calcium bath, I made the hole in the dispensing tool smaller so it would be a finer string. I left the algae in the bath for thirty minutes this time and low and behold it was much stronger than the first experiment.
On the third experiment I did the exact same thing as the second one except I left it in the calcium bath for a couple of days. When I messed with it, it was super strong and you could do anything with it.
I think this experiment was a great way for me to dive deeper into chemistry and microbiology. Chemistry is something really cool everyone should know. No matter where you are, chemistry is around you. Every day, it affects what we see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. Learning chemistry reveals a whole new understanding of how our world works. Anything that has matter breaks down into chemical building blocks. If chemistry did not exist, we wouldn't understand why leaves change in the fall, producing and preserving food, and so on.
Chemistry is really cool and everyone should take it. Sometimes it's not very fun, but we get over it and move on. Chemistry has helped me understand and learn things I have never even thought of. When you finally get used to it, it becomes a great help when writing papers like these. Understanding chemistry may be hard but it's worth it.
Something cool about chemistry is that it's associated with the law. Chemistry is involved in the legal field in a few ways. Chemists can work in intellectual property, examining copyright issues and filing for approval from regulating agencies. Before giving this approval, agencies need to know the chemical makeup of products and how they might affect people and the environment. A chemist is the best person to explain this information. Chemists can also be found in forensics. They analyze physical evidence at crime scenes and help law enforcement understand how crimes occurred. Chemistry is really awesome and i'm glad we are fortunate enough to have an awesome chemistry teacher like Mrs. Hoggatt.
After the long process of getting the items around I began my experiment. You start by taking 1-3 tbsp of your texture ingredient (I used aloe vera), ½ cup water, and up to 1 tsp of your food coloring. Once you add those to a bowl mix it. After it is mixed add about 1 tsp of your sodium alginate powder, and mix until a thick gel begins to form (about 5 minutes). It will be ready to use when there are no more powder clumps. Now that it's mixed add it to a dispensing tool and save for later.
Now, we will use chemistry to change the gooey gel into a solid string. The chemical reaction will start when the alginate in your gel meets the calcium in your calcium bath. Combine 2 cups of water and 2 tsp of calcium chloride, mixing until the calcium is dissolved. Now, use your dispensing tool to add your algae gel to the calcium bath. Let your string sit for a few minutes before removing it.
Now you might be wondering why this happens because I was too. So after some research I figured things out. The algae gel contains polymers or long chains of polymers called alginates that were harvested from kelp. The alginate polymers are not alone, they are associated with small molecules of sodium called ions. Because of this, the polymers are called sodium alginate. The sodium alginate polymers are floating around freely in the water of your algae gel. The calcium bath is also full of ions. There are lots of calcium ions floating around in the bath, looking for something to do.
When the algae gel meets with the calcium bath, the chemical reaction begins. Calcium ions replace the sodium ions and associate with the alginate polymers. Because calcium can bind to two alginate polymers at once, the calcium ions form bridges that cross between to link the polymers together. This type of chemical reaction is called ionic cross-linking. Linking the polymers together will cause them to move and form a mesh. The mesh has more structure than the free-floating polymers, which makes your gel into a more solid material.
My first experiment did not fail, but did not go as it should have. I began by adding all the ingredients correctly. When I began to add the algae gel to the calcium bath it would be too much and the string would be too big. I also wanted to see the difference between leaving it in the bath longer and leaving it for a short period of time. In this experiment I took it out as soon as I put it in. Obviously it wasn't very strong and only hardened a small barrier around the gel.
On the second experiment I took my time and did everything correctly. When I added the algae gel to the calcium bath, I made the hole in the dispensing tool smaller so it would be a finer string. I left the algae in the bath for thirty minutes this time and low and behold it was much stronger than the first experiment.
On the third experiment I did the exact same thing as the second one except I left it in the calcium bath for a couple of days. When I messed with it, it was super strong and you could do anything with it.
I think this experiment was a great way for me to dive deeper into chemistry and microbiology. Chemistry is something really cool everyone should know. No matter where you are, chemistry is around you. Every day, it affects what we see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. Learning chemistry reveals a whole new understanding of how our world works. Anything that has matter breaks down into chemical building blocks. If chemistry did not exist, we wouldn't understand why leaves change in the fall, producing and preserving food, and so on.
Chemistry is really cool and everyone should take it. Sometimes it's not very fun, but we get over it and move on. Chemistry has helped me understand and learn things I have never even thought of. When you finally get used to it, it becomes a great help when writing papers like these. Understanding chemistry may be hard but it's worth it.
Something cool about chemistry is that it's associated with the law. Chemistry is involved in the legal field in a few ways. Chemists can work in intellectual property, examining copyright issues and filing for approval from regulating agencies. Before giving this approval, agencies need to know the chemical makeup of products and how they might affect people and the environment. A chemist is the best person to explain this information. Chemists can also be found in forensics. They analyze physical evidence at crime scenes and help law enforcement understand how crimes occurred. Chemistry is really awesome and i'm glad we are fortunate enough to have an awesome chemistry teacher like Mrs. Hoggatt.
