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Introduction to Chemistry with Hank

2010-01-15 · explainer · Hank · 4:00 · watch on YouTube

Topic: Science & nature (also: Global development) · mode: Explainer · tags: recurring series, fundraising ask, civic or action cta, timely hook

For teaching week Hank gives John a four-minute crash course in chemistry (atoms, orbitals, covalent and ionic bonds, chemical vs physical change), then asks viewers to vote for Shawn Ahmed for Davos, donate to the Red Cross for Haiti and vote for Robot, Ninja and Gay Guy at the Streamys.

What is said

The parts of the video and what is said in each (★ — how much it matters to the video).

00:00:00 — Half a semester of chemistry in four minutes: atoms, protons, neutrons, electrons, elements, ions

  • ★★ Hank sets out to give John half a semester of college-level chemistry in the four minutes he has. — 00:00:00
  • ★★ Hank explains that everything is made of atoms, with protons and neutrons in the nucleus and electrons orbiting; the number of protons determines the element. — 00:00:00
  • ★★ Protons are positive and electrons negative; an atom by definition has no charge, so with unequal protons and electrons it is an ion; neutron counts vary even within an element. — 00:00:00

00:00:29 — Electron orbitals (s, p, d, f), their filling order, carbon's configuration; 'Bella without Edward'

  • ★★ Electrons sit in orbitals that 'really like to be full'; orbitals come in s, p, d and f types holding two, six, ten and fourteen electrons. — 00:00:29
  • ★★ Orbitals fill in a set order; carbon's six electrons fill two s orbitals and part of the first p orbital, so carbon is four electrons away from being 'happy'. — 00:00:58

00:01:27 — Covalent bonds (methane, carbon dioxide) and ionic bonds (sodium and chlorine make salt)

  • ★★ Carbon fills its orbitals by sharing electrons with other atoms: with hydrogen it forms methane, with oxygen carbon dioxide, which Hank calls the two principal greenhouse gases. — 00:01:27
  • ★★ Bonds in which atoms overcome their repulsion to share electrons and fill their orbitals are called covalent bonds. — 00:01:27
  • ★★ Sodium needs to lose one electron and chlorine to gain one, so sodium gives its electron to chlorine and the opposite charges hold them together as salt. — 00:01:56

00:02:26 — Bonds change properties; physical vs chemical change; what chemistry is about

  • ★★ Making or breaking bonds drastically changes properties: sodium explodes in water and chlorine gas is deadly, but bonded ionically they are delicious on food. (playful) — 00:02:26
  • ★★★ Physical changes like melting, freezing or vaporizing don't change a substance's fundamental properties; chemical changes are the fascinating part and what chemistry is about. — 00:02:26

00:02:55 — Wrap-up and three messages: vote for Shawn Ahmed for Davos, text HAITI to help the Red Cross, vote for Robot Ninja and Gay Guy for a Streamy

  • ★ Lacking time for chemical reactions, Hank says John now knows infinitely more chemistry than four minutes ago. (playful) — 00:02:55
  • ★★★ Hank says Nerdfighter Shawn Ahmed, doing amazing work in Bangladesh, is one of five finalists to possibly attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, and asks everyone to vote for him via the sidebar. — 00:02:55 · extreme poverty, YouTube, Nerdfighteria
  • ★★★ Calling the situation in Haiti dire, Hank asks viewers to help, e.g. by texting HAITI to 90999 to give $10 to the Red Cross via their phone bill, or more through the sidebar link. — 00:03:24
  • ★★ Hank says his favourite fictional YouTube show, Robot Ninja and Gay Guy, has been nominated for a Streamy Award and asks viewers to vote for it via the sidebar. — 00:03:24 · YouTube

Threads in this video

Mentioned

Central: atom · atomic orbital · chemistry · covalent bond · ionic bonding

Also: People: Shawn Ahmed

Works: Robot, Ninja and Gay Guy

Organizations: American Red Cross · World Economic Forum · YouTube

Concepts: carbon · carbon dioxide · chemical change · chlorine · extreme poverty · greenhouse gas · ion · methane · sodium · sodium chloride

Places: Bangladesh · Haiti

Events: 2010 Haiti earthquake · Streamy Awards

Characters: Bella Swan · Edward Cullen

Only in the description or credits: A Message to Davos

Also centred on atom: Protons and Neutrons: A Song

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