11/12 CEC Chemistry, 2015-16, 1
Long-term Semester One Project: The Mystery of the Periodic Table
Final Paper Due Date: January 5, 2016
Short-term assignments: See below for due dates
Purpose: In Chemistry, research is often divided into two categories; pure science and applied
science. Pure science is defined as research that has no practical goal. It is done simply for the
sake of gaining deeper knowledge about the world in which we live. Applied science is defined
as science undertaken with a specific practical goal in mind. Often, when applied scientific
research is done, a discovery is made that is not connected to the original goal; however, it still
has practical results. Often, pure scientific research eventually is put to use for practical
purposes.
As we study chemistry, it may appear that all aspects of chemistry developed as a pure
science. However, this is not actually the case. Many important developments in the field of
chemistry were shaped by the concerns of individual researchers. These concerns were in turn
shaped by the historical context in which the researchers lived. Since our class time is limited,
we are not able to consider all of the historical developments surrounding each aspect of
chemistry. However, it is necessary for you to understand how chemistry was shaped by actual
historical circumstances and individual researchers. Therefore, we will be undertaking a longterm investigation of the historical development of chemistry through reading The Mystery of the
Periodic Table.
Since the purpose of this assignment is to help you understand how and why research in
chemistry is undertaken, this assignment will be categorized as a part of the laboratory
component of your grade.
Procedure: The final product of this assignment will be a paper discussing the relation of
different historical contexts to the development of chemistry. As the course progresses, several
short-term assignments will be due to insure that students are staying on top of and
comprehending the reading. Each short-term assignment will involve answering questions in
complete sentences. The number of sentences required for each question will be written next to
the question.
The final paper for this assignment should be typed. If it is not possible for you to type a
paper because you do not have a computer at home, you will be allowed to handwrite your paper.
Please see Ms. Kozack if this is the case. Grammar, spelling, and formatting will be a
component of your grade.
You may either type or handwrite your short-term assignments. Cite the pages on which
you find the answer in parentheses at the end of each sentence. Grammar, spelling, formatting,
and neatness will be a component of your grade. Follow the formatting example on the next
page:
11/12 CEC Chemistry, 2015-16, 2
Formatting example for short-term assignments:
Name
Course Title
Date
Assignment One [or whatever the proper number is]
Chapter Two: [there is one line of blank space between the chapter and question one]
1. Answer here [there should be one line of space between each question] (pg. 3-4).
2. You can see that the period goes outside of the parentheses containing the pages
where you find the answer (pg. 5).
[continue this format until all questions are answered]
Chapter Three:
N.B. Comments in brackets are my notes to you and should not be included in the actual
assignment. There is one blank line between every title, subtitle, and question.
11/12 CEC Chemistry, 2015-16, 3
Assignment One: Chapters 1-5
Answer the following questions for chapter 2:
1. Who were the first chemists? (1 sentence)
2. Did they use the metals that they knew about for practical purposes? If so, what did they
use them for? (2)
3. What was the historical situation around the development of chemical techniques at this
time? (2)
Answer the following questions for chapter 3:
1. What were some of the early philosophers’ “table of elements”? (2)
2. Describe how Aristotle understood the elements and how he believed the elements
created other things. (2)
3. Were these philosophical investigations into the elements more like pure science or
applied science? Explain why. (2)
Answer the following questions for chapter 4:
1. What were the goals of the alchemists? (1)
2. What important developments in techniques and apparatuses used for chemical research
occurred during this time? (2)
3. What important new discoveries about chemicals (elements and/or compounds) were
made? (1)
4. Was their research more like pure science or applied science? Explain why (2).
Answer the following questions for chapter 5:
1. How was Helmont limited by the scientific knowledge of his time? (2)
Answer the following general questions:
1. Summarize the developments in chemistry during this very early period. (3)
2. What general trends do you notice? (2)