SÍNTESIS DE PRIMER PERIODO

Science & Social Studies First Period 2015

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ATOMS

What is an atom?

Atoms are the basic units of matter and the defining structure of elements. An atom is a

fundamental piece of matter. (Matter is anything that can be touched physically.) Everything in the

universe (except energy) is made of matter, and, so, everything in the universe is made of atoms. An

atom itself is made up of three tiny kinds of particles called subatomic particles: protons, neutrons,

and electrons. The protons and the neutrons make up the center of the atom called the nucleus and

the electrons fly around above the nucleus in a small cloud. The electrons carry a negative charge

and the protons carry a positive charge. In a normal (neutral) atom the number of protons and the

number of electrons are equal. Often, but not always, the number of neutrons is the same, too.

Isotopes is the number of neutrons in a nucleus determines the isotope of that element. For

example, hydrogen has three known isotopes: protium, deuterium and tritium. Protium,

symbolized as 1H, is just ordinary hydrogen; it has one proton and one electron and no neutrons.

Deuterium (D or 2H) has one proton, one electron and one neutron. Tritium (T or 3H) has one

proton, one electron and two neutrons.

There is a core, or nucleus, and an electron cloud. The nucleus is made up of positively charged

protons and neutral neutrons. The nucleus is held closely together by electromagnetic force. Protons

and neutrons make up the nucleus of the atom. A cloud of electrons orbits the nucleus. The

negatively charged electrons are bound to the nucleus, and zap around it in a cloud. Electrons are

zipping around you, the nucleus. There are different ways atoms are classified. They can be

classified into elements, like oxygen, carbon, or hydrogen. All of the elements known to man so far

can be found on the periodic table. The number of protons an atom has decides the chemical

element. The number of electrons defines the atom's chemical properties, like its melting

temperature and boiling point. The study of atoms and tiny particles that are even smaller is called

quantum mechanics. Scientists still have much to learn about atoms. Maybe you will enter the study

of quantum mechanics and find a brand new element.


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Atoms Are Building Blocks

Atoms are the foundation of chemistry. They are the basis for everything in the Universe. As you

know, matter is composed of atoms. Solids are made of densely packed atoms while gases have

atoms that are spread out. We're going to cover basics like atomic structure and bonding between

atoms. As you learn more, you can move to the reactions and biochemistry pages and see how atoms

form compounds that help the biological world survive.

Are there pieces of matter that are smaller than atoms? Sure there are. Super-small particles can be

found inside the pieces of atoms. These subatomic particles include nucleons and quarks. Nuclear

chemists and physicists work together at particle accelerators to discover the presence of these tiny,

tiny, tiny pieces of matter. However, science is based on the atom because it is the smallest distinct

unit of matter.

Three Easy Pieces

Even though many super-tiny atomic particles exist, you only need to remember the three basic

parts of an atom: electrons, protons, and neutrons. What are electrons, protons, and neutrons?

Electrons are the smallest of the three particles that make up atoms. Electrons are found in shells or

orbitals that surround the nucleus of an atom. Protons and neutrons are found in the nucleus. They

group together in the center of the atom. That's all you have to remember. Three easy pieces!

There are almost 120 known elements in the periodic table. Chemists and physicists are trying to

make new ones every day in their labs. The atoms of different elements have different numbers of

electrons, protons, and neutrons. Every element is unique and has an atomic number. That number

tells you the number of protons in every atom of the element. The atomic number is also called the

proton number.

Charges of Atoms

You can see that each part of the atom is labeled with a "+", "-", or a "0." Those symbols refer to the

charge of the particle. Have you ever heard about getting a shock from a socket, static electricity, or


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lightning? Those are all related to electric charges. Charges are also found in tiny particles of

matter.

The electron always has a "-", or negative, charge. The proton always has a "+", or positive, charge. If

the charge of an entire atom is "0", or neutral, there are equal numbers of positive and negative

charges. Neutral atoms have equal numbers of electrons and protons. The third particle is the

neutron. It has a neutral charge, also known as a charge of zero.

Since the number of protons in an atom does not change, fewer or extra electrons can create a

special atom called an ion. Cations have fewer electrons and have a positive charge. Anions have

extra electrons that create a negative charge.

What is an element? How many elements are there?

An element is a substance that is made entirely from one type of atom. For example, the

element hydrogen is made from atoms containing a single proton and a single electron. If you

change the number of protons an atom has, you change the type of element it is.

If you had very, very good eyes and could look at the atoms in a sample of hydrogen, you would

notice that most of the hydrogen atoms would have no neutrons, some of them would have one

neutron and a few of them would have two neutrons. These different versions of hydrogen are

called isotopes. All isotopes of a particular element have the same number of protons, but have a

different number of neutrons. If you change the number of neutrons an atom has, you make an

isotope of that element.

Currently, scientists know of 118 different elements. Some, like gold, silver, copper and carbon, have

been known for thousands of years. Others, such as meitnerium, darmstadtium and ununquadium,

have only recently been created by scientists. All known elements are arranged on a chart called

the Periodic Table of Elements.

What is the difference between atoms and elements?

Element - a basic substance that can't be simplified (hydrogen, oxygen, gold, etc...)

Atom - the smallest amount of an element.

http://education.jlab.org/qa/atom.htmlhttp://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele001.htmlhttp://education.jlab.org/glossary/proton.htmlhttp://education.jlab.org/glossary/electron.htmlhttp://education.jlab.org/glossary/neutron.htmlhttp://education.jlab.org/glossary/isotope.htmlhttp://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele079.htmlhttp://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele047.htmlhttp://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele029.htmlhttp://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele006.htmlhttp://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele109.htmlhttp://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele110.htmlhttp://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele114.htmlhttp://education.jlab.org/itselemental/index.htmlhttp://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele001.htmlhttp://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele008.htmlhttp://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele079.html


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Molecule - two or more atoms that are chemically joined together (H2, O2, H2O, etc...)

Compound - a molecule that contains more than one element (H2O, C6H12O6, etc...)

For example:

Imagine going to an ice cream store. Let's say that they have 30 different flavors of ice cream. Those

are elements, the things that I have available to build my dessert from. The smallest amount of ice

cream that the store will sell to me is a scoop. This is an atom. If I want, I can put two or more scoops

of ice cream together. This is a molecule. If my molecule has more than one flavor of ice cream, I can

call it a compound. Splitting an atom creates different elements (split an oxygen atom and you

don't have oxygen any longer). Splitting a scoop of ice cream results in smaller blobs of the same

flavor. For the analogy to hold true, the flavor of the ice cream would have to change when you split

a scoop (the chocolate 'element' would have to change into some other 'element' (flavor)).

COLOMBIA: OUR IDENTITY

Officially the republic of Colombia, is a country situated in the northwest of South America,

bordered to the northwest by Panama; to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador

and Peru; and it shares maritime limits with costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Jamaica, Dominican

Republic and Haiti. It is a unitary, constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments.

The territory of what is now Colombia was originally inhabited by indigenous peoples including the

Muisca, Quimbaya, and Tairona. The Spanish arrived in 1499 and initiated a period of conquest

and colonization ultimately creating the Viceroyalty of New Granada, with its capital at Bogot.

Independence from Spain was won in 1819, but by 1830 "Gran Colombia" had collapsed with the

secession of Venezuela and Ecuador. What is now Colombia and Panama emerged as the Republic

of New Granada. The new nation experimented with federalism as the Grenadine

Confederation(1858), and then the United States of Colombia (1863), before the Republic of

Colombia was finally declared in 1886. Panama seceded in 1903. Since the 1960s, the country has


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suffered from an asymmetric low-intensity armed conflict, which escalated in the 1990s, but since

2000 has decreased considerably. Colombia is ethnically diverse, its people descending from the

original native inhabitants, Spanish colonists, Africans originally brought to the country as slaves,

and 20th-century immigrants from Europe and the Middle East, all contributing to a diverse

cultural heritage. This has also been influenced by Colombia's varied geography, and the imposing

landscape of the country has resulted in the development of very strong regional identities. The

majority of the urban centers are located in the highlands of the Andes Mountains, but Colombian

territory also encompasses Amazon rainforest, tropical grassland and both Caribbean and Pacific

coastlines. Ecologically, Colombia is one of the world's 17 megadiverse countries, and is considered

the most biodiverse per square kilometer. Colombia is a middle power with the third largest

economy in Latin America, is part of the CIVETS group of six leading emerging markets and is an

accessing member to the OECD. Its principal industries include oil, mining, chemicals, health

related products, food processing, agricultural products, textile and fabrics, garments, forest

products, machinery, electronics, military products, metal products, home and office material,

construction equipment and materials, banking, financial services, software, IT services and the

automotive industry.

Patriotic symbols:

1. Flag: The yellow color symbolizes the great natural wealth of Colombia, the blue symbolizes the

sky and seas, and red, the blood spilled by our heroes.

2. The coat of arms of the Republic of Colombia: it is divided into three horizontal bands: the upper

band , on blue field , has in the center a gold Granada red open grained , with stem and leaves of

gold. On each side of the Granada goes a cornucopia of gold inclined, pouring coins into the

center of the right side, and proper fruits of the torrid zone of the left side. The name denotes the


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Granada wearing this republic, and cornucopias, the richness of its mines and the fertility of

their land. The middle band in platinum field, has in the center a Phrygian cap horned into a

spear as a symbol of freedom, (Platinum, precious metals, our own country). At the lower end is

the Isthmus of Panama, with its two adjacent seas wavy silver and black ship with its deployed in

each candle .The condor symbolizing freedom. From its peak hangs a green laurel wreath and a

flowing ribbon, grabbed the shield and woven into the crown, the statement concerning gold

with black letters: Freedom and Order.

3. The national anthem of Colombia: was formalized by Law 33 of 1920. The anthem was written by

Rafael Nez and music by the Italian composer Oreste Sindici.

Patriotic icons:

1. Orchid: is the national flower of Colombia, named as such in 1936 by the Colombian Academy of

History. Its structure and colors are extraordinarily beautiful.

2. The majestic Andean condor: symbolizes the sovereignty and freedom of Colombians. It has been

called "the eternal bird."

3. Wax palm: It is a palm of stunning beauty, extraordinary strength and legendary longevity. The

slenderness of the wax palm, is its height and its unique size.

4. Colombian emeralds: are the most beautiful and valued the world. The purity, brilliance and

transparency of these precious stones are the most important features for evaluation.

5. Coffee: is one of the most consumed beverages in the world and although Colombia is

considered one of the best producers. Colombian coffee is recognized as the best coffee in the

world and in several countries as a gastronomic excellence.


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Natural regions of Colombia

Because of its natural structure, Colombia can be divided into six very distinct natural regions.

These consist of the Andean Region, covering the three branches of the Andes Mountains found in

Colombia; the Caribbean Region, covering the area adjacent to the Caribbean Sea; the Pacific

Region adjacent to the Pacific Ocean; the Orinoquia Region, mainly in the Orinoco river basin along

the border with Venezuela; the Amazon Region, part of the Amazon rainforest; and finally the

Insular Region, comprising islands in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Andean Region: The Andes mountains form the most populous region of Colombia and contain

the majority of the country's urban centers. They were also the location of the most significant pre-

Columbian indigenous settlement.

Caribbean Region: Is traversed by a number of rivers heading from the Andean highlands to the

sea, including Colombia's principal river, the Magdalena, which disgorges at the main port of

Barranquilla.

Pacific Region: Is distinguished by its high humidity. Precipitation is among the highest in the

world, with an average of 4,000 mm per year, some areas that receive as much as 12,000 mm per

year.

Orinoquia Region: Is rich in oil and suitable for extensive ranching but sparsely populated.

Amazon Region: Is a region in southern Colombia over the Amazon Basin.

Insular Region: Is considered by some as a sixth region, comprising those areas outside continental

Colombia.


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People

About 60% of Colombia's population are mestizos, and some one fifth are of European descent.

Indigenous peoples, who account for only about 1% of today's population, live on the edge of some

of the major cities and in remote areas. About 15% of the people are of mixed African and European

descent. The small (less than 5%) black population is concentrated along the coasts and in the

Magdalena and Cauca valleys. Spanish is the official language. The population is overwhelmingly

Roman Catholic. There are universities in all the major cities.

Food

Colombian Cuisine is very diverse and varies depending on the different regions of Colombia. In

some areas you will find specialties like roasted ants or guinea pigs while in other areas Colombians

wouldn't even touch those dishes. Colombia is not a paradise for vegetarians as the Colombian diet

includes a lot of meat. In the coastal areas you will find a good variety of fish, lobster and seafood

often prepared with a sauce made out of coconut milk. The offer of fresh fruit is overwhelming and

many of the varieties you have probably never heard of before. In general breakfast is quite

important in Colombia and consists of fruit juice, coffee or hot chocolate, fruit, eggs and bread.

Lunch which is served between 12 and 14pm is the main meal of the day at least in the

countryside. A traditional main meal consists of a soup, a main dish, a drink and sometimes a

dessert which is generally very sweet. The dinner is more like a snack. In the big cities the main meal

often will be served around 7pm or 8pm.

Folklore

Colombian folklore seems to permeate culture here on a deep and perhaps, difficult level to grasp.

It's function is embedded in the search for meaning and significance in daily life that is often


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portrayed through stories, music, carnivals and festivals, folk legends and proverbs. Although I

find it difficult, if not impossible, to fully understand Colombian culture, it seems that by paying

attention to their stories, told through music or oral tradition for example, that you get a glimpse

into the deeper meaning of the country. I recently met a man at a film festival who seemed to be at

the heart of Colombian folklore who told stories through the oral tradition. He told them with great

zeal and drama. I was surprised, expecting him to be calm but on the contrary, it's as though he was

acting the characters of his stories.

Touristic places

Tourism in Colombia is an important sector in the country's economy. Colombia has major

attractions as a tourist destination, such as Cartagena and its historic surroundings, which are on

the UNESCO World Heritage List; the insular department of San Andrs, Providencia y Santa

Catalina; and Santa Marta and the surrounding area. Fairly recently, Bogot, the nation's capital,

has become Colombia's major tourist destination because of its improved museums and

entertainment facilities and its major urban renovations, including the rehabilitation of public

areas, the development of parks, and the creation of an extensive network of cycling routes. With its

very rich and varied geography, which includes the Amazon and Andean regions, the llanos, the

Caribbean and Pacific coasts, and the deserts of La Guajira, and its unique biodiversity, Colombia

also has major potential for ecotourism.

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SÍNTESIS DE PRIMER PERIODO