History of Chemistry I
1. Who is regarded as the Father of the Periodic Table?
2. In 1746, Andreas Margraf re-discovered a metal. What was this metal?
3. Who invented the reverse centigrade scale?
4. The Ancient Greeks said that the Four Elements were Earth, Air, Water and Fire. In 390 BC, Plato added a fifth element to this list. What was it?
5. Which element was discovered on the sun before it was discovered on Earth?
6. Which American has his name associated with the concept of ‘Free Energy’?
7. Which noble gas was identified in 1894?
8. This French chemist isolated Fluorine. He also spent considerable time trying to convert graphite into diamonds. Who was he?
9. What is a REDOX reaction?
10. The name of these two scientists underline the definition of acids and bases. Who are they?
11. This Scientist showed that air was composed of two parts, an active part (oxygen) and an inactive part (nitrogen). Who was he?
12. This substance was the first organic chemical to be synthesized from an inorganic source. What was it?
13. In 1898, Pierre and Marie Curie separated two radioactive elements. What were they?
14. What chemical group lies alongside the nobel gases in the periodic table?
15. In 1898 - a busy year in Chemistry, James Dewar produced the liquid form of a common gas. What was this gas?
Answers to History of Chemistry I
1. Dmitri Mendeleyev.
2. zinc
3. Anders Celsius in 1742.
4. ether
5. helium
6. Josiah Gibbs, who besides being a pioneer in thermodynamics and phase changes, was also heavily involved in vector algebra.
7. argon
8. Ferdinand Moissan.
9. A reaction involving both reduction (gain of electrons) and oxidation (loss of electrons).
10. Johannes Bronsted and Thomas Lowry. Their definition states that an acid is a proton donor and a base is a proton acceptor.
11. Antoine Lavoisier.
12. urea
13. radium and polonium.
14. The halogens.
15. hydrogen
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Ancient Greece Quiz - Alpha
1. Which people could vote in Ancient Athens?
2. Who is considered the Father of History?
3. Which important war is he known for documenting?
4. Give or take 10 years, when did the Battle of Marathon take place?
5. What was the name of the runner who ran the distance to tell the Greeks of their victory at Marathon?
6. Name two of the four buildings that sit on top of the Acropolis?
7. What were the names of the three column structures that are ever present in Greek architecture?
8. Which is the simplest of these three column structure types?
9. Which battle did the Greeks lose as a result of betrayal within their ranks?
10. To which island did the Greek leadership flee to after this defeat?
11. What was the name of the famous sea battle the Greeks defeated the Persians in?
12. Which Persian king watched this battle from the shore?
13. Who was Greece’s 5th Century philosopher king?
14. Who were the two biographers of Socrates?
15. What is the origin of the word “Academy?”
Answers to Ancient Greece II
1. Property holding free men.
2. Herodotus
3. The Persian Wars.
4. 490 BC
5. Phidippides – Don’t ask me what his time was?
6. Parthenon, Propylea, Temple of Athena at Nike, Erictheum.
7. Doric, Ionian, Corinthian.
8. Doric
9. Thermopylae
10. Aegina
11. Salamis - probably one of the greatest sea battles ever.
12. Xerxes I – History’s most important person in the “X category.”
13. Pericles
14. Plato and Xenophon.
15. It is derived from Plato’s philosophy School: Academicus.
2. Who is considered the Father of History?
3. Which important war is he known for documenting?
4. Give or take 10 years, when did the Battle of Marathon take place?
5. What was the name of the runner who ran the distance to tell the Greeks of their victory at Marathon?
6. Name two of the four buildings that sit on top of the Acropolis?
7. What were the names of the three column structures that are ever present in Greek architecture?
8. Which is the simplest of these three column structure types?
9. Which battle did the Greeks lose as a result of betrayal within their ranks?
10. To which island did the Greek leadership flee to after this defeat?
11. What was the name of the famous sea battle the Greeks defeated the Persians in?
12. Which Persian king watched this battle from the shore?
13. Who was Greece’s 5th Century philosopher king?
14. Who were the two biographers of Socrates?
15. What is the origin of the word “Academy?”
Answers to Ancient Greece II
1. Property holding free men.
2. Herodotus
3. The Persian Wars.
4. 490 BC
5. Phidippides – Don’t ask me what his time was?
6. Parthenon, Propylea, Temple of Athena at Nike, Erictheum.
7. Doric, Ionian, Corinthian.
8. Doric
9. Thermopylae
10. Aegina
11. Salamis - probably one of the greatest sea battles ever.
12. Xerxes I – History’s most important person in the “X category.”
13. Pericles
14. Plato and Xenophon.
15. It is derived from Plato’s philosophy School: Academicus.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Art Museums
The best to the worst that I have visited. Now let me see. Best one has to be the Louvre (I am a sucker for the classics). Worst the National Art Gallery in Ottawa (drab beyond words).
Top Ten Art Museums visited
1. Louvre - Paris. Visited in 1984.
2. Tate Art Gallery - London. Visited in 1993.
3. Uffizi - Florence. Visited in 1984.
4. Musee D’Orsay - Paris. Visited in 2002.
5. Metropolitan Museum of Art - New York. Visited in 1991.
6. Museum of Modern Art - New York. Visited in 1998
7. Sistine Chapel - Rome. Visited in 1984.
8. The National Art Gallery - London. Visited in 1993.
9. Whitney Art Museum - New York. Visited in 1991.
10. Rijks Museum - Amsterdam. Visited in 2002.
Still on my agenda to one day visit:
1. Hermitage - St Petersburg.
2. Prado - Madrid.
3. Barcelona - The whole city is an art gallery.
4. Van Gogh Museum - Amsterdam.
5. Andy Warhol Collection in Pittsburgh.
6. The city of Sienna in Italy.
7. Milan to see the Last Supper.
8. Ravenna - for some reason I am attracted to Byzantine Art.
Top Ten Art Museums visited
1. Louvre - Paris. Visited in 1984.
2. Tate Art Gallery - London. Visited in 1993.
3. Uffizi - Florence. Visited in 1984.
4. Musee D’Orsay - Paris. Visited in 2002.
5. Metropolitan Museum of Art - New York. Visited in 1991.
6. Museum of Modern Art - New York. Visited in 1998
7. Sistine Chapel - Rome. Visited in 1984.
8. The National Art Gallery - London. Visited in 1993.
9. Whitney Art Museum - New York. Visited in 1991.
10. Rijks Museum - Amsterdam. Visited in 2002.
Still on my agenda to one day visit:
1. Hermitage - St Petersburg.
2. Prado - Madrid.
3. Barcelona - The whole city is an art gallery.
4. Van Gogh Museum - Amsterdam.
5. Andy Warhol Collection in Pittsburgh.
6. The city of Sienna in Italy.
7. Milan to see the Last Supper.
8. Ravenna - for some reason I am attracted to Byzantine Art.
Milestones in the History of Ancient Greece
1. The Rise and Fall of the Minoans (3000-1500BC) – Minoans were the forerunners of the Greeks.
2. The Mycenean Hiatus – This is the Period when the Trojan War took place. The stuff that legends are made up of.
3. Invasion by the Doric Greeks – Although they would set up the foundations for Classical Greeks the Dorians were originally viewed as barbarians. Talk about improving your image.
4. Colonization of Asia Minor – The Greeks colonized modern Turkey. The Turks would make up for this by colonizing the Greek Peninsula almost two millennia later.
5. The Birth of Western Philosophy – nobody can accuse the Greeks of apathy toward knowledge even if some of their theories were way off the mark.
6. The Emergence of the City States – Dawning of the Classical Period – This is the Greece most of us are aware of. Romanticized but palatable.
7. The Persian Wars – The Greeks had to slug it out with the powerful Persian Empire before they could be deemed masters of the Mediterranean.
8. The Age of the Playwright – Some say that Shakespeare, Shaw and O’Neill would be nothing with out Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristpphanes. The Greeks turned the play into an art form.
9. The Golden Age of Pericles – The Golden Age of Greece when the Philosopher king Pericles ran Athens.
10. The Peloponnesian Wars – Athens v Sparta or the Geeks vs the Jocks. No happy ending here as the Jocks win.
11. Macedonian Emergence – A new type of barbarian takes control. No surprise in that it too comes from the North.
12. The Conquests of Alexander the Great – The most Brilliant military commander of the time. Alexander makes short work of his opponents especially the Persians.
13. The Hellenic Period – Greek culture spreads in the post-Alexander era. After the Empire is divided amongst the Macedonian ruler’s generals.
14. Fall to Rome – Greeks are toppled by an old enemy: Rome. Legendary descendants of the Trojans
15. Christianization of the Greeks – Its goodbye to the Olympian pantheon as the Greeks embrace Christianity.
2. The Mycenean Hiatus – This is the Period when the Trojan War took place. The stuff that legends are made up of.
3. Invasion by the Doric Greeks – Although they would set up the foundations for Classical Greeks the Dorians were originally viewed as barbarians. Talk about improving your image.
4. Colonization of Asia Minor – The Greeks colonized modern Turkey. The Turks would make up for this by colonizing the Greek Peninsula almost two millennia later.
5. The Birth of Western Philosophy – nobody can accuse the Greeks of apathy toward knowledge even if some of their theories were way off the mark.
6. The Emergence of the City States – Dawning of the Classical Period – This is the Greece most of us are aware of. Romanticized but palatable.
7. The Persian Wars – The Greeks had to slug it out with the powerful Persian Empire before they could be deemed masters of the Mediterranean.
8. The Age of the Playwright – Some say that Shakespeare, Shaw and O’Neill would be nothing with out Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristpphanes. The Greeks turned the play into an art form.
9. The Golden Age of Pericles – The Golden Age of Greece when the Philosopher king Pericles ran Athens.
10. The Peloponnesian Wars – Athens v Sparta or the Geeks vs the Jocks. No happy ending here as the Jocks win.
11. Macedonian Emergence – A new type of barbarian takes control. No surprise in that it too comes from the North.
12. The Conquests of Alexander the Great – The most Brilliant military commander of the time. Alexander makes short work of his opponents especially the Persians.
13. The Hellenic Period – Greek culture spreads in the post-Alexander era. After the Empire is divided amongst the Macedonian ruler’s generals.
14. Fall to Rome – Greeks are toppled by an old enemy: Rome. Legendary descendants of the Trojans
15. Christianization of the Greeks – Its goodbye to the Olympian pantheon as the Greeks embrace Christianity.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Key Events in Spanish History
These are in my opinion the key events in Spanish history (not in chronological order)
1. Moorish rule and the mixing of the cultures.
2. Rise of the Christian Kingdoms in the 11th, 12 and 13th centuries.
3. The Marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella in 1492. Unification of Castille and Aragon.
4. The Spanish Inquisition and the expulsion of the Jews in 1492.
5. Charles V becomes Joint Habsburg and Spanish Empire.
6. The Final Defeat of the Moors in 1492. Last Moor stronghold in Granada collapses.
7. Invasion by the Visigoths during Roman times.
8. Age of Discovery and the conquest of South and Central America in the 16th century.
9. The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939).
10. Loss of Colonies in South and Central America in the 1820's and 1830's.
11. Loss of the Spanish Armada (1588).
12. The Carlist War of the 19th century.
13. Financial Collapse in the 17th century.
14. Defeating Napoleon in the Peninsula War (with English assistance).
15. Death of Franco and the coming of Democracy in 1976.
16. The rise and fall of Roman power in Spain.
17. War of the Spanish Succession and the Rise of the Bourbons.
18. Charles V abdicates and hands over power to his son Philip II.
19. 80 Year War with the Dutch in the 16th And 17th century. Leads to Dutch independence from Spain.
20. Loss of the Rock of Gibraltar to the British.
1. Moorish rule and the mixing of the cultures.
2. Rise of the Christian Kingdoms in the 11th, 12 and 13th centuries.
3. The Marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella in 1492. Unification of Castille and Aragon.
4. The Spanish Inquisition and the expulsion of the Jews in 1492.
5. Charles V becomes Joint Habsburg and Spanish Empire.
6. The Final Defeat of the Moors in 1492. Last Moor stronghold in Granada collapses.
7. Invasion by the Visigoths during Roman times.
8. Age of Discovery and the conquest of South and Central America in the 16th century.
9. The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939).
10. Loss of Colonies in South and Central America in the 1820's and 1830's.
11. Loss of the Spanish Armada (1588).
12. The Carlist War of the 19th century.
13. Financial Collapse in the 17th century.
14. Defeating Napoleon in the Peninsula War (with English assistance).
15. Death of Franco and the coming of Democracy in 1976.
16. The rise and fall of Roman power in Spain.
17. War of the Spanish Succession and the Rise of the Bourbons.
18. Charles V abdicates and hands over power to his son Philip II.
19. 80 Year War with the Dutch in the 16th And 17th century. Leads to Dutch independence from Spain.
20. Loss of the Rock of Gibraltar to the British.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Useful websites on Ancient Rome
http://www.legionxxiv.org/history/
Has a neat name - tons of info
http://www.roman-empire.net/children/history.html
A worthwhile intro site for the novice
http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/ancient/asbook09.html
Heavy on the information - but certainly worth a visit.
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/romans/history/fall.htm
More insight for the junior mind
http://www.historywiz.com/anc-rome.htm
Another locale for the history junkie
Has a neat name - tons of info
http://www.roman-empire.net/children/history.html
A worthwhile intro site for the novice
http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/ancient/asbook09.html
Heavy on the information - but certainly worth a visit.
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/romans/history/fall.htm
More insight for the junior mind
http://www.historywiz.com/anc-rome.htm
Another locale for the history junkie
Ancient Hebrew Quiz 1
Ancient Hebrews I
1. Who was Adam and Eve’s third son?
2. Who was Methusalah’s father?
3. Name eight of Joseph’s eleven brothers?
4. What nationality was Laban?
5. Who are the four mothers of the Jewish people?
6. What was the name of the wealthy businessman who bought Joseph as a slave?
7. Who were Moses’ father and mother?
8. Who were Joseph’s two sons?
9. From which nation was Moses’s wife from?
10. What fell from heaven when the Hebrews complained to god about the manna?
11. Who was the mother of Ishmael?
12. How old was Abraham when he was circumsised?
13. What was the name of the cave that Abraham purchased for his family burials?
14. Who was the only matriarchial figure not buried in this cave?
15. In which town is this cave located?
Answers to Ancient Hebrews I
1. Seth
2. Enoch
3. Asher, Benjamin, Dan, Gad, Issacher, Judah, Levi, Naphtali, Reuben, Simon, and Zebulen.
4. Syrian
5. Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah.
6. Potiphar
7. Avram and Jochebed.
8. Ephraim and Manasseh.
9. Midianites
10. Quail - Maybe they should not have complained so quickly.
11. Hagger
12. 99
13. Cave of Machpelah.
14. Rachel
15. Hebron
1. Who was Adam and Eve’s third son?
2. Who was Methusalah’s father?
3. Name eight of Joseph’s eleven brothers?
4. What nationality was Laban?
5. Who are the four mothers of the Jewish people?
6. What was the name of the wealthy businessman who bought Joseph as a slave?
7. Who were Moses’ father and mother?
8. Who were Joseph’s two sons?
9. From which nation was Moses’s wife from?
10. What fell from heaven when the Hebrews complained to god about the manna?
11. Who was the mother of Ishmael?
12. How old was Abraham when he was circumsised?
13. What was the name of the cave that Abraham purchased for his family burials?
14. Who was the only matriarchial figure not buried in this cave?
15. In which town is this cave located?
Answers to Ancient Hebrews I
1. Seth
2. Enoch
3. Asher, Benjamin, Dan, Gad, Issacher, Judah, Levi, Naphtali, Reuben, Simon, and Zebulen.
4. Syrian
5. Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah.
6. Potiphar
7. Avram and Jochebed.
8. Ephraim and Manasseh.
9. Midianites
10. Quail - Maybe they should not have complained so quickly.
11. Hagger
12. 99
13. Cave of Machpelah.
14. Rachel
15. Hebron
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