Department of Biological Sciences

BIOL 39500 Household Biology & Chemistry

Session Offered:

Fall Credit 3.0

Prerequisites:

 

Prerequisites:  BIOL 11000 or 12100 or 13100 and CHM 11500 or 12300 or 125000 and Concurrent Prerequisites:  PHYS 17200 or 22000 

Description:

 

A course exploring the basic biology and chemistry behind household objects and problems.  What does dirt really consist of?  (You’d be surprised.)  How do cleaning chemicals like ammonia and products like Scrubbing Bubbles and Formula 409 really work?  Why are blood stains red and grass stains green and how do you remove them?  Why are Raid and Roundup effective are killing insects and weeds?  How do disinfectants and hand sanitizers work?  How do household chemicals affect the environment?  What is the difference between hard and soft water and how do water softeners work?  What is insulation made of and how do insulated windows work?  Why is asphalt useful for making roofing and flooring products, while stone and polymers are preferred for kitchen counters?  How are ceramic tiles made and why are they so hard?  A fun way to learn about basic biology and chemistry (with a little physics mixed in).  While exploring these topics we will review basic biology and chemistry topics, including organic and inorganic chemical structure, pH, charge, polarity and hydrophobicity, the structure of cells and organisms, basic biochemistry and metabolism, light, heat and thermodynamics, and the properties of materials.

Instructor(s):

Alan Friedman

E-mail:

afried@purdue.edu

Textbook(s):

Text:  Chemistry in The Home (Paperback)
Year/Edition: 2008
ISBN Number: (10) 1-40865378-8 (13) 978-1-40865-678-4 paperback
Author(s):  Henry T. Weed
Publisher: Read Books
Required-  may also be purchased at

http://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Home-Henry-T-Weed/dp/1408653788/

 

or  

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chemistry-in-the-home-henry-t-weed/1025827674?ean=9781176543355&itm=3&product.urlkeywords=chemistry-in-the-home%2fhenry-t-weed&usri=chemistry%2bin%2bthe%2bhome

 Since this book is old enough to be in the “public domain”, a free download for the Nook Reader or using Nook software is available from Barnes and Noble at the same link above.

 Multiple other on-line versions (including PDF, EPUB and Kindle) are available from The Internet Archive (archive.org) at:

http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924003623521

 

 #2. A Short Histroy of Nearly Everything

Author: Bryson , Bill

Year: 2004

Broadway Books, New York, NY

ISBN-10 076790818x ISBN  -13  978-0275980528

  http://www.amazon.com/Short-History-Nearly-Everything/dp/076790818X/ref=tmm_pap_title_0. 

 Required

 

 

Notes:

Exam information is available on-line via:
https://roomschedule.mypurdue.purdue.edu/Timetabling/exams.do

Course Format:

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