h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Atoms and isotopes - A level Standard - A87722012
Author: nicki - U871201

Another a level standard entry. Though I'm still working out why my table is at the bottom rather than the top.

Nicki, your table is at the bottom because you forgot to put a to match the tag.

What I don't understand is how you were able to store the entry like that at all - I thought the system would reject it if the tags didn't match.

I'm going to fix it up for you, if you just wait a minute...

There, I've fixed up the table, and tidied up the rest of the GuideML for you.

Thank you! I knew there would be a simple explanation and that someone here would be able to work it out!

I'm mystified as to how you managed to get your entry into the system with that error in it. Even the Guide Editors can't do that!

Do you mind me asking, which skin do you use? Brunel, Alabaster, Classic?

If you're not sure, look at the address bar at the top of your screen - you should see h2g2.com/dna/h2g2 followed by the skin.

Alabaster Always!!!

I have no idea how I managed to get it in! I'm not very good with guideml to be honest I was impressed I made a table full stop!

Hi NIcki

I'm so glad you've submitted more things to Peer Review I think that these entries are very good in general..

I have to admit I don't think you need to put 'A Level Standard' in the title. They will be read by people from all over the world, and many people don't know what A LKevels even are.

<Isotopes:

Proton number is the same as atomic number. Isotope number is the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus and can be the same for isotopes of different chemical elements, for example, 3H, or Tritium, a 'heavy' isotope of hydrogen and 3He*, a 'light' isotope of helium which lacks a neutron by comparison with the standard He4.




Atomic mass varies from integer values, even for pure isotopes, because atomic masses are calculated from an idealized carbon 12 and on account of differences in bonding energies.




*Not to be confounded with quantum fluid or superfluid, Helium II, denoted with a roman numeral, which denotes on a change in state to a superfluid state. Helium II is always He4, since He3 does not become superfluid.

Exploiting superfluidity is one of the ways He3 is purified, since it will be left behind when the superfluid He4, Helium II, has climbed out of the vessel.

I'll have a think about the title. People thinking about, or presently studying A-level Chemistry would certainly find it easier if it was there.

Alternatively, there could be a strapline in the body of the text giving much more information.


eg...>>>for students of Chemistry, equivalent to the UK A-level Standard.

I'd leave it as it is nicki, and see what other suggestions come up.

(Thanks ITIWBS for your review, I am so glad to see you here! If this is on the Chem syllabus these days then the subject must have got a lot broader since mumble mumble years ago when I studied it)

When the glorious day cometh and we are given Tags by our coder then can we tag entries 'A Level' / GCSE so that perhaps people could search for entries for their studies?

We would need a helpful teacher, conversant with the syllabus who could do this....

Hi Nicki.

It was my thinking that it might useful for A level students. There is very little on the web in terms of good explanation notes for A level chemistry and the text books are expensive to buy. The entries I have submitted are slightly modified from the notes I give to students but cover everything in module 1 of AS and doesn't go above and therefore isn't confusing.

There is so much more that could be said on the subject, but it often is above the level needed and I don't believe in over confusing students!

If people think the title needs changing then I am happy to do that but I was trying to fit into a particular niche.

I agree with you nicki, about it being directed to A-level students, but we probably have readers from all sorts of backgrounds who may search for some subject such as this, so the title is important. But as I say, we should concentrate on the actual contents rather than worry to much about that right now.

a couple small issues:
last sentence before table in first section
<>
did you mean accepted mode

4th sentence in Isotopes
<>
Phrasing sounds a bit clumsy.
perhaps something like
"The different versions of an element are called isotopes"
would be a bit clearer.

>4th sentence in Isotopes
<>
Phrasing sounds a bit clumsy.
perhaps something like
"The different versions of an element are called isotopes"
would be a bit clearer.<
changed.

>last sentence before table in first section
<>
did you mean accepted mode<

It says model not mode.

what about the word before that. I don't know what you mean by an excepted model.

She means "accepted".

nicki;

A few thoughts.

eg...>>>for students of Chemistry, equivalent to the UK A-level Standard.


The biggest problem I see in many of us have no idea what "A-level Standard" means.

Is it a year in school, like 8th Grade?

Is it a series of courses required for a certain diploma?

Is it some kind of national requirement?

I could do an Internet search, but that would take me away from your entry. Perhaps a sentence or two or even a link is all that's needed. Learning about another culture is part of the enjoyment here.


Now for a little quibble, in the opening you say emphatically;


For example all atoms of carbon contain 12 protons. This is known as the atomic number and given the symbol z.

then in

Isotopes

you tell ue

Carbon has 3 isotopes – 12C, 13C, 14C. The mass number changes because the neutrons change but the proton number remains at 6 – if it wasn’t 6 it wouldn’t be carbon! Normally we write the mass number like above but don’t bother with the proton number (so not like in the table) as it doesn’t change.

They can't both be true.

A good read and explains it the way I was taught a long time ago.

F S

Alternate label to "A level"

a) pre-university chemistry
b) 16-19 age group
c) foundation level

Had a look through. It's not bad at all. There are a few grammatical errors as well as a few little errors in the terminology (see above comments). It's okay to approximate at this level. Don't include molecular stuff - since you are focussing on atoms and isotopes.

Do you cover basic hybridisation at this level (when moving on to molecular bonding) which needs a brief introduction to s p d atomic orbitals. Also I think a little more is needed on electron shell theory - perhaps mention of the outer valence electrons. This can then be related to the periodic table later on / elsewhere.

In terms of Carbon maybe a link to the h2g2 article on carbon would be advisable. see A6359060