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Responding with Wonderment and Awe.
Approaching and reacting to situations with interest, and holding excitement in the process of learning.

November 24 2009

On November 22nd 2009, our general chemistry class was given the assignment of exploring double replacement reactions. Several ionic compounds in the form of aqueous solutions were poured into test tubes. Designated tubes were added to others, and the substances were mixed. In past science classes, experiments similar to this resulted in hum-drum results: a slight change in color, usually a pale white, or a sickly hue of faded yellow. This time, I was shocked, and genuinely entranced.

The mixtures produced stunning shades of yellow, blue clouds of cotton candy-like substances, and all sorts of interesting results. For example, when mixing lead nitrate and potassium iodide, a product looking like this was created:



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I found this truly spectacular. I had never seen such a drastic chemical reaction close up in real life, and not in a science video or demonstration. After staring at the mixture for a whole minute, we continued to view other reactions- all of which were quite entertaining and exciting.

Our group was so fascinated by the results, that we proceeded to take all of our results, and mix them together into one test tube. This created a truly amazing concoction of brown, fizzing fluff that bubbled and churned away. I heard a few group members chuckle on how the mixture was so interesting, that we wanted to even drink it. ( It DID look like a rootbeer float!)

At this moment, I realized that "responding with wonderment and awe" is something we often forget to do in chemistry, let alone a highschool chemistry class where grades are supposidly of the essence. True, it is difficult to get excited over simple experiments, such as weighing a piece of metal on a scale. However it will be beneficial to us as learners, and as pioneers into this world to find excitement in what we do- not only chemistry, but in every endeavor throughout life. After all, when we grow old and join the working force, we will excell and see success more easily and frequently when working with the things we are fascinated by.

I can honestly say that I have undervalued the significance of wonderment with learning. I recognize this as a weakness, which cheats me out of enjoying the most of my life in the workplace and during leisure time. In the future, I realize that I am only doing myself a favor if I stop momentarily in my routine to simply experience a sense of awe.

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