Week 6

1. The Alkali Metal I chose is Sodium, Na. The atomic number of sodium is 11. Sodium is in most foods naturally, added to many foods and is important for human body functions. Table salt which is sodium chloride is the most common form of sodium. Sodium accounts for 40% of table salt. Milk, beets, celery and drinking water all naturally contain sodium, but the amounts vary depending on the source. Some examples of foods and food products that sodium is added to are meats, canned vegetables, soy sauce, baking soda and garlic salt. Fast foods are very high in sodium. Sodium helps the body to control blood pressure and blood volume. It is also important to help peoples muscles and nerves work properly. We do want sodium in our diets but we need to be careful not to have too much. Too high of a sodium diet can lead to high blood pressure.

2. For Avogadro's Hypothesis the website was not working for me answer the questions. But I would like to comment on his interpretation of what a hypothesis is. He says that a hypothesis is "tentative explanation for observed events". He also said hypothesis' can be modified. From when I was in school this is not how we used hypothesis'. In what I was taught an hypothesis is a prediction of an experiment, before the experiment is done. After the experiments is done and you have the results you show if the hypothesis was supported or incorrect. But hypothesis is never changed.

3. I think molecular medicine is a very relevent topic right now. I can see the pros and cons on both sides. What is evident to me is that the people working on this medicine do have good intentions and are trying help people. Who knows some type of molecular medicine could be the key to curing cancer. It is hard to say that it should not be done. But we never know the consequences that could take place. We do not know what the long term effects of putting tiny motors in human cells or inhaling drugs into our lungs.