The periodic table poses a difficulty for both scientific realists and anti-realists. The anti-realist has difficulty accounting for the success of the table during a period in chemistry when many theories and concepts changed; the spatial relations of current tables in use do not show fundamental changes from the original tables proposed by Mendeleev. Yet, most versions of scientific realism are based upon the understanding that theories are some collection of written propositions or equations. The table as an image successfully functions very much like a theory: it is an organization of known facts, has been used to make predictions, and is plastic enough to accommodate unforeseen novel facts. Assuming the truth of the representational relations between the table and the world poses interesting issues for the realist. Ian Hacking's entity realism and the structural realism of several philosophers are both possible versions of scientific realism that fail to account for the table. Hacking's version fails in this case because the role of representation is central to understanding the history of the table; structural realism fails because it diminishes to much the role that first order properties have as they relate to the formulation of the second order relationships that comprise the table. Philip Kitcher of Science, Truth, and Democracy leaves himself open to two interpretations about the metaphysics of pluralism. One of these is indefensible; the other is quite well supported by the plurality of successful periodic tables. / Master of Arts

Calculations have been carried out to investigate the stability and electronic structure of aluminum iodide clusters using first principles gradient-corrected density functional theory. Analysis of A113Ix-, A114Ix-, and A17I- clusters reveals that their stability is governed by the geometrically unperturbed A113-, A1142+, and A17+ units, respectively, that are demonstrated to constitute the compact cores of the clusters upon significant iodine content. The compact, icosahedral A113, icosahedral-like A1 14, and capped square bi-pyramid A17 superatom structures of the stable aluminum cores have an analogous electronic configuration to that of halogen, alkaline-earth, and alkaline atoms, respectively. Novel chemistry is demonstrated in superatoms, arising from two primary sources. Firstly, the calculations demonstrate the preference to break molecular I2 bonds in favor of iodine atoms individually adsorbing onto the aluminum sites of the central aluminum core surface. Secondly, the calculation show that observations of alternating stability trends dependent on the number of iodine ligands are connected to the formation and quenching of active sites. The significance of the induced active centers on aluminum iodide clusters upon association to alkenes is addressed, demonstrating a method towards predicting the location and extent of binding hydrocarbons. The novel chemistry of superatoms allows for a host of possible applications that integrate their unique properties in original ways and some key examples are described. Superatoms are the analogs to atoms and subsequently, just as the periodic table of elements lists atoms that can assemble into molecules and lattice structures, there exists the fathomable possibility to incorporate superatoms into extended structures such that they maintain their unique properties and result in a new class of materials. Initiation of such cluster-materials insinuates that cluster-mediated periodic table may be a proper extension to allow for a simple means for conveying fundamental information about clusters.

A lei periódica é uma ideia central na Química, relevante na educação científica, pois permite explicar e prever diversas propriedades da matéria, sendo que a tabela periódica, que consiste em sua representação gráfica, é considerada um dos ícones fundamentais da ciência. Para o ensino deste tema, textos literários de divulgação científica (TLDC) podem trazer contribuições, pois além de fomentarem o desenvolvimento das competências de leitura e escrita, podem promover uma boa problematização do conhecimento científico com aspectos socioculturais por possibilitarem discutir questões referentes à ciência e à tecnologia e suas relações com outras áreas da cultura, e, por isso, favorecem uma abordagem interdisciplinar. Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho é elaborar, aplicar e validar uma sequência didática (SD) para o ensino da lei periódica, a qual foi elaborada utilizando excertos de textos literários de divulgação científica, para assim verificar potencialidades e limitações dos TLDC em contextos de sala de aula de Química. A SD foi desenvolvida fundamentada no Modelo Topológico de Ensino e avaliada mediante o processo de Elaboração, Aplicação e Reelaboração. O resultado da aplicação foi avaliado principalmente de acordo interações discursivas observadas nos registros audiovisuais das aulas, nos quais foram caracterizados episódios de ensino em que ocorreram retextualizações dos TLDC. Nessas retextualizações foi constatado que foi predominante a abordagem comunicativa do tipo interativa de autoridade, o que sugere uma forma específica de adaptação do discurso de divulgação científica à esfera escolar. Além disso, embora tenham sido observadas dificuldades de interpretação de metáforas presentes nos TLDC, o que exigiu um esforço dos professores e alunos para transposição do discurso de divulgação científica para a linguagem científica escolar, também foram observadas reflexões sobre propriedades de elementos químicos, o que sugere uma potencialidade didática dos TLDC. / The periodic law is a central idea in Chemistry and also relevant in scientific education because it allows to explain and predict several properties of matter, and the periodic table, which consists of its graphical representation, is considered one of the fundamental icons of science. For teaching this topic, literary texts of scientific communication (LTSC) have been applied in this research because besides fomenting the development of reading and writing skills, they might promote a good problematization of the scientific knowledge with sociocultural aspects, allowing the discussion of many questions related to science and Technology and their relationships with others areas of culture, as well as promoting an interdisciplinary approach. In this way, the objective of this work is to elaborate, apply and validate a didactic sequence (DS) for the teaching of the periodic law, which was elaborated using excerpts from LTSC, in order to verify the affordances of the LTSC in contexts of Chemistry classroom. DS was developed based on the Topological Model of Teaching and evaluated through the Elaboration, Application and Re-elaboration process. The result of the application was evaluated mainly according to discursive interactions that were observed in the audiovisual records of the classes, from where teaching episodes were characterized in terms of the occurrency of retextualizations of the LTSC. In these retextualizations it was observed that the interactive/authoratative communicative approach has prevailed, which suggests a particular form of adaptating the discourse of public communication of science to the school sphere. In addition, although difficulties were observed in the interpretation of metaphors present in the LTSC, which has required an effort by teachers and students to translate the discourse of public communication of science into scientific school language, reflections on the properties of chemical elements were also observed, which suggests a didactic potentiality of the LTSC.

A lei periódica é uma ideia central na Química, relevante na educação científica, pois permite explicar e prever diversas propriedades da matéria, sendo que a tabela periódica, que consiste em sua representação gráfica, é considerada um dos ícones fundamentais da ciência. Para o ensino deste tema, textos literários de divulgação científica (TLDC) podem trazer contribuições, pois além de fomentarem o desenvolvimento das competências de leitura e escrita, podem promover uma boa problematização do conhecimento científico com aspectos socioculturais por possibilitarem discutir questões referentes à ciência e à tecnologia e suas relações com outras áreas da cultura, e, por isso, favorecem uma abordagem interdisciplinar. Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho é elaborar, aplicar e validar uma sequência didática (SD) para o ensino da lei periódica, a qual foi elaborada utilizando excertos de textos literários de divulgação científica, para assim verificar potencialidades e limitações dos TLDC em contextos de sala de aula de Química. A SD foi desenvolvida fundamentada no Modelo Topológico de Ensino e avaliada mediante o processo de Elaboração, Aplicação e Reelaboração. O resultado da aplicação foi avaliado principalmente de acordo interações discursivas observadas nos registros audiovisuais das aulas, nos quais foram caracterizados episódios de ensino em que ocorreram retextualizações dos TLDC. Nessas retextualizações foi constatado que foi predominante a abordagem comunicativa do tipo interativa de autoridade, o que sugere uma forma específica de adaptação do discurso de divulgação científica à esfera escolar. Além disso, embora tenham sido observadas dificuldades de interpretação de metáforas presentes nos TLDC, o que exigiu um esforço dos professores e alunos para transposição do discurso de divulgação científica para a linguagem científica escolar, também foram observadas reflexões sobre propriedades de elementos químicos, o que sugere uma potencialidade didática dos TLDC. / The periodic law is a central idea in Chemistry and also relevant in scientific education because it allows to explain and predict several properties of matter, and the periodic table, which consists of its graphical representation, is considered one of the fundamental icons of science. For teaching this topic, literary texts of scientific communication (LTSC) have been applied in this research because besides fomenting the development of reading and writing skills, they might promote a good problematization of the scientific knowledge with sociocultural aspects, allowing the discussion of many questions related to science and Technology and their relationships with others areas of culture, as well as promoting an interdisciplinary approach. In this way, the objective of this work is to elaborate, apply and validate a didactic sequence (DS) for the teaching of the periodic law, which was elaborated using excerpts from LTSC, in order to verify the affordances of the LTSC in contexts of Chemistry classroom. DS was developed based on the Topological Model of Teaching and evaluated through the Elaboration, Application and Re-elaboration process. The result of the application was evaluated mainly according to discursive interactions that were observed in the audiovisual records of the classes, from where teaching episodes were characterized in terms of the occurrency of retextualizations of the LTSC. In these retextualizations it was observed that the interactive/authoratative communicative approach has prevailed, which suggests a particular form of adaptating the discourse of public communication of science to the school sphere. In addition, although difficulties were observed in the interpretation of metaphors present in the LTSC, which has required an effort by teachers and students to translate the discourse of public communication of science into scientific school language, reflections on the properties of chemical elements were also observed, which suggests a didactic potentiality of the LTSC.

No description available.

The article solves the riddle of the fine structure constants with the help of the Planck units, derives its physical meaning and shows the consequences.:Abstract Introduction What is the fine structure constant? Consequence from the existence of the fine structure constant.

Yes / In this study we examine the structures of ten personality inventories widely used for personnel assessment, by mapping the scales of personality inventories (PIs) to the lexical Big Five circumplex model resulting in a ‘Periodic Table of Personality’. Correlations between 273 scales from ten internationally popular PIs with independent markers of the lexical Big Five are reported, based on data from samples in two countries (UK N = 286; USA N = 1,046), permitting us to map these scales onto the AB5C framework. Emerging from our findings we propose a common facet framework derived from the scales of the PIs in our study. These results provide important insights into the literature on criterion-related validity of personality traits, and enable researchers and practitioners to understand how different PI scales converge and diverge and how compound PI scales may be constructed or replicated. Implications for research and practice are considered.

This thesis is focused on usage of computer game (adventure game) in teaching of chemistry. Game is situated to the town of Český Krumlov and contains set of tests from nomenclature (names and symbols of chemical elements). This game can be used to motivate students to study chemistry on lower grades of grammar schools and higher grades of elementary schools.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:04:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 LorenaGFB.pdf: 460479 bytes, checksum: aa12e0a9baa8d74666214337a2a8c5f5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-05-19 / Nowadays there are many reasons that aim to include people with special necessities, like those with visual deficiency, in the world of work, education, and in the society as a whole. However it is observed that when we talk about schooling inclusion, especially in High School, there is a huge gap between the theory and the practice. The lack of didactic resources, the inadequate installations, unprepared teachers, the families? lack of information, are some of the factors that hinder the process of inclusion. Furthermore, the educators also have to deal with the roughness of the disciplinary contents and, refering to the study of Chemistry, with the use of signals related to this subject?s language. So, the objective of our research is to reflect about the apprehension of this language by the visually handicapped people, and try to contribute with their process of inclusion in the school life. On this perspective we work with the Periodic Table, which constitutes one of the indispensable tools necessary to the Chemistry learning. In order to acomplish it, the way followed by us happened in three passages. Initially, by means of a semistructured interview, we tried to get acquainted with the blind students opinion, who were participating in the research about the Periodic Table used by them throughout High School, as well as the dificulties felt when using it. After getting the answers, the Table was reelaborated to fill those students?necessities. Here, two new Tables were designed, one in Braille which shape is more compacted, and another made with high printed dots, built with sand and glue. On the third moment, the new designed Tables were tested by the students and, by means of a semi-structured interview, we tried to identify if this new resource would solve the problems concerned to the old Table. The students showed that the compacted Tables would facilitate the touch reading of the chemical elements simbols, making it clear and fast. We hope that, with the elaboration of this learning tools we can contribute with one of the elements to favor the effective participation of blind students in Chemistry classes, when studying the Periodic Table / Na atualidade, in?meras s?o as raz?es que visam ? inclus?o de pessoas com necessidades especiais, dentre essas, aquelas com defici?ncia visual, no mundo do trabalho, na educa??o, e na sociedade como um todo. Entretanto, observa-se que em se tratando da inclus?o escolar dessas pessoas, especialmente no Ensino M?dio, h? um enorme distanciamento entre a teoria e a pr?tica. A falta de recursos did?ticos, as instala??es f?sicas inadequadas, o despreparo dos professores, a desinforma??o das fam?lias, s?o alguns dos fatores que emperram o processo de inclus?o. Al?m disso, os educandos deparam-se tamb?m com a aridez dos conte?dos disciplinares e, no caso do estudo da Qu?mica, com a utiliza??o dos signos relativos ? linguagem que ? concernente ? mat?ria. Logo, o objetivo de nossa pesquisa ? refletir sobre a apreens?o dessa linguagem pelas pessoas com defici?ncia visual, com vistas a contribuir para o seu processo de inclus?o escolar. Nessa perspectiva, trabalhamos com a Tabela Peri?dica, que se constitui em uma das ferramentas indispens?veis para apropria??o do conhecimento qu?mico. Para tanto, o percurso metodol?gico adotado foi realizado em tr?s etapas. Inicialmente, por meio de uma entrevista semi-estruturada, procurou-se conhecer a opini?o de alunos cegos, participantes da pesquisa, sobre a Tabela Peri?dica que utilizaram no Ensino M?dio, bem como as dificuldades sentidas no seu manuseio. A partir das respostas obtidas, a tabela foi re-elaborada para atender ?s necessidades destes alunos. Nessa etapa, foram constru?das duas tabelas, uma em Braille cuja forma ? mais compacta, e a outra em alto relevo, confeccionada com areia e cola. Na terceira etapa, as tabelas elaboradas foram submetidas a an?lise dos participantes e por meio de entrevista semi-estruturada procurou-se identificar se esse recurso atendia ?s solicita??es feitas pelos alunos quanto ao manuseio. Os participantes sinalizaram que as tabelas compactas facilitavam a leitura t?ctil dos s?mbolos dos elementos qu?micos de forma mais ?gil e clara. Espera-se que, com a elabora??o dessas ferramentas, possamos contribuir com mais um dos elementos a favorecer a participa??o efetiva de alunos cegos nas aulas de Qu?mica, ao estudar a Tabela Peri?dica

The subject of this thesis was creating of teaching material for an interactive whiteboard using ActivInspire program. The material was created in a form of interactive presentations designed to be used in chemistry lessons at secondary schools. The theme of these presentations was the 15th group of the periodic table of elements. The thesis also includes a description of the way the presentations were made and instructions for teachers how to work with them.