Midterm Exam Interview

Define Geography

the study of places, exploring both the physical features of the earth and the relationship between people and their environments

What is the difference between physical and human geography?

Physical - Earth Science, flora and fauna patterns, motion of the earth, environment, natural features (soil, vegetation, landforms), Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Lithosphere, Biosphere. Basicaly all naturally occurring geography

Human - Human made, not natural. The effects of humans on the Earth, relationships. Political/Cultural borders, land borders. How people change geography. Spacial, Physical, and Social science (people, power, politics).

What is Latitude? What is Longitude? How does latitude and longitude help you find a specific location?

Latitude: parallels. Lines from East to West. Hemispheres = North and South

- 90• to 90• Equator: 0•

Longitude: Also called Meridians. Lines that run from North to South.

-180• to 180• Prime Meridian: 0•

Helps find locations by pairing Latitude and Longitude into ordered pairs of coordinates to locate a specific location on the globe.

What is the significance of the St. Lawrence Seaway?

The St. Lawrence Seaway is a system that connects all of the Great Lakes, starting from lake Superior, the highest elevated of the Great Lakes. It goes from Lake Superior to Lake Huron and Michigan, then to Lake Erie, and finally to Lake Ontario and out to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. This is significant because it enabled the seaway to become a thriving trading route, moving resources along the system. It also enables transport, being a transportation route to the Indigenous peoples.

Explain the relationship between place and identity.

Place directly affects identity in the form of cultural identity, like Japanese Shinto cultures revolving around elemental gods, stemming from the weather and climate conditions in the country. It is also relevant because place could mean location, for example, if a town is built on several small islands, the culture and practices of the people there will differ from that of people who live in a landlocked area, like fishing and sailing. Place influences both history and culture of a place from legends to religion to everyday practices.

Also, identity also changes based on the place where that identity is nurtured. For example, abusive families may pass down traits and behaviours to their kids. Nature and Nurture

How does physical geography of a location shape the identity of the people?

Same as the last question, where the people are living, the landscape like water may cause the people to base their lifestyle around it, while people who live in landlocked areas will be different. Japanese shinto religion and Greek, Roman, and Egyptian cultures were polytheistic, worshipping Gods and Goddesses based on natural elements which were a result of the location and conditions where they lived.

Explain the different characteristics that make up a biome.

Biomes are characterized by their unique climates, flora, fauna, and terrain. They are named after their dominant vegetation type, which is determined by the climate and environment (land or water). The animals in the biome rely on the environment and each-other to survive, the natural ecosystem.

What is the biome that Manitoba is located in?

Manitoba is located in the prairies, but northern Manitoba transitions into the boreal forest, or the taiga, and tundra, like Churchill. It is also within the area of the Great Plains nearer to the southwestern region.

Why do we care about geography?

geography helps us understand how landforms are created and how climate affects the environment and organisms, as well as understanding natural disasters and reducing damage. It also helps us understand sustainability, and how human activity affects the surrounding environment. Using this info, we can do something about deforestation, climate change, and pollution. It also helps use make connections on why specific organisms live where they do, and how they have adapted to their environment. The theory of human evolution was literally formed this way with a type of bird that adapted to a certain biome, while the same type of bird in a different biome adapted to that separate biome.

Discuss the importance of the periodic table. How does the arrangement of elements help predict their properties and behaviours?

The arrangement of the periodic table is important because it arranges the elements into periods and groups, the periods telling us how many energy levels or shells the elements in each period has, and the groups telling us how many valence electrons the elements in the groups have. The valence electrons are important because each element in the same group (same valence) has similar chemical properties (reactions) and reactivity, for example, the alkali metals and halogens have high reactivity because they are 1 electron away from having a full stable shell of 8, which is what every element wants. The noble gases have a full 8 shell, meaning they are all non-reactive element

Describe a chemical reaction you observed (either in class or outside of class). What were the reactants; what products formed, and what evidence did you see that a reaction occurred?

The reaction with the bunsen burner, where we heated up a magnesium strip, which, when combined with another reactant, oxygen gas, created an exothermic reaction where it glows incredibly bright for a few seconds, and turning the grey lustrous magnesium strip into a white powder, magnesium oxide. The evidence that a reaction occurred was quite obvious; in the form of the incredibly bright light, as well as the product, the powdery magnesium oxide.

Describe the role of acids and bases in chemistry. How do their properties differ and what are some common examples of each?

Acids: pH level of <7. The lower the pH, the stronger the Acid. Acidic. All contain O2.

Common acids: hydrochloric acid (stomach acid), nitric acid (fertilizer)

Bases: pH level of >7. The higher the pH, the stronger the Base. Basic. Usually contains OH.

Common bases: sodium hydroxide (bar soaps), ammonia (disinfectant)

Acids and Bases neutralize each-other upon reaction, creating a salt and 2H20. Basically they destroy each-other to form a salt (an ionic bond) and water.

Neutralization = double replacement/displacement reaction.

What is the law of Conservation of Mass? How does this principle apply to chemical reactions, and can you provide an example to illustrate it?

The law of Conservation of Mass states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. Basically the total mass of reactants before the reaction is always equal to the total mass of the products after the reaction. This applies to chemical reactions of every type, synthesis, combustion, displacement, and the others. For example in a synthesis reaction, when 4 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms react, they create 2H2O, which still contains 4 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms. The number of reactants is the same on either side, and does not change during the reaction.

Compare and contrast ionic bonding with covalent bonding. Describe the main differences in their formation and properties and provide examples.

Ionic bonding occurs when a metal and a nonmetal exchange electrons. The metal gives its electrons to the nonmetal, resulting in each atom having a full 8 valence electrons. The metal becomes a cation, and the nonmetal becomes an anion, causing them to attract to each-other resulting in an ionic bond. The ending of the name of the nonmetal becomes “ide”. These compounds are very strong, and have high melting and boiling points. They are soluble, and can conduct electricity and heat.

Ex. NaCl. Sodium has 1 electron and Chlorine has 7, so Sodium gives Chlorine its single electron.

Covalent bonding occurs when a nonmetal and a nonmetal share electrons. The shared electrons are attracted to the nuclei of each atom, creating a covalent bond. Uses greek prefixes like “mono”, “tetra”, etc. These compounds are weaker compared to ionic bonds, and typically have lower melting and boiling points. The solubility varies, and they cannot conduct electricity and heat

Ex. 2H2O. 4 hydrogen atoms share electrons with 2 oxygen atoms to create water.

Explain how different compounds are named. Discuss the properties of metals, non-metals, and metalloids and how these form the different compounds.

Ionic: the metal is named first, and the end of the non-metal is changed to “ide”. For transition metals, use roman numerals in brackets to indicate the cation’s oxidation state (how many valence electrons).

Covalent: Uses Greek prefixes like “mono” and “tetra” to indicate the number of atoms. The second element ends with “ide”, but the first element keeps its name. When there is only one of the first element, we usually don’t say “mono”.

Properties:

Metals:

Physical: solid at room temp, lustrous, good conductivity of electricity and heat, malleable, high melting and boiling points.

Chemical: typically gives electrons in a reaction. Can corrode, react with oxygen and hydrogen.

Metalloids:

Physical: Solid at room temp, can be shiny or dull, may conduct electricity, poor heat conductors, brittle. Some properties of metals, some properties of nonmetals.

Chemical: can form ionic or covalent bonds depending on the elements they react with.

Nonmetals:

Physical: some gases at room temp, one liquid (bromine), shiny or dull, may conduct electricity, poor heat conductors, brittle

Chemical: typically gain or share electrons, in ionic or covalent bonds, reactivity varies widely, from fluorine to the noble gases, many are combustible when in the presence of oxygen.

Define ions and explain the difference between cations and anions. Provide examples for each.

Ions are atoms with a charge, or imbalance between electrons and protons. A cation is positive, meaning it has more protons than electrons. An anion is negative, meaning it has more electrons than protons. An example of each would occur in an ionic bond, when a metal, for example Sodium (Na), bonds with a nonmetal, for example Chlorine (Cl) and the sodium becomes a cation when it gives away its electron to Chlorine, which then becomes an anion.

Describe four typesof chemical reactions and provide an example for each type.

Synthesis: 2 or more substances react to form a single substance. Ex. Na + Cl → NaCl

Combustion: Oxygen reacts with a carbon compound to make a hydrocarbon (water), carbon dioxide, and heat in an exothermic reaction. Cx + Hy + O2 → CO2 + H2O

Decomposition: Single compound splits apart into two or more simpler compounds. NaCl → Na + Cl

Single Displacement: One element replaces another element in a compound. More active elements replace less active elements. NaCl + Li = LiCl + Na

Explain the difference between endothermic and exothermic reactions. How does heat affect the reaction process?

Endothermic: absorbs heat from surroundings, cooling down the surroundings. Ex. photosynthesis. Heat is a reactant. Products have more energy because heat is absorbed in the reaction.

Exothermic: releases heat to surroundings, heating up the surroundings. Ex. combustion. Heat is a product. Products have less energy because the energy is released as heat

Heat increases the amount of energy, causing the atoms to move faster and collide more often, and speeding up the reaction.

Opposite is true for reducing heat, causing the atoms to move slower and collide less often, slowing down the reactions.

Discuss the concept of combustion reactions. What are the reactants involved and what products are typically formed? Provide an example of a combustion reaction.

A combustion reaction occurs when a substance (fuel) reacts with oxygen to release energy in the form of light and heat, as well as CO2 and Water (hydrocarbon). This is often referred to as burning. Typically exothermic. CH4 + O2 → CO2 + H2O

Can you name a literary device and explain its definition in your own words?

Personification is a literary device term that describes the addition of human qualities or the performance of human actions to a non-human object or concept to help the reader better understand the situation.

“The wind whistled quietly through the trees, catching leaves with its gentle blow”

Thinking back on the “Mapping the Unknown” project, what is one aspect you found challenging or feel you could have improved on? Why?

One aspect I found challenging was doing the presentation portion. At first, Ms. Watt told us we only needed to do a voice recording, so I think the entire class did a voice recording and had to redo it and submit it late after Mr. H. told us that we need to do a video. I feel like I could’ve also improved on that part specifically, because after finding out I had to do a video, I was kind of done with the assignment mentally and I ended up sort of rushing the production of the video. This resulted in probably not the best presentation portion, so I think I could have done better and taken more time on that.

In the story Lamb to the Slaughter, can you summarize the plot? Based on what we discussed in class, what do you think Patrick Maloney might have said to Mary Maloney before the pivotal event?

Basically the plot and divorce leaving her lol