Academic Vocabulary: Academic Words - Olsen Amy E. 2012

Chapter 26. Chemistry

From Ancient to Modern Times

Chemistry is a science that has had an influence on society from the ancient Egyptians to the modem day. Among the first chemical experiments were those done by alchemists. From 300 B.c. to about 1700 a.d., alchemists conducted various experiments. Two of their major goals were to change inexpensive metals such as lead into gold and to find the elixir of life, a drink they believed would lead to eternal life. They were not successful with either endeavor, but they did begin I the foundation of chemical experiments. They created symbols for various substances and developed methods of distilling and purifying various chemical compounds. Their experiments helped in discovering the essential qualities of some chemicals.

Today, chemistry is used in areas from law enforcement to health. Chemistry has been valuable in the field of forensics in analyzing samples of blood and hair from crime scenes, even for crimes that may have happened years ago. For example, in the 1960s a historian suspected foul play in Napoleon's death in 1821 on the island of St. Helena. Arrangements were made to exhume his body, and a hair sample was then taken. Because hair doesn't decay, scientists were able to do chemical studies on it checking for toxic substances. Traces of arsenic were found in Napoleon's hair, which led to the possible conclusion that he was poisoned at the age of fifty-one. More recently prisoners have been freed after years in jail thanks to DNA testing that wasn't available at the time of their conviction. Chemists have also worked with law enforcement in other areas, such as developing light­weight bulletproof vests from plastics and creating chemical sprays like tear gas to bring criminals out of hiding without having to shoot them.

Chemistry plays a vital role in health fields from diagnosing diseases to creating new medicines. Blood tests, which serve as the basis of most physical exams, were invented by chemists, and the blood samples are studied in labs by chemists. Chemists have created medicines that treat everything from motion sickness and ulcers to heart attacks and depression. One area of chemistry that has made surgery much less painfol is the creation of pain killers. In the past people often drank alcohol to deaden the pain of surgery, but chemists found ether to be a more effective pain killer. Later chemists developed local an­esthetics such as novocaine that can be applied to the area to be operated on, such as the mouth during dental work. Sometimes the discovery of a drug comes from a surprising place. In the early 1900s chemists were creating artificial dyes for cloth when Gerhard Domagk from

Germany wondered if any of these dyes might work to destroy bacteria. At the time a bacterial infec­tion could be fatal. fa 1932 he tried a dye on mice that had serious bacterial infections. The mice were cured. He next tried it on a little girl who had bacterial blood poisoning, and again it worked. Chemists continued Domagk's research to create other bacteria-fighting drugs. Chemistry also keeps us healthy by detecting carcinogens in food and fo9d additives. Among the cancer-causing agents that chemists have discovered through experiments with lab animals were cyclamates (artificial sweeteners). After several years of testing, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned cyclamates in 1970. Today chemists are searching for better drugs to combat various cancers and AIDS.

Chemistry has a long history, is present in our everyday lives, and most certainly will provide future benefits. From the justice system to the kitchen table, chemistry continues to play an important role in the world.

Predicting

For each set, write the definition on the line next to the word to which it belongs. If you are unsure, return to the reading on page 158, and underline any context clues you find. After you've made your predictions, check your answers against the Word List on page 163. Place a checkmark in the box next to each word whose definition you missed. These are the words you'll want to study closely.

Set One

extracting elements

people who practice a type of chemistry

an attempt

medical knowledge used in law

a preparation believed capable of prolonging life

□ 1. alchemists (line 4) ...

□ 2. elixir (line 7) ...

□ 3. endeavor (line 9) ...

□ 4. distilling (line 12) ...

□ 5. forensics (line 15) ...

Set Two

cancer-producing substances

poisonous

examining

small amounts

to dig up

□ 6. analyzing (line 15) ...

□ 7. exhume (line 17) ...

□ 8. toxic (line 19) ...

□ 9. traces (line 19) ...

□ 10. carcinogens (line 45) ...

Self-Tests

1 Finish the sentences. Use each word once.

Vocabulary list

toxic

analyzed

forensics

trace

endeavor

alchemist

elixir

exhume

distill

carcinogens

1. Because Milt looks the same at 75 as he did at 25, his friends think he has discovered the ... of life.

2. When we toured the ... lab, we saw some of the equipment used to test blood and hair samples.

3. I was reading a mystery novel and was surprised by what could be combined with cologne to make a(n) ... substance.

4. The family wanted to ... Uncle Ricardo when they thought he had been buried with Grandma Riva's hearing aid in his pocket.

5. The ... worked late into the night trying different chemicals on the bar of lead, but it was still lead in the morning.

6. Scientists are still unsure of all the substances that are ..., but they range from overcooked meat to gasoline.

7. There wasn't a(n) ... of evidence that Ying had been at the scene of the crime, but the police held him overnight anyway.

8. After doing the experiment, I ... my lab report to see whether I could tell why I didn't get the expected result.

9. I will ... to improve my grades by studying more every night.

10. Before the judge could make her decision, she had to ... all the information the witnesses had given her.

Identify the two vocabulary words represented in the drawings.

2 Match the vocabulary word to the words you could associate with it.

1. elixir     

a. crimes, techniques

2. distill

b. try, effort

3. forensics    

c. deadly, lethal

4. toxic

d. dig up, uncover

5. carcinogen

e. gold, Middle Ages

6. alchemist

f. small, evidence

7. endeavor

g. separate, essential

8. analyze

h. prolong life, miraculous

9. exhume

i. cancer, substance

10. trace

j. study, examine

3 Answer each question by writing the vocabulary word on the line next to the example it best fits. Use each word once.

Vocabulary list

alchemist

analyze

carcinogen

distill

elixir

endeavor

exhume

forensics

toxic

trace

1. If Dan says he will try to make it to your party, what will he do?

2. The police had to dig up the body after they suspected murder as the cause of death. What did they do to the body?

3. Gasoline has been labeled a cancer-causing substance. What is it?

4. A man set up a tent in town to sell a substance that he claimed could cure everything from arthritis to upset stomachs. What did he try to get the people to buy?

5. Xena decided she wanted to learn how to debate. What kind of class did she take?

6. The gas that escaped from the factory made six of the workers seriously ill, and they were rushed to the hospital. What quality did the gas have?

7. In chemistry lab, Keri had to separate one chemical from another. How did she do this?

8. Simon, a young man who lived in the 1400s, experimented with chemicals to try to find a way to live forever. What was his occupation?

9. For her law class, Laurene was given a court case and asked to study how the jury made its decision. What did she have to do to the case?

10. Karl is going to follow his family's journey from Sweden to America in the late 1800s. What is he going to do with his family's history?

Collocations

I will endeavor to find out what happened to Fluffy; I am sure she didn't just run away. (Chapter 26)

For centuries people have searched for the elixir of life without success. (Chapter 26)

Arsenic is a toxic substance that can be found in some water supplies. (Chapter 26)

Interesting Etymolpg\es

Exhume (Chapter 26) comes from the Latin ex-, “out of,” plus humare, "bury." Humare comes from humus, "earth." The meaning of exhume clearly comes from its roots: "to dig up something buried in the earth (especially a dead body)."

Interactive Exercise

Notice how the vocabulary words are used in the background information and the Forensics Lab Report form below. Use as many of the vocabulary words as you can to complete the report.

Background Information: Mr. Harvey Watson's family has come to suspect murder in his sudden death. They have asked that his body be exhumed and analyzed for toxic substances. The day before Watson's death, he spent the morning working in his garden, and in the afternoon he spent several hours in his lab where he practiced alchemy. That night he ate a large dinner and drank heavily. Watson was fifty years old and had no known health problems. The family requests that every endeavor be made to distill the facts as to what could have caused Watson's untimely demise.

Forensics Lab Report

Examiner ... Date ...

1. Name of the person exhumed: ...

2. Reason for the exhumation: ...

3. Substances and amounts of found in analyzing the body: ...

4. Final analysis as to the cause of death: ...

Conversation Starters

An excellent way to review the vocabulary words and help to make them your own is to use them when you are speaking. Gather three to five friends or classmates, and use one or more of the con­versation starters below. Before you begin talking,have each person write down six of the vocabu­lary words he or she will use during the conversation. Share your lists with each other to check that you did not all pick the same $ix words. Try to cover all of the words you want to study, whether you are reviewing one, two, or more chapters.

1. How would you describe your personality? Does your personality affect your education?

2. What two movies have you really enjoyed? What movie have you disliked? What caused your reactions?

3. Which of the techniques in the Business reading have you seen applied in the places where you shop? Do you have a favorite place to shop? If so, what makes it so conducive for shopping?

4. How does chemistry play a role in your life? Would you drink an elixir of life?

Words to Watch

Which words would you like to practice with a bit more? Pick 3-5 words to study, and list them below. Write the word and its definition, and compose your own sentence using the word correctly. This extra practice could be the final touch to learning a word.