Thursday, April 30, 2009

Decathlon: Event #4 / The Thursday Quiz LXXXI


Deadline for Event #2: Saturday 5/2, Noon PST.
Deadline for Event #3: Thursday, 4/30, Noon PST.
Deadline for Event #4: Friday 5/1, Noon PST.

The Eighty-First running of The Thursday Quiz is all about

Chemical Compounds II

The Thursday Quiz is, as always, a closed-book Is It or Isn't It Quiz. Below, you'll see twelve common substances, each with a chemical formula. But: is it, or isn't it, the correct formula?

For Thursday Quiz scoring, the usual rules are in place.

For Decathlon scoring, each correct answer is worth two Decathlon points; however, note also the second section of the Quiz, below.

Answers must be in by Noon Pacific Daylight time, Friday, May 1.

Is it or ain't it the correct formula?



For Decathlon scoring only: One point apiece, up to a maximum of twenty-five points for the event, will be awarded for any of the following substances you can identify by their common names.



Submit your answers either in the comments or at M5KDecathlon@gmail.com.

36 comments:

Jennifer said...

1. No
2. Maybe. No?
3. No. Shouldn't that have at least one 6, like maybe the formula you gave for #2?
4. Sure
5. Yes
6. No clue. I mean, um, no.
7. No
8. Yes
9. Yes
10. Yes. At least, it ought to be some combination of C, H, and O, shouldn't it? Are the numbers really that high, though?
11. No
12. No

The Calico Cat said...

I feel good & bad about this one as I was a Middle School Science teacher in my past... So I can reason about some of these...)
1. No
2. No
3. No
4. Yes
5. Yes
6. Yes
7. No
8. Yes
9. Yes, if you are referring to "Table Salt" Sodium Bicarbonate is a "salt" as well...
10. Yes (Silly, you added two sugars to gether to get to sugar...Biology minor)
11. No
12. Yes

Christine M. said...

1. no
2. no
3. sure
4. yes
5. yes
6. sure
7. no
8. yes
9. yes
10. sure
11. no
12. no

dunno any of the bonus ones

Elizabeth said...

1. Yes.
2. Yes.
3. No.
4. No.
5. Yes.
6. Yes.
7. No.
8. No.
9. Yes.
10. Yes.
11. N2o.
12. Yes.

Potassium, carbon, and nitrogen? This is the Colonel's secret recipe.

Sodium hydrocarbonate or something like that. I'll say this is baking powder.

Chocolate.

Caffeine.

Aloe vera. No, it's aluminum oxide, isn't it? But what the hell is that? Sounds familiar.

Missy said...

Most hated subject in High School. I liked *gym* better than I liked chemistry.

1. yes
2. sure
3. no
4. yes
5. yes
6. okay
7. no
8. yes
9. yes
10. no
11. no
12. no

1. kryptonite?
2. baking soda
3. alcohol?
4. caffeine
5. aluminum oxide

Cartophiliac said...

What's it gonna be tomorrow? Morse Code? I know 4 for sure, the rest would just be random guesses, so I am going to play another game... I'm going to gamble that you have more "is" answers than "isn't", and see if I get more points this way than if I tried to guess the other isn'ts.

1. isn't
2. is
3. is
4. is
5. is
6. is
7. is
8. is
9. is
10. is
11. is
12. is

Cartophiliac said...

Bonus round:
1. bananas
2. pringles
3. H-Bomb
4. coca cola
5. teflon

DrSchnell said...

1. No
2. yes
3. no
4. no
5. yes
6. no
7 no
8. yes
9. yes
10. there's lots of different sugars. So I'll say no
11. no
12. no

KCN - fertilizer
Al2O3 - Aluminum Oxide

You know what I have to say about Chemistry quizzes?
C6H14O5

(I admit to Google-ing that last one)

Morgan said...

1. Isn't
2. Isn't
3. Isn't
4. Is
5. Is
6. Is
7. Isn't
8. Is
9. Is
10. Is
11. Isn't
12. Isn't

KCN = Potassium Cyanide
NaHCO3 = Sodium Acetate (gahh, can't remember the name of that ion)
Al203 = Aluminum Oxide

mrs.5000 said...

1 is
2 ain't
3 ain't
4 is
5 is
6 is
7 ain't
8 is
9 is
10 is
11 ain't
12 ain't

gunpowder
cream of tartar
carbohydrate
cocoa
aluminum oxide

Elaine said...

This is truly gruesome. I never took chemistry even in HS. I know salt and um, water. Wild guessing now to commence!

1. why not?
2. time for a No
3. doesn't sound noxious enough; no
4. Nah
5. Yes! (I got one!)
6. (taking a deep breath) okay
7. nah; where's the O?
8. hmm. sure, why not?
9. YES! (I got TWO!)
10. I don't eat sugar, no matter what you call it. No
11. This formula has no sulphur, so how could it be right? No
12. Hmm. seems too simple. But it's time for a Yes.

KCN-- Potassium Carbon Nitrogen--an explosive?

Al2O3 aluminum oxide--suntan lotion?
Those are my two best guesses.

NaHCO3 Sodium, Hydrogen, carbon and 3 oxygen molecules. Oh, sure--I make this all the time! baking soda or baking powder?

C9H8O4...carbohydrate of oxygen? Oxocarbohydrate? hydrocarbox? boxcar children?

C8H10N4O2 Hmmm, Rabbit tenderizer for Rabbit Etouffee? Trans-fat?

slinking off, tail between legs...

Nichim said...

I wish being married to a former chemistry major would have rubbed off more. Any correct answers are attributable to that woman who taught the molecules part of intro bio. She was a good teacher, unlike my high school chemistry teacher, who was good at teaching rock climbing but terrible at teaching chemistry.

1. y
2. n
3. n
4. y
5. y
6. y
7. n
8. y
9. y
10. y
11. n
12. n

extra credit:
1. gunpowder
2. baking soda
3. alcohol
4. caffeine
5. antiperspirant

Kritkrat said...

In hopes of getting at least a few points:
1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes
5. Yes
6. Yes
7. Yes
8. Yes
9. Yes
10. Yes
11. Yes
12. Yes

KCN - Cyanide
NaHCO - Baking Soda
C9H... - ?
C8H... - ?
Al2O3 - Aluminium something?

Unknown said...

1. no
2. no
3. no
4. no
5. yes
6. yes
7. no
8. yes
9. yes
10. yes
11. no
12. no

13. no idea
14. baking soda
15. no idea
16. caffeine?
17. aluminum foil?

Rebel said...

1 isn't
2 isn't, I'm thinking NaC2 or something like that
3 hmm... isn't
4 is
5 is
6 is
7 isn't
8 is
9 is
10 is
11 isn't
12 isn't


NaHCO3 - baking powder?
C9H8O4 - alcohol?
Al2O3 - aluminum oxide - something in deoderant?


I'm tapped out.

d said...

oh god. really?
1n - i don't think ammonia has an 's'.
2n
3n
4y
5y
6y
7n
8y
9y
10y
11n
12n

NaHCO3 = baking soda
C9H8O4 = caffeine
C8H10N4O2 = chocolate
Al2O3 = aluminum oxide - deodorant
A1CK3 = i don't remember much chemistry

d said...

oh. is KCN fertilizer?

MJ said...

Ok, let's try:
1. No
2. No
3. No
4. Yes
5. Yes
6. Yes
7. Yes
8. Yes
9. Yes
10. No
11. No
12. No
----
KCN = Prussic acid/Cyanide?
NaHCO3 = Caustic soda?
C9H8O4 = Butane?
C8H10N4O2 = Propane??
Al2O3 = Dialuminium trioxide?

Ben said...

Here's to hoping you meant these answers are due by FRIDAY, May 1.

1. No
2. Yes
3. No
4. Yes
5. Yes
6. No
7. No
8. Yes
9. Yes
10. Yes
11. No
12. Yes

KCN = Potassium Nitrate? Fertilizer?
NaHCO3 = Battery acid
C9H8O4 = Some sort of carbohydrate
C8H10N4O2 = Laughing Gas
AI2O3 = Iodine

24 years since High School Chemistry--and it shows!

(When are you going to do a quiz on computers or computer networking?)

Eversaved said...

Estoy TAN avergonzada! Can't we have some more Latin American history or something plz!?

Let's go with yes to all but 2,3,7, and 11? A few points? Eh?

Sandy said...

Oh, yeah, this is funny. Last time I paid any attention to this kind of thing was the sixth form. I might as well say they're all wrong, because I'll probably get more right. But no, let me actually try...

1. yes
2.no
3. No
4. no
5. yes
6. no
7. no
8. yes
9. yes
10.no
11. no
12. yes

Identifications:
Let me just laugh some more...

balaywho said...

Why do I have to re-sign up everytime I make a comment??? This is becoming frustrating... and chemistry? oh my, the guess factor (already extreme) just went up 10-fold....
1. isn't
2. isn't
3. is
4. is
5. is
6. is
7. isn't
8. is
9. is
10. isn't
11. is
12. is

extras..
KCN - fried chicken
NaHCO3 - Hawaiian Punch
C9H8O4 - blood
C8H10N4O2 - carbonohydroxynitroxide
Al2O3 - alchohol

gl. said...

after a surprising success at the last quiz, my heart sank when i saw this quiz. i even -liked- chemistry in high school! but i have forgotten it all.

but i made butter today. yes, butter! doesn't that count for anything?

1. this doesn't look right to me. i don't think ammonia has sulphur.
2. there's no soda in this. i say no.
3. i don't think benzene has sodium in it.
4. it has calcium and carbon in it. that's good enough for me.
5. oh, thank god! yes!
6. huh. i have no idea what's in chloroform except, presumably, chlorine. yes?
7. it's got nitrogen, but no oxide. no.
8. yes.
9. another one i can recognize! yes!
10. gak! is sugar really that complicated? strangely, the sugar formula feels most related in my memory to photosynthesis. i don't remember it being that complicated. but it's got carbon and water. yes.
11. no sulphur. no. (and... hey! it's got nitrogen and oxygen: is -that- nitrous oxide?)
12. well. it has C. somehow i suspect it's not the right C, but it looks complicated enough to be a vitamin. i say yes.

kcn=potassium.... carbon... nitrogen... fertilizer?
nahco3=sodium hydrogen carbon oxygen: soda? like the kind injected into soft drinks?
c9h8o4=carbon, hydrogen & oxygen in weird amounts. magic.
c8h10n4o2=even more carbon, hydrogen & oxygen, with a dose of nitrogen. delicious.
al203=aluminum oxide? not that i even know what aluminum oxide is even used for.

Snowgirl said...

1. no
2. no
3. no
4. yes
5. yes
6. yes
7. no
8. yes
9. yes
10. yes
11. no
12. no

bonus:
The only one I think I know is the last one...
aluminum oxide

Elaine said...

Where are the answers???

(Suspicious look.) Are you in bed with Nichim again?

Keep in mind that this is the only chemistry course I've ever taken, so if you don't want my errors to imprint, I need help NOW.

Michael5000 said...

Oh right, answers:

1. Ammonia AIN'T. That formula is Sulferic Acid.
2. Baking Soda AIN'T. That's Benzene.
3. Benzene AIN'T. That's Baking Soda.
4. Calcium Carbonate AM.
5. Carbon Dioxide AM.
6. Chloroform AM.
7. Nitrous Oxide AIN'T. That's Ammonia.
8. Ozone AM.
9. Salt AM.
10. Sugar, yes IS. I'm sympathetic to whomever said that there are lots of different kinds of sugar, but I saw three different presumably independent sources that said that "table sugar" is C12H22O11.
11. Sulferic Acid AIN'T.
12. Vitamin C -- YEP, that's it.

Michael5000 said...

So, Quizwise, send the TQLXXXI Gold Star to The Calico Cat, and the Silver to gl.; they were the two with perfect marks, despite their professions to have forgotten all their chemistry. That's Calico's 10th Star (and 7th Gold!); it's gl.'s First ever piece of Thursday bling, making her the 56th Star-winner.

With 11/12, the Blue Star goes to Morgan and Greens go to Rebel, d, Ms. Saved, and Snowgirl. It's Morgan's 4th, Reb's 11th, d's 16th, and the 2nd for both Eversaved and Snowgirl.

Michael5000 said...

Decathlon-wise, there's also the supplementals:

KCN is potassium cyanide, or as they say in the murder mysteries, "cyanide." It is not a fertilizer; its only significant use is in devastating the environment as part of the mining process for a fairly useless, soft metal called "gold," and in killin' folks.

NaHCO3 is Sodium Bicarbonate, which in the process of making this quiz I learned is baking soda. I also learned that the main ingrediant in baking powder is baking soda, which really messes with my head.

C9H8O4 is... I forget. Hang on. ...oh, right! Aspirin!

C8H10N4O2 is my friend and yours, Caffeine.

I through Al2O3 in there as an outrageous one, having seen that it is the formula for ~ruby~. But when people kept saying "aluminum oxide," I checked and learned that this is true. Seems that rubies, and also sapphires, are just chrystaline forms of aluminum oxide. So, cool.

Michael5000 said...

And, a salute to those who scored 25 Decathlon Points in Event#4: The Calico Cat and gl.!

Morgan, Rebel, and d all scored 24 Decathlon Points apiece!

w00t!

gl. said...

holy cow! i've been intimidated by the quizzes forever! mebbe i should do this more often (especially since i was mostly guessing: i obviously do better with is/isn't than identification)!

how could i miss -caffeine-? i'm memorizing that formula right now. and i love knowing "rubies, and also sapphires, are just chrystaline forms of aluminum oxide."

Elaine said...

At least you can see that nobody is cheating!
Congratulations to the perfect scorers--very impressive.

Rebel said...

wooooo hoooooo! That's my first star of any color for a while now!

My 'chemistry for poets' class at university is really paying off. ;)

gl. said...

rebel, you took a chemistry for poets class? how cool is that! i totally want to take that. :)

Rebel said...

LOL... gl, it wasn't actually for poets. It was Chemistry 100 "for non-science majors" which meant they focused less on the theories and equations and more on things like "What exactly does 'pH balanced for a woman' mean?" and field trips to the water treatment plant. I came out of it actually understanding a bit of practical chemistry. For example, sweat from both men and women has the same pH level... and that level is pretty darn close to neutral. So much for that ad campaign.

Eversaved said...

OMG that was totally a fluke. Yay for guessing.

Voron X said...

1. isnt - Sulferic acid
2. isn't - Benzene
3. isn't - Baking Soda
4. IS
5. IS
6. IS?
7. isn't - Ammonia
8. Is
9. Is
10 Is
11 isn't - Nitrous Oxide
12. It might just be.

13. (Potassium) Cyanide
14. Sodium bicarbonate, baking soda
15. This can be probably be combined in many ways. I'm guessing it's a double carboxilic acid with a phenyl ring. C6CH(COOH)2. Then again, maybe it's just Acetic Acid.
16. Another organic molecule with many options. Looks like an explosive. I don't have the time to figure it out, but there's definitely some amine groups, and probably another phenyl ring, judging by the number of necessary double bonds. Nitroglycerine.
17. Carbuncle/Ruby/Sapphire