Hi folks
In order to test your knowledge in chemistry we created a crossword about elements and chemistry in general. Have fun solving it!
https://learningapps.org/watch?v=ph1eyx9f321
or you can also access via this QR code:
- by Rico, Claudio and Kadir
With the help of edx.org we learned more about Sustainable Soil Management. We found the course (Module 7) which talked about soil pollution interesting. In this module, we learned about a distinction between point pollution and diffuse pollution. We also learned about the main sources of soil pollution, how different pollutants behave in the soil and why it is important to know about natural background levels of heavy metals in soils.
There are many different sources of soil pollution. Some main sources are industrial sources, urban sources as waste and traffic, and agricultural sources. These sources all release pollutants and these pollutants are then mostly transported in three different ways.
The first one is via air. Transportation via air is a very widespread, long range transport and it can be carried over thousands of kilometres to other places. The pollutant which are in the air are then deposited by rain fall, snow, or by dry position as particulates into the soils.
The second next important transport way is water. If waste water is not sufficiently cleaned, it ends up into the rivers and is there transported over thousands or hundreds of kilometres to many different cities and many even countries.
Could you imagine what would happen when dirty water would be used to water agricultural soils or what would happen if dirty rivers would overflow?
The third transportation way is a more direct pathway and that is land deposition. This means Pollutants can be directly deposited on land.
But the big question is how organic pollutants get into the soil and into our plants and into the water in the soil?
The answer this question, you need to imagine these pollutants are deposited on the soil and it rains afterwards. If this takes place on a smooth slope or a bigger slope, these pollutants can be transported with the rain water and end up into lakes and rivers downstream. What can also happen is that the pollutants can be transported in the soil water and can enter “clean” ground water sources.
Another thing that can happen is that the pollutants remain in the soil. This depends on the properties of the pollutants. Pollutants can be strongly adsorbed by the soil and they remain there for many years, depending on their decay. Organic pollutants undergo different durations of decay and these decays can vary between several hours and decades of years.
We hope you learned something new and interessing just as we did :)
Kind regards, Cindy & Alexa
Links: learning.edx.org
Botanical name : Phyllanthus emblica
Botanical description :The tree is small to medium in size in height. It is deciduous. The leaves are simple, light green, resembling pinnate leaves. The flowers are greenish-yellow.
The fruit is nearly spherical, light greenish-yellow, quite smooth and hard on appearance, with six vertical stripes or furrows. The taste of Indian gooseberry is sour, bitter and astringent, and it is quite fibrous.
Chemical constituents : It consists of phytochemical constituents like tannins, alkaloids, polyphenols, vitamins and minerals. It also contains gallic acid, ellagic acid, emblicanin A & B, phyllemblin, quercetin and ascorbic acid.
Uses in traditional medicine :Indian gooseberry is most commonly used for abnormal levels of cholesterol or blood fats (dyslipidemia), and persistent heartburn.
Indian gooseberry also works by reducing total cholesterol levels, including the fatty acids called triglycerides, without affecting levels of the "good cholesterol" called high-density lipoprotein (HDL).
The soluble fiber in gooseberries dissolves quickly in the body, which helps to slow the rate your body absorbs sugar. This can help reduce blood sugar spikes. Gooseberries also have a positive effect on blood glucose and lipid counts in people with type 2 diabetes.
It is also rich in Vitamin A, which helps in improving eye health
It also has the following benefits
1)Improves Immunity
2)Respiratory Health
3)Improve Digestion
4)Skin Care
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Questions:
- How many glaciers do you have in your near?
Since 2011, the Pyrenean glaciers have lost 63 hectares of ice and some 19 million tons of water. It is more or less what a small reservoir fits. In 1850 there were 52 glaciers in the Pyrenees. In 2020 there are only 19. Their disappearance, which is expected in just 30 years, will not be an environmental disaster, as they store relatively little water.
- Which school subjects are talking about "glacier melt" in your school?
We in our school have subjects to choose from and in our case we have not chosen that syllabus, that is, biology and geology, but we have asked our classmates and they have told us that they have not studied it yet.
- Do you think that something could happen, if a glacier starts to melt interely? (Natur catastrophes like a Zunami, an earthquake...)
We believe that if the glaciers began to melt, the world would have many consequences, such as the increase in sea water levels, the disappearance of many species, and there would be much more salt water and less fresh water.
- Why do you think are glaciers melting? What's in your opinion the main reason?
We believe that glaciers are melting due to the rapidity of climate change, the reason is us because we are destroying the world by extinguishing animals.
Genti and Tiziano
iphala is a combination of three herbs -Haritaki, Bibhitaki and Amalaki. It is used in the traditional Indian system of medicine.
Triphala is most commonly known for its use as a gentle bowel tonic, being helpful in digestion, and supporting regular bowel movements. The combination of the three fruits has a synergistic effect to bolster many other systems as well.
Amalaki (Emblica Officinalis): It supports the natural functions of the liver and the immune system.
Bibhitaki (Terminalia belerica): This is particularly good for Phlegm, supporting the respiratory system as well as Phlegm accumulations in all systems.
Haritaki (Terminalia chebula): Is known for its “scraping” effect, which removes toxins and helps maintain healthy levels of weight
Triphala also contains powerful anti-inflammatory compounds that may help protect against certain cancers and other chronic diseases.
Triphala strengthens the eye muscles which in turn improves the eyesight. Its anti-inflammatory properties reduce the strain on the blood vessels and help to control high blood pressure.
Uses
Weight Loss
Dental Issues
Cataracts
Helps indigestion
Please note: How to insert an image or photo
Ashwagandha is a plant from the nightshade family native to the Indian subcontinent. It is also known as Withania somnifera ( scientific name ).
Most of the benefits from ashwagandha are from the root and the leaves. The leaves are most commonly used in teas. The root can be taken in many ways but it's most commonly dried, powdered and taken as a supplement these days. It is also known as Withania somnifera ( scientific name ).
The root smells like a horse (“ashwa”), which is why it is called Ashwagandha (on consuming it gives the power of a horse). The paste formed when roots are crushed with water is applied to reduce the inflammation at the joints. The leaves are bitter and are recommended in fever, painful swellings.
Ashwagandha is used as a household remedy by Indians, who consider it as the best tonic for old people and children and as an aphrodisiac by young people.
Ashwagandha leaves, though bitter in taste, are rich in iron and can be consumed as herbal tea. The tea helps in relieving conditions like anaemia and also serves as an energy tonic and relieves fever and painful swellings.
Some of the well-known benefits of Ashwagandha include :
Lowers stress hormones and calms anxiety
Improves Insomnia
Boosts immunity
Improves stamina
How can we grow an Ashwagandha shrub?
By planting the saplings of the shrub
Neem
Neem is one of the most popular medicinal plants with a variety of health benefits. Neem leaves come from the neem tree which is also known as Azadirachta indica and Indian lilac.
It is deciduous, shedding many of its leaves during the dry winter months.
Neem trees act as very efficient, natural air filters trapping dust particles, absorbing gaseous pollutants. The planting of Neem trees helps reduce greenhouse gases through photosynthesis absorbing large quantities of CO2 and producing oxygen.
In India, neem leaves are dried and placed in cupboards to prevent insects from eating the clothes, and also in tins where rice is stored. The flowers are also used in many Indian festivals like Ugadi. The tender shoots and flowers of the neem tree are eaten as a vegetable in India. A souplike dish called Veppampoo charu made of the flower of neem is prepared in Tamil Nadu.
Different parts of the Neem tree and its oil extracted out of seed is being used in different parts of the world for different purposes. Neem oil/extract is being used for making cosmetics like soaps and toothpaste etc.
Neem oil can also provide protection against fungal diseases. Spraying of Neem oil on plant prevent the outbreak of Powdry Mildew disease quite effectively and in some cases better than any commercial product. It is considered most effective as fungi preventive and as a cure after the disease is established on plants.
Due to the extraordinary properties of Neem, its bark, leaves, flowers, seed and fruit pulp were and are now used to treat a wide range of diseases and complaints ranging from leprosy, diabetes, ulcers to skin disorders and constipation etc.
Neem leaves are mainly used for dermatological purposes. It helps in :
Treating Acne
Treating Uneven Skin Tone
Preventing Skin Infection
Lightening Acne Scars
Acts as a Blood Purifier.
How can we grow a neem tree?
The simplest way to propagate neem trees is by seed, but you can also do root and shoot cuttings.
