Explain the Strategic Purpose of School Governors free essay sample

Other Statutory Roles, Teachers and Support Staff Roles School Governors – School Governors give direction and focus by performing a vital and strategic role. Their main role is to help raise standards of achievement. Governors: †¢Are accountable for the performance of the school †¢Help shape the school’s future direction †¢Monitor and review the performance of the school Make decisions about the school’s budget and staffing †¢Make sure the school provides for all its pupils, including those with special needs †¢Decide how the school can encourage pupil’s spiritual, moral and cultural development Governors are at the heart of how a school operates. Their job affects the interests of pupils, staff morale and how the school is seen by parents and others in the community. Governors are responsible for how the school is performing. They have to be prepared to support and challenge the head teacher and staff by gathering views, asking questions and deciding what’s best for the pupils. We will write a custom essay sample on Explain the Strategic Purpose of School Governors or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Senior Management Team – this is usually the head teacher and the deputy or and including the head of departments. The Special Needs Co-Ordinator could also be a member. Their role is to set and manage the strategic direction of the school. They also lead changes and generally make sure that the school is doing its best to deliver the strategic direction for the pupils that attend the school.Generally, the senior management of a school will be aware of the current state of the school, be imaginative in launching new and relevant initiatives in a way that can motivate the whole school behind them, be diligent in keeping track of the progress these initiatives are making and the targets achieved and be sincere in trying to lead by example. Teachers and Support Staff – Teachers are responsible for educating pupils that are in their care. In addition to that they set the tone of their classrooms, build warm environments, mentor and nurture pupils and are seen as role models.They are also responsible for listening to their pupils and looking out for signs of trouble. When a child’s behavior changes or if physical signs of abuse are noticed, teachers are required to look into the problem. Teachers – They are responsible for delivering the national curriculum effectively to the pupils according to various educational needs. The teacher has to prepare and plan for lessons as well as assess record and report on the development and progress of all the children. Where required, the teacher as to discuss any learning problems identified with SENCO.They are responsible for all of the children in their class; the teaching assistants, students who are doing their placements at the school and volunteers. As well as normal classroom teaching some teachers conduct extra focus group sessions for a selection of the children to help them reach attainment levels and gain confidence in doing their numeracy and literacy. In my school the teacher splits the children up into groups. Those that can work independently do so without the teacher or an adult and those that are struggling with the work get help from the teacher.This group is called the teacher’s focus group. The teacher also monitors the pupils reading and guides them to help them reach the expected reading attainment levels for their age. The teachers also plan and organise parent’s evenings. They feedback to parents about their child’s performance and provide information to parents on how they can help improve or maintain their child’s performance. Teachers work together as a team with their fellow colleagues and attend all training days and staff meetings as well as liaise with outside agencies.Support Staff and other statutory roles There are many different types of support roles in schools. These include: †¢Teaching Assistants or Learning Support Assistants – They complement the role of the Class Teacher and support learning for all pupils †¢Higher Level Teaching Assistants – They work closely with the teacher, complementing their role and helping free up teacher time to enable each child to work to his/her full potential †¢Cover Supervisors – They cover short-term absences of teachers such as unexpected sick leave or professional development leave.They set work for pupils in accordance with school policy, manage and supervise behaviour, collect work at the end of the lessons and report back to the appropriate senior member of staff †¢Specialist Teaching Support – They suppor t the teaching of children who have more complex learning needs. †¢Facilities Management – Caretakers and Cleaning Staff – They deal with the upkeep and maintenance of the school premises and grounds. †¢School Midday Supervisors and Assistants – They are responsible for the welfare of pupils in school during the lunchtime break.They supervise pupil behaviour indoors and outdoors, help younger children with tasks such as cutting up food, look out for the health and safety of pupils at all times, distribute and tidy away lunchtime resources, assist with play activities, deal with misbehaviour and report them to a senior member of staff. †¢Catering Staff – They plan, prepare, cook and serve meals to pupils and staff in accordance with school policy and a fixed budget. †¢Clerical and Administrative Roles – They cover a wide range of responsibilities, including being the clerical ‘face’ of the school and point of contact for staff and parents.School Administrators, Receptionists, Personal Assistants or Front Office staff will provide a key role in the day-to-day running of the school, communication between staff, pupils and parents, handling of staff rotas, parent enquiries, pupil absence and admissions. †¢Schools Business Managers (Bursars) – They manage the school’s finances, policies, resources and planning. They may also undertake a range of other bespoke responsibilities to support the smooth running of the school as a centre of the local community.

The Privatization or Commodification of Water

The Privatization or Commodification of Water Introduction For a long time, ethics has been seen as the study of what comprises good and bad conduct which includes the values that influence the conduct. Generally, contemporary culture has given humans unprecedented liberty and prosperity which has necessitated the growth of the concept of ethics.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Privatization or Commodification of Water specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Business ethics on the other hand has existed in the form of reflection on the ethical dimensions of business exchanges and institutions whereby the concept has been understood in two distinctive ways, where one group views it from the background of philosophy while the other group views it from the background of business community (Brenkert and Beauchamp 3). These two approaches are not exclusive, but the philosophical approach appears to be the broader of the two. In all cases, it becomes important t o appreciate the fact that moral problems and the process of analyzing them invites different forms of useful analysis. Water forms an essential commodity that ensures continuity of life, though for a long time no systematic way has been elaborated in appreciating its value (Brown and Schmidt 3). For long, people have regarded water as a renewable commodity that has potential to develop without limit. With the larger society utilizing water in different ways such as irrigation, energy and burgeoning urban centers, the reality is now clearer that like just other renewable commodities, water is a finite resource. However, providing answers to modern water problems requires giving answers to questions of value: how should society capture, store or distribute water; at what cost; for whom; and for how long (Brown and Schmidt 4). All these questions are regarded as ethical because just like any other essential resource, determining a fair and just distribution of water has direct effects on human and nonhuman lives and also the systems that sustain them. Commodification of water Borgmann argues that the driving force of the contemporary society is the aspect of commodification which is described as, that vital structure of modern society of the market which conveys a sense of moral censure (Borgmann 143). The author, in reference to Viviana Zelizer, states that, â€Å"economic prophets have frequently warned us against global commodification and the loss of the moral-emotional fiber it brings† (Borgmann 144). Using the Marx’s concept of commodification, Borgmann first sees the concept to possess the verb to commodify, which to him is â€Å"to draw something from outside the market into the market so that it becomes available for sale and purchase† (Borgmann 144).Advertising Looking for research paper on public administration? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Marx looked at the va rious ways in which capitalism perceived the production of things such as wheat, shoes and clothing out of the hands and circumstances of the farmers, artisan and householders, stripped them of their context of skills and persons, of exchanges and uses and made them into commodities (goods) whose importance was reduced to their price. Moreover, Marx became critical of how labor was being converted into something that could be purchased and sold under conditions that only favored the capitalists and made the workers beggars (Borgmann 144); thus, commodification became purely and totally exploitation. The contemporary discussions continue to see the concept of commodification as contested. In such discussions, the broader agreement has remained that, certain goods such as justice should never be for sale (Borgmann 145). But other goods have continued to draw divided opinions. For a long time, goods at issue in this discussion have generally constituted those in Michael Walzer’s list of items which are subject to ‘blocked exchanges’: 1) Human beings; 2) political power and influence; 3) criminal justice; 4) freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly; 5) marriage and procreation; 6) the right to leave the political community; 7) exemptions from military service, from jury duty, and from any other form of communally imposed work; 8) political offices; 9) basic welfare services like police protection or primary and secondary schooling; 10) desperate exchanges; 11) prizes and honors of many sorts; 12) divine grace; 13) love and friendship; and 14) a long series of criminal sales (Borgmann p.145). The above list can be complete if addition of certain public goods is made. These public goods are; clean air and clean water, safety from crime, basic health care and public lands. The main argument in disfavor of commodification of public goods is that commodification may leads to social injustice, for instance, if education is totally commodified, th e children of the poor will get no education or for them, inferior education will be enough (Borgmann p.145). Commodification of water: Public vs. Private debate There exist two debates that continue to dominate the lives of many people concerning the issue of water. For instance, there are arguments whether water services should remain public or go private. One of the arguments â€Å"is concerned with practical issues of efficiency and economics, and the other is about principle† (Snitow, Kaufman and Fox p.10). Privatizing water in a country like USA has been a hard venture to undertake. Those opposed to such move include personalities such as Barlow of the Council of Canadians and Tony Clarke of Canada’s Polaris Institute (Snitow, Kaufman and Fox 10). The two have opposed the move to privatize water in principle and they are convinced that private companies should only get involved in narrow areas of infrastructure development but not allowed to have ownership, contr ol or delivery of the basic service.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Privatization or Commodification of Water specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More To them, the process or actions of commodifying water is generally wrong in terms of ethics, environmental and social (Snitow, Kaufman and Fox p.10). They are on the view that the process will, â€Å"insure that decisions regarding the allocation of water would center on commercial, not environmental or social justice considerations; privatization means that management of water resources is based on principles of scarcity and profit maximization rather than long-term sustainability† (Snitow, Kaufman and Fox 10). Contrary to this position, there is a divergent view which has been adopted by Peter Cook of the National Association of Water Companies who is convinced that if market principles are applicable to other products in the market, then water as a com modity cannot be exceptional. Cook sees nothing wrong or unethical in making profits from water since the money which has been pumped into the business by the investors is used to benefit customers and provide them with services. Cook sums up his position by quoting the bible by stating that, the bible and especially the Ten Commandments have no provision that prohibits people from making profits, and utilities need to be operated as enterprises (Snitow, Kaufman and Fox pp.10-11). To this extent, â€Å"the practical debate over who can provide water better focuses on the issues of transparency, efficiency, rates, and sustainability† (Snitow, Kaufman and Fox pp.11).. Indeed, most of these values are possible in public controlled enterprises but far more difficult in private owned enterprises or corporations. Ethical dilemma The essence of water being a commodity that sustains life has drawn conflicting debates and reactions on whether it is ethical to commodify and therefore s ubject it to market competition principles. This particular confusion has been precipitated by the actions of United Nations to declare that water is a human right that should be accessible to everyone. The question that arises is; are their moral consequences that arise as a result of commodifying water and hence its availability and accessibility largely become determined by market mechanisms? Ethical lapse In most cases, ethical lapse can be categorized into three groups: deception, stealing and harming (Howard and Korver 13). There exists many variants to these but the mentioned three have come out as the most wrongdoings which people commit.Advertising Looking for research paper on public administration? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Lying has been described in many ways that include: doctor, cover up, overstate, understate, misinform, misguide or stretch the truth (Howard and Korver p.14). additionally, the act of lying has psychological costs, for example, when individuals lie there is always a clash between their values and who they are; lying also creates barriers in relationships and soils self-image of an individual (Howard and Korver p.15). Moral reasoning The contemporary society is faced with a situation where people are facing dilemma on various ethical decisions and as a result there have been numerous methods of moral reasoning. Moral reasoning has taken center stage in various social issues as people continue to debate on what is right and what is wrong or what ought to be or not be done. In most cases many people are convinced that it is not necessary the principles which determine what is right or wrong, but the consequences produced by the actions in question (Rae p.81). When a particular course of action or decision produces the best set of consequences, then to majority such actions need to be allowed and accepted. In other words the action(s) that produces the greatest balance of benefits over harms is the one that is considered as the most moral. Generally actions considered right or wrong (morality) should depend on the situation and also on what the cultural consensus of right and wrong is at that time. In the case of commodifying water, if the society and hence culture reaches consensus that water commodification is wrong then it would be morally wrong to commodify or privatize water. Ethical approaches Utilitarianism ethics Utilitarianism ethics postulate that morality of an act is determined by the end result. From this observation, utilitarianism conviction is that the moral choice is the one that produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people or at the same time the moral choice is the course of action that produces more good consequences than harmf ul ones. Utilitarianism sometimes is regarded as consequentialism ethics due to its emphasis on the consequences of an action. Jeremy Bentham, one of the philosophers credited to utilitarianism believed in hedonistic utilitarianism which postulates that â€Å"the most moral acts are those that maximize pleasure and minimize pain† (Rae p.85). On the other hand John Mill, another believer of utilitarianism ethics established his approach which differed from that of Bentham which was general concept of maximizing the general happiness, or what he termed as the greatest good for the greatest number. Hence ethics can be seen as the art of directing the actions of people so as to bring about the greatest possible happiness to all those who are concerned with these actions. As a result, Bentham observed that the interests of the community are simply the sum of the interests of its members. In sum the utilitarianism principle hold that, â€Å"an action is right from an ethical point of view if and only if the sum total of utilities produced by that act is greater than the sum total of utilities produced by any other act the agent could have performed in its place† (Fernando p.34). Water commodification can be analyzed within the precepts of utilitarianism ethics where business principles can take a backseat to consequences, if on balance, commodification of water provides more beneficial consequences for more people then utilitarianism ethics consider it to be the most moral choice. Evaluation of actions needs to be made on the basis of benefits or harms the action(s) will bring upon human beings. The morality of the theory is that, individual or an organization performing particular actions need to impartially take into account interests of everyone on equal basis. Kantian ethics Kant was convinced that morality should be derived from recognition that people share a common human condition and what makes humans valuable and special is their ability to re ason and that moral rules based on reason should govern human behavior. To Kant moral rules need to be based on tradition, intuition, desire, conscience, emotion and sympathy and that free will among humans comes from their ability to reason and prompts them to develop rules for moral behavior which in turn can be applicable universally disregarding utilitarianism consequences. The moral rules established needs to recognize the fact that all people have a certain human dignity and therefore they should be accorded respect as autonomous beings (Fernando p.35). According to Kant moral ethics, an action is only moral for an individual in a certain situation if, and only if, the individual’s reason for carrying out the action is one that he or she would be willing to have every person act on in any similar situation. At the same time moral worth would not be attached to an action motivated singularly to promote individual interests or for pleasure and that if an action is wrong f or other people, it is wrong for any one person. For Kant an action is regarded morally worth if it reflects a good will and it is only when individuals act from duty that their actions are regarded to be moral worth. As a result Kant believes that ethics should be grounded in reason alone and not on human nature (Fernando p.35). Ethicality in commodifying water On November 27 2002, United Nation declared water to be a human right for the first time and went a head to require states to adopt key legal mechanisms that would ensure this fundamental right is achieved (Sierra Club par. 1). From UN observation, the conviction was that privatizing water could not be achieved since it is impossible to marry the profit motive of a private enterprise and the necessity and importance of a commodity like water which many people require in order to survive (utilitarianism). The conclusion is that the issue of rendering water as a private thing should be done away from the market place since wat er belongs to earth, to all species, to the future generation and in this regard no one has the right to commodify water for personal (deontological) or corporate gain (Sierra Club par. 1). On advancing this claim, the Cochabamba Declaration of December 8, 2000, which brought together interested parties aimed at ensuring the privatization of water, was not achieved (welfare concern). To cement and solidify their claim the group came up with key points to be observed which turned out to constitute the Cochabamba Declaration (Sierra Club par. 4). To the group access to water is the fundamental right of every human and all humans are required to respect nature as they use water given by the earth. The three main points formulated were: Water was described to belong to the earth and also to all species of the world and that water need to be regarded as sacred to life, and from this view the water of the world needs to be conserved, reclaimed and put under adequate protection in order t o ensure the future generation is safe; Water was described as fundamental human right and also as a public trust that needs to be guarded by all structures of the government and as a result it should not be commodified, privatized or commercially traded; lastly Water can be best protected by local communities and people and who must be given equal respect as partners of various governments in the process of protecting and regulating water (Sierra Club par. 5). Conclusion Water ethic has developed in many societies as a result of continued efforts by enterprises and corporation to commodifying water. As a result, in most societies specifically the developed ones, water ethics commodification and privatization with marginalized access to water continue to raise key questions such as: Can water be sustainably managed while the global financial institutions and transnational corporations possess the means to do so? How can the empowerment of public and rights of people over water be r estored? How can global skills, capital and user practices are reconciled with the need and desire for control over water of local people? Such questions give an impression of how fundamental ethics has become essential in addressing the issue of water commodification. Ethical reasoning in regards to water will ensure proper, efficient and sustainable use of water despite its scarcity in nature. Borgmann, Albert. Real American ethics: taking responsibility for our country. IL, University of Chicago Press. 2006. 16 August 2010. https://books.google.com/books?id=fJJccik-SRECpg=PA145dq=Ethics+of+commodification+of+waterhl=enei=zQZpTPagL5H34gb75pyZBAsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=3ved=0CDIQ6AEwAg#v=onepageq=Ethics%20of%20commodification%20of%20waterf=false. Brenkert, George G. and Beauchamp, Tom L. The Oxford Handbook of Business Ethics. NY, Oxford University Press US. 2009. 16 August 2010. https://books.google.com/books?id=Qn1BDj7SRUsCpg=PA78dq=Ethics+of+commodification+of+waterhl= enei=GvJoTPmcB4aS4gb6npCZBAsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=9ved=0CFkQ6AEwCA#v=onepageqf=false. Brown, Peter G. and Schmidt, Jeremy J. Water Ethics: Foundational Readings for Students and Professionals. NW, Island Press. 2010. 16 August 2010. https://books.google.com/books?id=fwFXY-vAwNsCpg=PA161dq=Ethics+of+commodification+of+waterhl=enei=GvJoTPmcB4aS4gb6npCZBAsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=4ved=0CDgQ6AEwAw#v=onepageqf=false. Fernando, A. C. Business Ethics: An Indian Perspective. New Delhi, Pearson Education India, 2009. 16 August 2010. https://books.google.com/books?id=A-k_uWkGCEUCpg=PA35dq=business+ethics+theorieshl=enei=Od1rTLK0EcHT4wa4ncDkAgsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=3ved=0CDYQ6AEwAg#v=onepageq=business%20ethics%20theoriesf=false. Howard, Ronald A. and Korver, Clinton D. Ethics for the real world: creating a personal code to guide decisions in work and life. MA, Harvard Business Press. 2008. 16 August 2010. https://books.google.com/books?id=OqnrtQFfXb0Cprintsec=fron tcoverdq=Ethics+for+the+Real+World.hl=enei=RBtqTKP8LZCl4Qan5OCaAQsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=1ved=0CCUQ6AEwAA#v=onepageqf=false. Rae, Scott B. Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics. MI, Zondervan, 2000. 16 August 2010. https://books.google.com/books?id=n55iiynlwmMCpg=PA77dq=moral+reasoninghl=enei=1sVrTN_nHMKk4Qb9kJz3Agsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=8ved=0CFMQ6AEwBw#v=onepageq=moral%20reasoningf=false. Sierra Club. Corporate Water Privatization: Water is a Human Right not a Commodity. 2008. 16 August 2010. sierraclub.org/committees/cac/water/human_right/. Snitow, Allan, Kaufman, Deborah and Fox, Michael. Thirst: fighting the corporate theft of our water. CA, John Wiley and Sons. 2007. 16 August 2010.https://books.google.com/books?id=wyW30HVewtACpg=PA10dq=Ethics+of+commodification+of+waterhl=enei=tiNpTMXOIuTT4waqqZiZBAsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=2ved=0CC0Q6AEwATgK#v=onepageq=Ethics%20of%20commodification%20of%20waterf=false.

Policies to Reduce Unemployment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Policies to Reduce Unemployment - Essay Example It's with this in mind that the government of the UK has to change tactic in order to enable companies to remain in business and create job opportunities despite the economic recession The number of people in full time employment fell drastically between 2007 and 2009 (Arnold 2001). The rate of loosing jobs is alarming. About the same number of jobs lost the previous year were lost in just four months last year from October 2008 to the beginning of the year 2009. it better to make the assumption that those who lost their jobs were those who were being paid well from their professional expertise and could still be living on their bonuses. The number of people unemployed but actively seeking employment has increased by about one million, other people appears to have opted for part time jobs and as a result the number of part-time employees has increased by almost 1.3 million. Some people have already given up (Gilbody 1998). By the beginning of the new millennium, (the year 2000) the world was very different from the way it was in the 1900s. The United Kingdom underwent a massive change. The labour party of United Kingdom had won its second term to serve again in office. In the beginning of the year 2001, the government wanted to have enough money to be spent on public services especially the national health services which was being under funded by then (Arnold 2001). The economic growth rates have been quite stable operating at about 2-3% since the beginning of the millennium. Inflation has not been a problem to the economy of the British government. The bank of England has been able to regulate the interest rates therefore managing to stabilize the economy of Britain. The pound has maintained a stable increase in value reaching a minimum rate of 1.37 dollars against the US dollar in 2001 and rising again to about a rate of one pound going for two dollars (Arnold 2001). With the emergence of the current economic recession, the number of people loosing jobs has caused a serious setback or rather it's an impediment to the banks lending, prevention of debt deflation strategies to be implemented and to renew output growth (Gilbody 1998). There has also been a wave of rising defaults all concentrating in the riskier parts of the banks loaning documents; buy to let loans, subprine mortgages and lending money to private equity enterprise as well as the management of financial asset acquisition among other activities, Europa Publications Staff (2003). Intervention to Support Economy It's very correct to stick to the conventional parts of lending schemes as advised by senior bankers since they have been performing well till now. The problems have only emerged on the financing side of bank's balance sheets and other particular aspects of the lending side. In other parts, the process of risk management on the ability to lend has performed convincingly fine. The amount of loss encountered rose in regions where systems for management of risks and credit control schemes are purposively overridden by senior managers anxious to take over the market share or produce mortgages for the packaging as a section of the model known as

Online Travel Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Online Travel - Case Study Example The possibility of spreading the reach of the business overseas is made possible by the practically zero marginal cost incurred by online travel companies in extending their marketing to foreign countries. Europeans have actually been observed to travel more than their Americans counterpart, averaging four weeks of vacation annually while Asian travelers such as Chinese and Indians have posted a notable increase int heir frequency of travel due to the improved number of middle class consumers (Tracy). Subscribers of online travel have benefitted from the dominance of market economy and market system as we observe prices become competitive due to the presence of of more online travel service suppliers such as Kayak and Sidestep (Bhargava) . This leaves an experience of intense competition for the big three companies such as Orbitz, Expedia and Travelocity, practically showing the validity of Adam Smith's theory of self-interest- that in the pursuit of business of many, self-interest can bring important sociopoliticsal evolution and economic growth (Robert B. Ekelund Jr.) Last minute dot com resides in an industry where consumers are task-oriented and highly price conscious, with many experienced travel deal seekers searching for the best deals on air fare, hotels and car rentals with the competition being concentrated mainly in two areas-the corporate travel and the package deals(Bhargava). Currently, the way of handling the travel business have been very innovative as we see site like FlyerTal being flocked by most online travelers being consumer discussion driven, having posts from travelers helping each other, trading discount certificates and talking about customer service experiences. TravelAdvisory is also one of the most trafficked sites being due to its high rankings in a location or hotel-based keyword search (Bhargava). Obviously, the industry is taking on a different phase of competition especially as the technology develops more. The use of dot travel domain has also been introduced recently but has been used slightly with hyatt.travel and solmelia.travel as the only notable sites. Lastminute.com, on the other hand, has refused to activate a dot travel domain with the belief that the dot com domain is central to its brand (Nelson). The industry is expected to tread upward in terms of usage and sales, with the many facets of technology being adapted specifically in the marketing aspect. As one of the articles in the Harvard Business Review in Management says, "if tops management wants to find ways of improving profits and growth, it must actively participate in the development of marketing plans by challenging their underlying assumptions and by contributing alternative ideas on strategy and programs (Ames). Effect of Current Political and Economic Issues Starting in 1998, last minute.com was well managed by owners Brent Hoberman and Martha Lane-Fox, expanding its services to holidays, hotels, car hire, restaurants, theater and spa. In 2005, it was purchased by Travelocity, becoming part of Saber family of travel companies (Last Minute Network Limited). The buy-out of Saber Holdings of Lastminute.com has made its share soar from "45.4 per cent, to 153.25p, putting a value of pounds 522m on the company" (Reece). The decision by Hoberman and Lane-Fox to renounce leadership of the company was made after its financial struggle, experiencing an over-all loss of pounds

Select a big data problem, evaluate what was discovered and explain Essay

Select a big data problem, evaluate what was discovered and explain how it supports the business including any challenges, oppor - Essay Example With these units being used, people faced trouble to get part of the data or use it to develop a trend of events or occurrences in an environment which can be used to ensure it becomes useful to its owner (Sathi, 2012, p4). Some of the organisations that use big data include meteorological organisations, biological and environmental research complex physics simulations among others. These find it difficult to establish amicable to capture, store transmit and analyse some of their data that are collected from different events and analyse them to have necessary deductions. Units for measuring the amounts of data have continued to be invented with time and they are moving from simple to extremely complex and large figures that require large capacity to store. To understand the problem of big data, it is good to focus on the analysis of the issues of data analysis as could be realised in different organisations within the world (O'Reilly Radar Team et al, 2012, p8). Big data problem caus es and exposition In the past, people used to measure data in megabytes and in those times, 100 megabytes of data were considered a very large. With time, there data increased and gigabytes were used to measure data, this paved way for terabyte, petabytes and the latest invention of the units of measurement of data is the Exabyte. ... The big data has not gone without considerable problems in the way it ought to be handled and processed to explain phenomenon and trends in business or in any other organisation. Some problems experienced in handling big data include collecting, processing, analysing and storing of the meaningful data for future use (Ohlhorst, 2013, p11). However, in order to expound the problems of big data, analysis of the same offers an insight into the difficulty of handling that kind of data and the risks thereof. Why analysis of big data is a problem Analysis of big data is problematic because there are limited methods, which can be used to store large amount of data in the same place and process desirable results using it. For this reason, analysis is one of the problems of big data in that it is difficult to combine the different bits that are making the big data. As a result, analysis of such data of great magnitude becomes difficult because there are few devices that accommodate data to a c ertain capacity and is type. It is tasking to engage in analysing big data because in their unstructured form, they indicate that people have taken part in an event but the information is decentralized into a common place for effective analysis (Best, 2008, p63). How big data is analysed To enable ease of analysis, scientist start by classifying the data into groups and categories, this can be easily analysed to give the required information. The method of analysing big data by structuring is a scientific invention that is designed to ensure that organisations do not have to delete their data from their database. Companies categorise their information into clusters that are representing data for

Understanding Of Law And Recognising Its Limitations Social Work Essay

Understanding Of Law And Recognising Its Limitations Social Work Essay [For social workers] to practise effectively it is necessary to have a critical understanding of law and to recognise its limitations alongside it strengths (Wilson et al, 2008: 191). Using the case study of Mr A, this essay will outline the legislation regarding statutory duties and guidance which needs to be understood by service providers. It will also critically analyse and explore the issues relating to funding Mr As accommodation and safeguarding requirements. There are numerous acts and guidance that need to be considered which make this a complicated exercise. The first is the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970 s1 which requires local authorities to be aware of the number of disabled people in their boundary in order to plan and develop provision of services. Furthermore, under s46 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act, 1990 they have a responsibility to publish a plan of community care services provided. As Mr B is the carer, the Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act, 2004 requires Countyshire to inform him of his entitlement to a Carers assessment (Wilson et al, 2008). Whilst Mr A lived with his brother, Countyshire would have a statutory duty under the NHSCCA (1990) and the Carers (Recognition and Services) Act, 1995 to assess Mr Bs needs as main carer for his brother as Mr B is ordinary resident there. The Carers and Disabled Children Act (2000) gives Mr B the right to request an assessment even if Mr A is not involved with care services. Local Authority Circular (2004)24 s2 outlines good practice for Mr Bs involvement in his brothers assessment process. For Mr A, under s47 of the NHSCCA (1990), Countyshire would have a statutory duty to assess his needs while he was living with his brother and a further duty under the policy guidance, Fair Access to Care Services 2002, issued under s7(1) of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970, to decide within a reasonable time, what community care services should be provided to meet his needs (DOH, 2010). The legislation is complex for providing services, including accommodation, for Mr A. There are overlapping and conflicting obligations and a detailed history for Mr A is lacking. This highlights the need for a thorough assessment by a Social Worker and the appropriate sharing of information between the local authorities concerned. Because funding care is expensive authorities may hide behind the complexity of the law to evade their responsibility. As Mr A was detained under s37 of the Mental Health Act, 1983 (as amended by Mental Health Act, 2007) he would, upon leaving hospital under s117 MHA (1983), receive free after-care services for his mental health for as long as is required. As Mr A was detained in Ashire, that Local Authority, Local Health Board and Primary Care Trust are responsible for financing any after-care services (DOH, 2008 and Barber et al, 2009). After-care services under s117 of MHA (1989) would not be withdrawn from Mr A if he declined them, or Ashire discharged him from care. Even if Mr A was well settled in the community, he may continue to need after-care services in case of relapse or mental health deterioration. They would only be withdrawn if Ashire local authority, Mr A and the PCT agreed that he no longer needed them (DOH, 2008). If such an agreement was made by Ashire then Mr A would be unable to get after-care free under s117 of MHA (1989) but would need to be assessed under s47 of the NHSCCA (1990) for Countyshire to provide care under the National Assistance Act (1948). The MHA (1983) does not define what aftercare is, however it is accompanied by a Code of Practice, 2008, which, although not statutory is regarded as guidance, as confirmed in the case of R (Munjaz) v Mersey Care NHS Trust (2005) (Brammer, 2010 and Barber et al, 2009). The Code of Practice under 27.13 provides a list of areas to be considered in an assessment which the Social Worker, with Mr A, should include in the written after care plan (DOH, 2008). There have been numerous disputes between local authorities over the definition of ordinary resident, within s24 of the NAA (1948), and resident in s117(3) of the MHA (1993), and, therefore, which authority is responsible for funding a persons residential care. The recent publication Ordinary Residence by the Department of Health and the case of R (on the application of M) v. London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and Another; R (on the application of Hertfordshire County Council) v. London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (2010) have provided clarity and guidance for practice confirming that for the purposes of s117 MHA (1983) after ­care, s24(5) of the NAA (1948) does not apply (RadclifeLeBrasseur, 2010). In the case of Mr A, if he is still under s117 MHA (1989) the duty to provide after-care services, including accommodation, would remain with Ashire as the local authority where he was detained even though he is living in Countyshire (DOH, 2010). Countyshire, under s24(3) of the NAA (1948), initially placed Mr A in the residential home to provide respite for his brother. The home is registered for residents with dementia and physical disabilities. Upon the decision to stay there permanently, Countyshire would have a common duty to re-assess Mr A to ensure the home is appropriate for his needs. If it is not part of Mr As care plan to provide appropriate accommodation for his mental health then Countyshire would need to fund his accommodation, under s21 of the NAA (1948). Mr A would also meet the criteria under the NAA (1948) s29(1) for his domiciliary care services to be provided by the local authority. NAA (1948) s29(4) with LAC (93)10 also outlines what care services should be considered and s2 of the CSDPA (1970) gives the local authority the power and duty to provide such services. If the accommodation is provided for Mr As health needs, the NHS are responsible as the local authority is not able to provide health services as defined in s21(8) NAA (1948). If Mr A funded his own accommodation he would be classed as a self-funder and require an ordinary residence with Countyshire, in line with the settled purpose test in Shah v London Borough of Barnet (1983). NAA (1948) s22(2) allows Countyshire to charge Mr A for the accommodation. When carrying out the financial assessment they must use the National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Regulations (1992) in conjunction with Charging For Residential Accommodation Guide, which is updated annually (DOH, 2010). At present there is no specific legislation in England for vulnerable adult protection. The law regulating the safeguarding of vulnerable adults is taken from a number of relatively recent policies, guidance and case law (Clements and Thompson, 2007). Safeguarding has only recently become recognised as an area of work in its own right. It is an increasingly important part of a Social Workers responsibilities, as policy and guidance has given social service authorities the lead role in dealing with safeguarding issues (Mandelstam, 2008). The local authority as a public body, under the Human Rights Act 1998 s6, has a duty of care towards its citizens, to protect them from harm and uphold their human rights (Braye, 2010). In Z and others v UK (2001) the European Court of Human Rights found the local authority to be in violation of s6(3) HRA (1998), having failed to take reasonable steps to prevent serious ill-treatment when they were aware of abuse (Clements and Thompson, 2007). Safeguarding Adults procedures should be put in place, in line with HRA (1998), to support a person to live a life that is free from abuse and neglect (ADASS, 2005). As the local authority has been made aware of Mr As recent behaviour towards the other residents it is important that they appoint an Investigating Officer and take reasonable steps to prevent any abuse. The Care Standards Act, 2000 standard 18, stipulates that local authorities and care homes must have a written safeguarding policy which would apply to Ashire, Countyshire and the private care home. Also in 2000, the Department of Health published the No Secrets policy document, which provides guidance to local authorities on how to protect vulnerable adults and implement policies to protect them. The policy requires local authorities to have written multi agency safeguarding procedures and policies (Brammer, 2010). No Secrets is regarded as statutory guidance because the LASSA (1970), s7 requires a local authority to act under such guidance. The case of R v Islington LBC, ex p Rixon (1996), demonstrated that an authority is acting unlawfully if they deviate from the guidance (Mandelstram, 2008). The Association of Directors of Social Services in 2004, published the Protocol For Inter-Authority Investigation Of Vulnerable Adult Abuse. This protocol with reference to s3.8 of No Secrets (2000) and National Assistance Act 1948 LAC (93)7, clarified the responsibility and actions of the host and placing local authorities with regards to safeguarding. In the case of Mr A, although the residential home contacted Ashire, it would be the responsibility of Countyshire, as the host local authority, to take the lead in safeguarding procedures. However, a link person from Ashire would be invited to attend any adult protection strategy meeting, if it is the local authority funding his accommodation, as it would still be expected to have a duty of continuing care for Mr A (2004: 1-2). In 2005, ADASS published Safeguarding Adults, providing a national framework for good practice in adult protection work, including giving clear time frames, multi agency working and details of responsibilities (Clements and Thompson, 2007; Brammer, 2010). Whilst following safeguarding procedures it is important for the local authority to keep to the Data Protection Act, 1998. However, No Secrets states, It is inappropriate for agencies to give assurances of absolute confidentiality in cases where there are concerns about abuse, particularly in those situations when other vulnerable people may be at risk (2000: 24). A criticism of the No Secrets policy is that vulnerable adults are defined as people in need of community care services who are unable to protect themselves from abuse so it does not take into consideration people who do not require community care services (Clements and Thompson, 2007). Safeguarding Adults framework introduced the term safeguarding and moved away from the description of protection and vulnerable (Brayne and Carr, 2010). ADASS defined Safeguarding Adults as, This phrase means all work which enables an adult who is or may be eligible for community care services to retain independence, wellbeing and choice and to access their human right to live a life that is free from abuse and neglect (2005: 5). Using the ADASS definition, the vulnerable adults in this case, would be Mr A, and all the other residents in the residential home, given his current and previous behaviour. As Mr A is residing at a private residential care home, the home, along with the local authority, will be regulated by The CSA, 2000, supported by National Minimum Standards. Standard 18 of the NMS states that the registered person at the care home needs to ensure that service users are safeguarded from abuse (Clements and Thompson, 2007; Brammer, 2010). The registered person and possibly other care staff from the home would, therefore, be invited to the safeguarding strategy meeting. Under the Care Homes Regulations 2001, it is the responsibility of the care home registered person to inform the Care Quality Commission (CQC) of any suspected abuse (Brammer, 2010). Hampshire County Council Safeguarding Policy states that although the CQC should be informed and invited to a safeguarding strategy meeting, it is not routinely necessary for them to attend (2010: 52). However, following the CQC Safeguarding Protocol Procedures they should provide any relevant information for the meeting (2010: 11). Safeguarding Adults framework provide guidance on police involvement; if a crime is alleged to have taken place then they should be involved as soon as possible and decide whether they will be taking action (2005: 34). However, as Mr A has committed no crime, the police may not need to be invited to a strategy meeting. The care-co-ordinator, psychiatrist and GP for Mr A would be invited to attend a strategy meeting (Dorset For You, 2007). If a safeguarding assessment strategy is decided at the strategy meeting, Mr A, as he is deemed to have mental capacity, could also be involved with the assessment process and his views taken into account. However, Countyshire must act to uphold the human rights of all citizens and as other residents potentially are at risk, this duty will take precedence (ADASS, 2005). The case of Mr A has shown that although local authority social services have a legal duty and obligation to provide, fund and safeguard the most suitable care, this is a complex task involving an understanding of overlapping and conflicting obligations, from a wide range of primary legislation, secondary legislation, directions, guidance and case laws (Wilson et al, 2008). The case of Mr A supports the Law Commissions current work to create, under one act, a coherent legal framework for the provision of adult social care similar to the Children Act, 1989 (Law Commission, 2010). Word Count: 2196

Career path

The skills that I think are necessary for success in college are being self-motivated, having effective time management and a strong dedication and willpower to want to succeed. The desire to succeed can only come from you. There are people to help you along the way, but you are the only person that can make a change for yourself and for the better. Self-motivation is the number one factor in having a successful college experience. Once you have made a decision to further your education you must realize that there will conflicts throughout.Conflicts with work or family may arise. If you lack self-motivation, there is a possibility you will lose sight of what your goal is. There must be a balance between school and other obligations. You are responsible for finding that balance to ensure a successful college experience and a happy personal or work life as well. Effective time management is imperative in college. There are many times when tests and papers are due at the same time for e ach class. It is important to know what lies ahead in each class.A monthly calendar allows you to note upcoming due dates, midterm and final dates. It is helpful to have a visual so you can plan on a teeth to allow yourself adequate time for each class. Some people may be good at procrastination but when taking multiple classes, I don't think waiting until the last minute is effective. You made a decision to invest time and money to enter college. You have a goal in mind. In order to reach that goal you need a strong dedication and willpower to succeed. There will be bumps along the way.Each class will introduce new ideas and responsibilities; when those responsibilities conflict with other responsibilities, I think you need the willpower to push through it. You need the dedication to the lasses and program you enrolled in. Keep the end goal in sight. The skills that I already have are being self-motivated, having effective time management and a strong dedication to being successful in college. I am a lifetime learner. I enjoy attending my classes and what is involved to succeed. Part of what helps me succeed in my classes is being effective with time management.I have learned how to handle a full time class load, working and having a happy family. My last Job required you to be great at multi-tasking. Multi-tasking is useful when attending college and having a young family. I have learned how to study while my hillier are occupied or napping. I also have my husband's support which is crucial when attending school. In order to write a paper or study for an exam I will either go to the library, my parents' house or at times my husband will take our children somewhere, Just to give me the time I need.I don't think you could succeed in college and in personal life if you don't have the dedication to school. I want to succeed and do well in college to better the life for my family. I am dedicated in accomplishing my goal and I know I will succeed. I have developed these skills through experience. I graduated from high school in 999 and have been attending college since, taking breaks to start my family. I have an associate degree already but have always wanted to pursue nursing. Since graduating with my associates degree, I have always taken part time classes, while working full time and having a family.However, I made the decision to enroll full time and complete my degree. I have three young daughters, all less than six years old. I know that to better their lives I must finish schooling. I want them to see that a higher education is something to strive and work toward. I want them to see my self-motivation and my dedication, to only to them but to school. Effective time management is a necessity when raising my children, being a spouse and being a successful student. I have learned to love my calendar. I write everything down.I have to see lies ahead for my family and for school. One weakness that I have is being committed to too many dif ferent things with my children, all while I am trying to finish school. I sign up to help with a lot of their events and organizations. I need to realize that I am only one person and cannot do it all. I need to only sign up for a select number of events and commit myself to those instead off little bit here and there. I also have bad test anxiety. I am hoping that I can alleviate the anxiety I get by allowing myself adequate time to study and prepare for tests.I also need to have confidence in myself to know that I will succeed on the test. I try to go into each test with a positive attitude. I will be taking the TEAS test on 11/16/12. I have heard so much negativity towards the test from peers that I try to distance myself from the negativity. I know that going into the test Friday that I have done all I was able to do and look forward to seeing my results. I have chosen a nursing career. The same skills listed for a college experience are also needed for a successful nursing care er.In addition to these, strong interpersonal skills and critical thinking skills are needed. I have worked in the health care field for over 10 years, so I have seen first hand what skills are needed and already have knowledge of medical terminology and Anatomy and Physiology. This is only my first semester at Bryant & Stratton. I still need to pass my TEAS and am looking forward to being accepted in the nursing program. I would like to improve upon my confidence. As a nurse you don't have time to second guess yourself. I need to realize that I know the answer and stick to it.I also need to stop being afraid of failure. I need to set little goals and as those are accomplished, celebrate them. This will make my long term goal seem not so far out of reach. I previously stated that I like to avoid negativity. I do not want to be surrounded by negative people or situations. This only brings my confidence down. I also want to remain an active learner. Whether this means taking continuin g education courses or reading a health Journal related to my field; I know that this will increase my confidence because I will be full of knowledge.In conclusion, it is important to understand that the decision to enter college is a life changing decision. Dedication, time management, and the desire to succeed and take responsibility for what needs to be are commitments that must be made upon making the decision to enroll in college. The approach I took when writing this paper is following the outline given and responding to each question. The outline style was effective for this paper since a list of skills were required. I did not forget to expand on any skill since I had it in the outline format.

Computerize Enrollment Essay

This Chapter presents the proposed study all about. It also shows the problem that the proponents encountered during the research of the proposed study. Show the difference of the proposed system to the existing system. Introduction Most of educational institutional establishment today specially on those schools with specialization in teaching in the line of technologies are using computerized systems. It can help establishments or businesses to give more quality service to their customers. This can result in a system with well-integrated processes that can perform much faster and more accurate than a manual system. Enrollment is the process of inputting and verifying data of student to register on a particular school. The Enrollment System is used so the school will have a record of information of a student, tracking or retrieving of their information will be possible. The verifying of payments and browsing of student bills is also the used of an enrollment system. Enrollment System is an example of computer generated process. This will lessen the workload and provides accurate information needed of the school. As the result this will not only benefit the students but also the employees of a certain establishment. The Enrollment System is very essential for a school. In the case of AMA COMPUTER COLLEGE FAIRVIEW CAMPUS, they are using a manual system composed of a pen and an application form. The student or an applicant definitely having some erasures, and an illegibly hand writing that makes the information inaccurate. Verifying of the inaccurate information will lead to some errors in the process of the enrollment. Above our observation, human interventions will highly involve in this type of system. As a result, this may involve errors and redundancy of data resulting troubles in organization. Background of the Study The AMA COMPUTER COLLEGE FAIRVIEW CAMPUS is an educational institution specialize in the line of technologies, giving quality education since 1990 they make their make name by the student who make the â€Å"I love you Virus† since then AMA has standards of giving the a best education in the line of Information Technology. The AMA COMPUTER COLLEGE FAIRVIEW CAMPUS has a population estimated of 400+ students from different courses and year level that currently studying this semester. AMA COMPUTER COLLEGE FAIRVIEW CAMPUS are using an acquaint system applicants or students constantly having a hard time filling up application forms and take a lot of time in the enrollment process. With the large population of students employees had to do a lot work. Statement of the Problem The proponents aimed to develop and sought to answer the following specific problems 1. What is the demographic profile of the respondents in terms of: 1.1 Name; 1.2 Age; 1.3 Gender; 1.4 Year Level; 1.5 Course; 2. What is the problems encountered in the existing system? 3. What is the possible solutions to avoid the problems in the existing system? 4. What is the difference of the existing system between the proposed system. 4.1; Accuracy 4.2; Convenience 4.3; Usefulness 4.4; Speed 4.5; User-friendly Hypothesis The proponents to have an analysis if there is a significance difference between the existing system and the proposed system in terms of accuracy, convenience, usefulness, speed, and user-friendly interface. Significance of the Study The study declare that the proposed system can be a great help to the following: Students. The proposed system can help the students to have a less time, effort on the enrollment process. Employees/Professor. The proposed system can help the employees less the work load and save a lot of time that were needed in the enrollment process Reputation Significance. The proposed system will improve the reputation of the school by leveling the kind of system to other universities. Scope and Delimitation of the Study The Study focuses on how the students and employees have a benefit of saving a lot of time, giving a less effort, reducing of human errors, accuracy and speed of deriving information. The Study is limited service when it come to online access of the users, compared to the Online Enrollment System of the University of Santo Thomas that users can access online. Definition of Terms To Understand the different terminologies that were used in the proposed study, the proponents had provided the following terminologies. Enrollment. is the process of entering and verifying data of student to register on a particular school. Computerized System. A process or operation integrated by using a computer or other devices. Online System. A process or operation that powered by the world wide web and accessible to any users that has an internet connection.

Kurt Cobaines Death And Impact On Fans Essays - Music, Grunge

Kurt Cobaine's Death And Impact On Fans Essays - Music, Grunge Kurt Cobaine's Death And Impact On Fans Its not fun anymore. I just cant take it anymore. The words that would later haunt the world are clumsily scribbled onto a pad of paper. The room grows silent and coldthen BANG! On April 7, 1994, the music world died with a single gunshot wound to the head. Kurdt Donald Cobain took away a music legend and left a void in the music world. When Cobain ended his life on that fateful day, he not only stunned fans, but also destroyed one of the most talented bands of all-time. The sad sense of loss that Seattle began to feel quickly spread to the rest of the country and to the world as well. The youth of an entire sub-culture was devastated. A few days after his death, 7,000 mourners gathered in Seattle to remember the musician. As Cobains widow, Courtney Love read her husbands agonizing suicide note, people lit candles, and threw burning toilet paper for the iconoclastic anti-hero. Although today some of the pain may have faded, the loss of Cobain and his band Nirvana is still being felt by teens across the country. Good men die young. Kurt was a great songwriter, musician and person. He has joined the ranks of great artists such as Jimi Hendrix, and the Nirvana legacy will be with us forever, expressed Ryan Runkewich, a Nirvana fan. The sediment is not only expressed by fans, but also by such famous musicians as R.E.M., Neil Young and the Cranberries who have all dedicated songs in Cobains memory. Before the boom of the phenomenon known as Nirvana, the Seattle music scene was most famous for its hard-rock blues. In 1988, the Aberdeen native along with Krist Anthony Novoselic and Dave Grohl began with a demo song entitled Big Cheese and captivated the hearts and souls of a forgotten generation that had yet to make a name for itself. Nirvana had the guts to express the emotions that young people were too afraid to display. The band and its ringleader Cobain truly became the vocal point for struggling teens. As the sixth anniversary of Cobains death quickly approaches, fans are afforded another painful year to reflect on his music, life and the very moment when everything ended. In fact, most fans can even remember what they were doing when they heard the news that Cobain was dead. When I heard, I was playing a video game and listening to the radio. I got real upset and my friends and I sat around all day listening to his music. I personally pay tribute to his on that dreadful day every year, said James V., a Cobain fan. From the dawning of the 90s grunge music era, Nirvana has been the undisputed leader of alternative music. The music was not only a part of life, but rather it was life for millions of teens searching for an outlet to express themselves. For that reason, the memory of Cobain and the Nirvana sound will never die in the hearts of fans. Inner-peace what Cobain wanted for everyone: If you die youre completely happy and your soul lives onIm not afraid of dying. Total peace after death becoming the someone else is the best hope Ive got.Kurdt Donald Cobain. If you have elements that I can add to this article let me knowI have lots of information and I have done a lot of research!! I am an expert J lemme know thanks Word Count= 594 Bibliography The male point of view: A look into the typical day of a high school male Once upon a time in a land far away, a young man named Adam began the chain of male species that would revolutionize into the dominant, chauvinistic sex of the 90s. From the first forbidden bite of the apple, to the masculine attitude prevalent in most men, the males thoughts have always remained the samesex, sports and more sex. Yes it is true the average male teenager thinks about sex four times a minute, but there is more to the mind of a guy. The following is a typical schedule of a teenage male, living through puberty, an impossible masculine complex and all of the other speed bumps thrown

Materials in Our Daily Life Essay Example

Materials in Our Daily Life Essay Example Materials in Our Daily Life Essay Materials in Our Daily Life Essay Essay Topic: Life Is Beautiful Materials in Our Daily Life : 95 : 21 Materials in Our Daily Life The basic aim of science is not only to study and understand natural phenomena but also to use this knowledge to make our lives more comfortable. Science and technology have enabled us to develop more economical and convenient methods to recover useful materials from nature and to put them to various uses. Chemistry has enabled us to synthesize new materials which have desired properties, thus, making them even better than natural materials. We need different types of materials to meet our daily needs. Some of them are obtained from nature while others are prepared by man. The materials that we get from nature are called natural materials. Wood, silk, cotton, leather, rubber, coal, etc. are natural materials. However, some materials that we use are manmade. Synthetic textiles like terylene and nylon, cement, glass, plastics, dyes, soap, detergents, fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides are some man-made materials which are commonly used. In this lesson, you will learn about the ways in which various materials are used in making common household items, in construction of houses and other buildings. You will learn about different polymers and their uses in our daily life. In addition, you will learn about the various medicines that help to cure different diseases and keep us healthy. OBJECTIVES After completing this lesson, you will be able to: differentiate between natural and man-made materials; name the materials used for making some common household items and for housing purposes; state the principles involved in preparation and properties of some man-made materials in our daily life; list various medicines used in some common diseases; explain harmful effects of man-made materials on the environment. 21. COMMON HOUSEHOLD ITEMS We use many things in our house like candles in case of emergency lighting, ink to write, soaps and detergents to wash our clothes, matchbox to light gas stove or candles and many more. Let us now learn about these items of daily use. : 96 : Materials in Our Daily Life 21. 1. 1 Candles We use candles as emergency light source and for decorative a nd ceremonial purposes. Usually they are made from a mixture of paraffin wax or some other slow-burning substance like tallow (stearic acid). They are commonly made in cylindrical form but are also made in fanciful designs. They contain a wick at their centre. When lighted with a matchstick heat from its flame liquefies the wax of the candle. This liquefied wax rises up along the wick where it is converted into vapour form, which then catches fire. Now a days, candles are made in a variety of colours, shapes and sizes. Some candles are scented and their aroma spreads in the air when lighted while some others can float on water. Nainital (in Uttaranchal) is famous for the variety of beautiful and decorative candles manufactured here. 21. 1. 2 Inks We all use inks in various writing instruments like fountain pens, ball pens, gel pens, roller pens, soft tip pens, etc. Have you ever thought what ink is? Ink is a coloured fluid or a paste that is used for writing or printing. Earlier, black ink, also called India ink, was most widely used. It was made by mixing lamp black or carbon black in water or oil to which some gum was added which stabilized the mixture and also gave it better sticking property. This ink is used even these days but more commonly used inks are solutions of water or alcohol soluble dyes. Inks used in printing are similar in nature but are in the form of thick paste, which has a better sticking property. This is an essential quality as it causes the ink to stick to the typefaces and to paper when it is pressed against it. 21. 1. 3 Soap and detergents We use soap and detergents to wash our clothes. We wash our hands and take bath with soap. Soap and detergents help in removing dirt, oil and grease. How do soap and detergents remove the dirt and grease? What are the chemicals present in them? What is the difference in soaps and detergents? 21. 1. 3a Soap Soap has been in use for at least last three thousand years. Soaps are sodium or potassium salts of long chain organic acids (called fatty acids) like stearic acid and palmitic acid. How is soap manufactured? Soap is made by heating oil with sodium hydroxide. The oil and sodium hydroxide solution are fed into an enclosed reaction vessel under high pressure and heated at high temperature. At this temperature, the reaction is completed in a few minutes. The mixture of soap and glycerol is cooled and a concentrated solution of sodium chloride is added. Glycerol dissolves readily in salt solution but soap does not. So, solid soap separates out from the mixture. It is then removed by centrifugation. While still hot it is sprayed into a hot vacuum chamber to dry it. Perfume is added and the particles are compressed into soap cake. Materials in Our Daily Life : 97 : The basic materials used to manufacture soap are animal fats (lard) or vegetable oils (olive oil, neem oil, etc. ) and an alkali, usually sodium hydroxide. Fats and oils are compounds of organic acids (containing 12–14 carbon atoms) and glycerol (commonly called glycerine). When the fat or oil is heated with sodium hydroxide solution, the acids are broken away from glycerol and are neutralized by the alkali to form soap. Soaps produce lather (foam) with soft water. With hard water, which contains calcium and magnesium salts in it, they do not produce lather. Instead they themselves are precipitated as insoluble salts of calcium and magnesium. 21. 1. 3b Detergents Animal fats and vegetable oils are important foodstuffs and ideally should not be used for making something even as important as soap. In their place, long chain sulphonic acids (usually C8 to C22) are used. Sodium or potassium salts of these sulphonic acids are known as detergents. Detergents can be manufactured in solid form (for washing powders) or in liquid form (for shampoos and liquid soaps). Unlike soaps detergents can be used with soft as well as hard water. This is because their calcium and magnesium salts are water soluble. ACTIVITY 21. 1 Aim : To compare the lather forming ability of soap and detergent in soft and hard water. What is required? Four test tubes, two small pieces of soap and detergent cakes. What to do? Take four test tubes. In two of them take some amount of ordinary tap water which is soft water. In one of them add a small piece of soap while in the other add a small amount of some detergent (a small piece or a small amount of powder). Shake both the test tubes. What do you observe? Lather is formed in both the test tubes. Now repeat the above procedure with hard water from a hand pump or a well. You will find that soap does not form lather but detergent does form lather even with hard water. 21. 1. 3c Cleansing action of soap and detergent Soaps and detergents form lather or foam with water. Lather removes grease and dirt particles from clothes. Water by itself cannot do it as it does not wet oily or greasy dirt. Addition of soap or detergents improves the wetting property of water and thus helps in removing oily or greasy dirt. 21. 1. Matchboxes In every house you will find a matchbox. Can you imagine life without it? How would you light up a candle or gas stove without it? : 98 : Materials in Our Daily Life Do you know how a matchstick catches fire? The head of matchstick consists of a mixture of potassium chlorate and antimony trisulphide bound together by glue. The striking surface on the matchbox is a mixture of red phosphorus and p owdered glass held by glue. When a matchstick is struck against the coated surface of the matchbox, some heat is produced that makes the chemicals in the match head react. The heat of this reaction ignites the wood. Be careful Matches must be used carefully. While lighting, it should not be struck so hard on the side of the matchbox that it’s burning head breaks and flies away. This can result in an accident. After using a matchstick, we should not throw it anywhere carelessly. Even when its flame is blown off, the tip of the stick continues to burn slowly as can be seen by the dull red glow at the tip. This is known as after glow. Many accidental fires may occur by this after glow. Therefore, while throwing away a matchstick you should always check that it is completely extinguished and there is no after glow. Sometimes matchsticks are dipped in a solution of borax or sodium carbonate (karborized matches) and dried as a first step in the manufacture of matches. Matchsticks thus treated are completely extinguished when blown away and are safer to use. CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 21. 1 1. Give two examples each of natural and man-made materials? 2. Name the substances used for making candles. 3. What are soaps? 4. Can soap be used with hard water to wash clothes? 5. Which type of matches do we use today? 21. 2 HOUSING MATERIALS In the last section, we learned about some common household items. In this section, we will learn about two important housing materials – cement and glass. 21. 2. 1 Cement Do you know what cement is made of and how is it manufactured? a) Raw materials required: Three main raw materials required for manufacture of cement are as follows: Limestone which is calcium carbonate, CaCO3 Clay which is mainly a mixture of aluminium silicates containing alumina, Al2O3 and silica, SiO2 Gypsum which is CaSO4. 2H2O b) Manufacture: Limestone and clay are mixed in definite proportion and ground to a fine powdery state. This dry powder is used as such or mixed with water to form a paste and heated in a rotary kiln (a type of furnace). It is slowly made to pass through the kiln wherein limestone and clay combine chemically and form a mixture of calcium silicate, CaSiO3 and calcium aluminate, CaAl2O3. This mixture is in the form of small greenish black or grey-coloured Materials in Our Daily Life : 99 : hard balls known as clinkers. These clinkers are allowed to cool down and then ground to very fine powder. To this powder, 2-3% gypsum is added and the mixture is again ground to obtain a grayish coloured powder, which is cement. It is then packed in airtight bags to exclude the moisture. Gypsum is added to decrease the setting time of cement. c) Uses: Cement is one of the most important building materials. It is employed in the construction of buildings, roads, bridges, dams, etc. For general uses like plastering or laying of bricks, this powder is mixed with sand and water and the resulting thick paste is used for construction purposes. As a result of chemical reactions between water and cement this mixture sets into a hard mass. Concrete is a mixture of cement, sand, gravel or small pieces of stone and water. It sets to an extremely hard structure. It is used for making floors and roads. Concrete may be further strengthened by filling it around or over a network of steel rods and allowing it to set. It is known as reinforced concrete cement or R. C. C. Such structures are very strong and are used in construction of pillars, roofs of buildings, roads, bridges and dams. 21. 2. 2 Glass Glass is used for various purposes. You must have seen glasses fitted in windows and doors, looking mirrors, windscreens of vehicles, reading glasses, sunglasses, etc. Have you ever wondered how is glass prepared? What are the raw materials required for manufacturing of different types of glasses? ) Raw materials required: The basic raw materials needed for making glass are: Washing soda which is sodium carbonate, Na2 CO3. Limestone which is calcium carbonate, CaCO3. Sand which is silica, SiO2. b) Manufacture: The raw materials are mixed in a definite proportion. These are then ground and the mixture is heated in a furnace. Sometimes scrap glass is also mixed with other raw materials. By doing so glass can be recycled and it also helps in melting of the mixture. The fused mixture is then allowed to cool. The glass so produced is transparent, non-crystalline and brittle. ) Types of glass and their uses: There are various types of glasses depending upon their composition and the purpose of their use. Soda-lime glass: The glass produced as given above is called sodalime glass or soft glass. It is used for manufacture of bottles ordinary crockery, ordinary laboratory glass apparatus like soda glass test tubes etc. Hard glass: If instead of sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate is used for making glass another variety of glass known as hard glass is produced. It can withstand very high temperatures. It is used for making hard glass laboratory apparatus like hard glass test tubes, beakers, conical flasks etc. 100 : Materials in Our Daily Life Borosilicate glass: It is sodium aluminium borosilicate. It can withstand rapid he ating and cooling without breaking. It is used for making kitchenware and laboratory apparatus. It is sold under the trade names Borosil and Pyrex. Flint or optical glass: It is used for making lenses, prisms, spectacles, etc. because of its excellent optical properties. It is composed of alkalis, lead oxide and silica. It is also known as flint glass. A superior variety of optical glasses is made by adding cerium oxide. It cuts harmful ultra violet rays that are harmful to eyes. It is known as Crooke’s glass. Coloured glass: It is made by adding small quantities of oxides of different metals to basic ingredients. Blue glass contains traces of cobalt or copper oxide, green glass contains chromium ferrous oxide, red glass contains selenium oxide. Fibre glass: It is produced by passing molten glass through rotating spinners when it gets converted into fine threads. It is used as an insulating material for heat, electricity and sound in different equipment like electric ovens, geysers, refrigerators, etc. It is also used for reinforcing plastics and rubber to make bodies of cars and scooters and safety helmets. CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 21. 2 1. What is mixed with cement before using it for construction purposes? 2. Which type of glass can withstand rapid heating and cooling without breaking? 3. What is the role of small pieces of stone that are added to cement when it is used to make floor or roads? 4. How is coloured glass made? 21. 3 SOME IMPORTANT CHEMICALS A large number of chemicals are used in industry and in our homes for various purposes. In this section we would learn about some such useful chemicals. 21. 3. 1 Washing soda Washing soda is used for washing of clothes. It is because of this chemical used that the clothes washed by a washerman appear so white. Chemically, washing soda is sodium carbonate decahydrate (Na2CO3. 10H2O). It is an important chemical required as basic raw material in hundreds of industries. Now let us learn about the raw materials used in its manufacture and how is it manufactured. a) Raw materials required: The raw materials required to manufacture washing soda are Lime stone is calcium carbonate (CaCO3) Sodium chloride (NaCl) in the form of brine Ammonia (NH3) b) Manufacture: Washing soda is manufactured by Solvay process. In this process, firstly, carbon dioxide is obtained by heating limestone strongly. CaCO3 CaO + CO2 lime stone quick lime carbon dioxide Materials in Our Daily Life : 101 : It is then passed through cold brine (a solution of concentrated NaCl in water), which has previously been saturated with ammonia. NaCl(aq) + CO2(g) + NH3(g) + H2O(l) NaHCO3(s) + NH4Cl(aq) Sodium chloride ammonia sodium hydrogen carbonate ammonium chloride NaHCO3 being sparingly soluble in water, crystallizes out. It is calcinated (heated strongly in a furnace) to get sodium carbonate. 2NaHCO3 Na2CO3 + CO2 H2O Ammonia used in this process is regenerated by first converting the quicklime obtained earlier with water and then reacting it with ammonium chloride obtained from carbonating tower. CaO + H2O Ca(OH)2 quick lime slaked lime Ca(OH)2 + 2NH4Cl ammonium chloride CaCl2 + 2NH3 + 2H2O calcium chloride c) Uses: Washing soda is used in the manufacture of glass, water glass, caustic soda, borax and soap powders. It is also used for the softening of water, as laboratory reagent and as a starting material for the preparation of a number of other sodium compounds. Of course, its most common use in laundry is for washing of fabrics and clothes from which it gets its name. 21. 3. 2 Baking soda You must have seen your mother using baking soda while cooking some dals. If you ask her why she uses it, she would tell that it helps in cooking some items faster which otherwise would take much longer time. Chemically, baking soda is sodium hydrogen carbonate or sodium bicarbonate and its formula is NaHCO3. a) Manufacture: You have already learned in the previous section that it is the primary product of the Solvay process used to manufacture washing soda. It gives small white crystals sparingly soluble in water. Its solution in water is alkaline in nature. b) Uses: Baking soda is mainly used in the baking industry. When sodium hydrogen carbonate or its solution is heated, it gives off carbon dioxide. It is this carbon dioxide which raises the dough during baking. The sodium carbonate produced during the heating of sodium hydrogen carbonate gives bitter taste. Therefore, usually baking powder is used, which is a mixture of baking soda, NaHCO3 and an acid like tartaric acid. The latter is added to neutralize the sodium carbonate formed in the reaction given above, to avoid its bitter taste. You must have eaten cakes. They are made so soft and fluffy by using baking powder. Baking soda is also used in medicines to neutralize the excessive acidity in the stomach. Mixed with a solid acid such as citric or tartaric acid, it finds use in effervescent drinks used to cure indigestion. Another important use of baking soda is in certain types of fire extinguishers about which you have already learned in lesson 14. : 102 : Materials in Our Daily Life 21. 3. 3 Bleaching powder Have you ever wondered at the whiteness of a new white cloth? How is it made so white? It is done by bleaching the cloth at the time of its manufacture. Bleaching is a process of removing colour from a cloth to make it whiter. Bleaching powder has been used for this purpose since long. Chemically, it is calcium oxychloride and its formula is CaOCl2. Now we shall learn about the raw materials required for its manufacture and how it is manufactured from them. a) Raw materials required: The raw materials required for manufacture of bleaching powder are Slaked lime, Ca(OH)2 Chlorine gas, Cl2 b) Manufacture: It is prepared in a vertical tower made of cast iron with inlets for chlorine and hot air near the base. The dry slaked lime, calcium hydroxide, is fed into the chlorinating tower from the top. It moves downward slowly and meets the upcoming current of chlorine. As a result of the reaction between them it is converted into bleaching powder which collects at the bottom. CaOCl2 + H2O Ca(OH)2 + Cl2 c) Uses: It is used mainly for bleaching cotton, linen and wood pulp in textile and paper factories. Apart from this, it is used as a disinfectant and germicide for the sterilization of water, in rendering wool unshrinkable and for the manufacture of chloroform. It also finds use as an oxidizing agent in many chemical industries. 1. 3. 4 Plaster of Paris You must have seen beautiful designs made on the ceiling and walls of rooms in many houses. They are made with Plaster of Paris, also called POP. a) Manufacture: It is manufactured from gypsum which is hydrated calcium sulphate (CaSO4. 2H2O) found in nature. When gypsum is heated at about 325 K, it loses part of its water of crystallization to f orm CaSO4. ?H2O or 2CaSO4. H2O which is plaster of Paris. When made into a paste with a little water, Plaster of Paris sets to a hard mass, which expand with hardening. b) Uses: Plaster of Paris finds use in making casts and patterns. It is used for making plaster casts to hold fractured bones in position while they set. It is also used for making chalks for writing on blackboard. Now a days it is increasingly being used for plastering the walls, pillars and ceilings and to make ornamental patterns on them. CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 21. 3 1. What is the common name of NaHCO3? 2. Name the process used for manufacture of washing soda? 3. Which chemical can be used for removing stains of ink from clothes? 4. What is the chemical formula of Plaster of Paris? Materials in Our Daily Life : 103 : 21. FIBRES: NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC Fibre is a fine thread like material, like cotton, which is woven or knitted into a cloth. We need different types of clothes, such as cotton, silk, nylon, polyester, etc. to suit different weather conditions. Fibres are made of polymers. Cotton consists of cellulose. Some of these like cotton, wool and silk are obtained from nature. They are called natural fibres. Many of them are man-made like nylon , polyester, terylene, liakra, etc. They are called synthetic fibres. 21. 4. 1 Polymers Many things that we see around us and use are polymers. We use plastic buckets, containers, electrical switches, etc. The clothes that we wear are made of polymers like cotton, wool, terylene, etc. Polymers are big molecules which are formed when a large number of small molecules join one another. The word polymer means many parts. The small molecules which make a polymer are called monomers. For example, ethene (C2H4) molecules join together and form the polymer known as polythene. a) Nylon: Nylon is a polymer of small monomeric units called amide (-CO-NH-) i. e. it is a polyamide. It is prepared by reaction of adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine. Terylene is crease resistant, durable and is not damaged by insects like moths and by mildew (fungi that form a white growth on plants and materials like cloth and paper). b) Polysters: Polyesters are another category of polymers. One important member of this family is dacron which is also known as terylene. It is prepared by reaction between terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol. It is crease resistant, durable and is not damaged by insects like moths and mildew. Therefore, it is suitable for making garments because they can be set into permanent creases and pleats. It has also been used to repair or replace segments of blood vessels. In the form of thin sheets it is used for manufacture of adhesive tapes and recording tapes. 21. 4. 2 Rubber a) Natural rubber: Natural rubber is chemically poly-cis-isoprene which is formed from the monomer isoprene. It comes from the sap of the Para rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis. Trees are tapped by making a spiral cut through the bark. The sap is called latex. It is a white milky liquid. It is a suspension of tiny particles of rubber in water. These particles can be separated when acid is added to it and solid rubber is obtained. Raw rubber is soft and pliable i. e. it can be easily bent. It does not possess the main property that we associate with rubber, elasticity i. e. the ability to return to its original shape after stretching. Rubber is made elastic by heating it with a small amount (1 to 3%) of sulphur. This process is known as vulcanization. Apart from sulphur other substances are also added to natural rubber to modify its properties. Carbon black is added to make it stronger, flexible and more resistant to wear and tear. For making car tyres, 2 parts of rubber are mixed : 104 : Materials in Our Daily Life ith 1 part carbon black. If flexibility is not important fillers, such as clay or chalk, are added to make rubber hard and stiff. Rubber for floor tiles and mats contains fillers of this type. b) Synthetic rubber: Synthetic rubber supplements the natural rubber and helps save precious trees. Its properties are similar and sometimes better than those of natural rubber. The most common variety of syn thetic rubber is made from the monomer butadiene CH2CH. CH. CH2. It can be vulcanized just like natural rubber. It has particularly good resistance to wear and tear, which makes it especially useful for making tyres. Other types of synthetic rubbers are made by mixing other monomers like styrene and chloroprene (commonly known as neoprene) with butadiene. 21. 4. 3 Plastics You must be using comb, toothbrush, jars and buckets in your house. All these items of daily use are made of plastic. Plastics are synthetic or mans are divinyl ethers, cyclopropane, etc. They are used during major surgical operations. Some anaesthetics like Novocain and Xylocaine which show their effect in a limited area are called local anaesthetics. They are used during small surgical operations and tooth extraction. 21. 5. 2 Antibiotics Antibiotics are medicines which are used to kill bacteria, fungi and moulds. The first antibiotic discovered was penicillin which is very effective for pneumonia, bronchitis, sore throat, etc. Ampicillin is a slight modification of penicillin. It has wider applications. Other commonly used antibiotics are streptomycin, tetracycline and chloramphenicol. 21. 5. 3 Analgesics Analgesics are used for relieving pain. Aspirin, paracetamol, morphine are some examples of analgesics. They must be used only under medical supervision. 21. 5. 4 Antacids Antacids are used to treat acidity in stomach. Digene, ranitidine and omeprazole are some examples of antacids. 21. 5. 5 Antipyretics Antipyretics are the medicines which are used to bring down body temperature in high fever. Their administration leads to perspiration which brings down the temperature. Common examples are aspirin, paracetamol, analgin and phenacetin. In this section you learned about some important types of medicines. However, it must be remembered that medicines hould always be taken on the advice of a doctor. CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 21. 5 1. What is the use of the drug paracetamol? 2. What is the use of ranitidine? 3. Name an antibiotic. 4. Which types of medicines are used for relieving pain? 21. 6 HARMFUL EFFECTS OF MAN-MADE MATERIALS In this lesson you have learnt about various materials that are useful to us. Many of them are obtained from natural resources while a large number of them are man-made. These days the latter are being used extensively. However, after use their disposal becomes a problem. Many of them are toxic in nature and pollute air and water. Some of them are so stable that they are not degraded easily and they get accumulated in the environment. Such materials should be recycled in order to avoid such problems. In the next lesson you will learn about the harmful effects of man-made materials and the related environmental problems in detail. : 106 : Materials in Our Daily Life LET US REVISE Of all the materials that we see around us some are obtained from nature while others are prepared by man. Candles are made from a mixture of paraffin wax and stearic acid. Inks are coloured fluids or pastes that are used for writing or printing. Soaps are sodium or potassium salts of long chain fatty acids while detergents are sodium or potassium salts of long chain sulphonic acids. Detergents can give lather even with hard water whereas soaps cannot. Safety matches have a mixture of potassium chlorate and antimony trisulphide and glue at the head of match sticks and a mixture of red phosphorus and powdered glass on the striking surface. The heat generated when the match stick is struck starts the ignition. Cement is one of the most important building material manufactured from limestone, clay and gypsum. Concrete is a mixture of cement, sand gravel and water. It sets to an extremely hard structure. Glass is prepared by heating a mixture of washing soda, limestone and sand in a furnace. Soda glass is used for manufacture of bottles, ordinary crockery, laboratory apparatus, etc. Hard glass is made by using potassium carbonate in place of sodium carbonate. It can withstand very high temperatures and is used for making laboratory apparatus. Borosilicate glass is sodium aluminium borosilicate and can withstand rapid heating and cooling. It is used for making kitchen and laboratory ware. Flint glass is used for making lenses, prisms, spectacles, etc. Coloured glass is made by adding small quantities of oxides of different metals. Fibre glass is a mass of fine threads of glass used as an insulating material for heat, electricity and sound and reinforcing plastics and rubber. Washing soda (Na2CO3. 10H2O) is prepared by Solvay process. It is used in the manufacture of glass, caustic soda, borax and soap powders. It is used for softening of water, as a laboratory reagent and as a starting material for many sodium compounds. Baking soda (NaHCO3) is the primary product of Solvay process. It is mainly used in baking industry and in fire extinguishers. Baking powder is a mixture of baking soda and tartaric acid. Bleaching powder (CaOCl2) is prepared by mixing chlorine and slaked lime. It is used for bleaching cotton, linen and wood pulp and for sterilization of water. Plaster of Paris (CaSO4. ?H2O) is prepared by heating gypsum (CaSO4. 2H2O). It is used for making casts and patterns and for plastering the walls, pillars and ceilings and to make ornamental patterns on them. Materials in Our Daily Life : 107 : Polymers are big molecules formed when a large number of small molecules join together. Cotton, wool, terylene, etc. are some polymers. Nylon, polyesters, rubber and plastics are some important polymers. Medicine is a substance used for treating diseases or illness. Anaesthetics, antibiotics, analgesics, antacids and antipyretics are some important types of drugs that are used. TERMINAL EXERCISES A. Multiple choice type questions. Choose the correct answer of the following: 1. The glass that can withstand rapid heating and cooling without breaking is (a) hard (b) soda-lime glass (c) borosilicate (d) flint 2. Novocain is an (a) antipyretic (b) analgesic (c) anaesthetic (d) antibiotic 3. Chloramphenicol is an (a) antibiotic (b) antipyretic (c) antacid (d) analgesic 4. Which of the following is not a raw material required for manufacture of washing soda? (a) Lime stone (b) Ammonia (c) Slaked lime (d) Sodium chloride 5. Which of the following is a man-made material? (a) Glass (b) Wood (c) Leather (d) Silk B. Descriptive type questions. 1. What are candles made of ? 2. What are the basic materials used for the manufacture of soaps? 3. What is concrete? 4. Mention two uses of bleaching powder. 5. Name the two substances used for making nylon. 6. For printing purpose why is ink used in the form of thick paste? 7. How striking the matchstick on the side of the matchbox helps in lighting it? . Why is gypsum added to the powdered clinkers during manufacture of cement? 9. Mention four uses of washing soda. 10. Give two examples each of antibiotics and analgesics. 11. What is an antipyretic? Give two examples. 12. What is vulcanization process? Why is natural rubber vulcanized? 13. List the raw materials required for manufacture of bleaching powder and desc ribe its process of manufacture. 14. How is Plaster of Paris manufactured? Give its two uses. 15. Name three plastics and give one use of each one of them. 16. What is a candle made of? Explain the process of lighting it. 108 : Materials in Our Daily Life 17. Differentiate between soaps and detergents. Why soaps do not form lather with hard water while detergents can? 18. List the raw materials required for the manufacture of cement. Describe the process of manufacture of cement briefly. 19. How is soda-lime glass manufactured? Describe briefly. What changes are made in the raw materials in the manufacture of optical glass and Borosil glass? How is colour imparted to glass? 20. Describe the process of manufacture of washing soda giving appropriate chemical equations. Mention two of its uses. 21. What are the monomeric units of polythene and polyvinyl chloride? Give three uses of each of these. ANSWERS TO CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 21. 1 1. Natural materials: Any two of the following – wood, silk, cotton, leather and rubber Man-made materials: Any two of the following – synthetic textiles like terylene and nylon, cement, glass, plastics, dyes, soap, detergents, fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides. Candles are made from mixtures of paraffin wax and stearic acid. Soaps are sodium or potassium salts of fatty acids. No, because soap is precipitated out as salts of calcium and potassium in hard water. Safety matches Sand and water Borosilicate glass To increase the strength of cement By adding small quantities of different metals Baking soda Solvay process Bleaching powder CaSO4. H2O or CaSO4. 1/2H2O Monomer is a substance whose small molecules combine with one another and make a polymer. Isoprene To make rubber elastic Polyvinyl chloride 2. 3. 4. 5. 21. 2 1. 2. 3. 4. 21. 3 1. 2. 3. 4. 21. 4 1. 2. 3. 4. Materials in Our Daily Life : 109 : 21. 5 1. 2. 3. 4. As an antipyretic or to get relief from fever It is an antacid used to reduce acidity Ampicillin or penicillin Analgin or analgesic GLOSSARY Analgesics: Medicines which are used for relieving pain. Antacids: Medicines which are used to treat acidity in stomach. Antibiotics: Medicines which are used to kill bacteria, fungi and moulds. Antipyretics: Medicines which are used to bring down body temperature in high fever. Bakelite: Phenol-formaldehyde resin made by reacting phenol and formaldehyde. Baking powder: Mixture of baking soda and tartaric acid. Baking soda: Common name of NaHCO3. Bleaching powder: Common name of CaOCl2. Borosilicate glass (Borosil glass): Sodium aluminium borosilicate and can withstand rapid heating and cooling. Concrete: Mixture of cement, sand, gravel and water. Dacron: Polyester prepared by reaction between terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol. Detergents: Sodium or potassium salts of long chain sulphonic acids. Fibre glass: Mass of fine threads of glass used as an insulating material for heat, electricity and sound and reinforcing plastics and rubber. Flint or optical glass: Lead-potash lime glass which is used for making lenses, prisms, spectacles, etc. General anaesthetics: Those drugs which result in loss of sensation and consciousness in the entire body. Hard glass: Variety of glass that can withstand very high temperatures. Ink: Coloured fluid or a paste, which is used for writing or printing. Local anaesthetics: Drugs which show their effect in a limited area. Man-made materials: Materials which are prepared by man. Medicine: Substance used for treating diseases or illness. Monomers: Small molecules which make a polymer by joining one another. Natural materials: Materials which we get from nature. Nylon: Polymer of small monomeric units called amide (-CO-NH-) i. e. it is a polyamide Plaster of Paris: Common name of CaSO4 ? H2O. : 110 : Materials in Our Daily Life Polymers: Big molecules formed when a large number of small molecules join together. Polythene: Polymer made from ethene (CH2=CH2). Polyvinyl chloride (PVC): Polymer is made from the monomer vinyl chloride (CH2=CHCl). Reinforced Concrete Cement (RCC): Concrete that is strengthened by filling it around or over a network of steel rods and allowing it to set. Rubber: Chemically poly-cis-isoprene which is formed from the monomer isoprene. Soaps: Sodium or potassium salts of long chain fatty acids. Synthetic rubber: Made from the monomer butadiene (CH2CH. CH. CH2). Vulcanization: The rocess of heating of rubber with a small amount (1-3%) of sulphur to make it elastic. Washing soda: Common name of Na2CO310H2O