CHEMISTRY

INDEPENDENT STUDY UNIT

NAME : SYAHMINE SORFINA BINTI MAT HASSAN
COURSE CODE : SCH3U
LECTURER’S NAME : MR. A. KHALFAN
CITATIONS
• First Article : Ottermann B. , 2015. ‘Eating too much sugar causes diabetes’. Accessed 17
September 2015. Retrieved from http://www.health24.com/Medical/Diabetes/Diabetes-
diet-and-obesity/Eating-too-much-sugar-causes-diabetes-20120721

• Second Article : (2015, August 23) Explosions rips through Shandong chemical plant.
Retrieved from The Star Newspaper.

• Third Article : Davis J. L. , 2015. E-cigarettes around 95% less harmful than regular smoking.
Accessed 17 September 2015. Retrieved from http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-
medicine/e-cigarettes-around-95-less-harmful-regular-smoking-according-independent-
report

• Fourth Article : Save The Water, Inc , 2015. Water pollution in Indonesia causes higher
demand for water purifiers. Accessed 17 September 2015. Retrieved from http://
savethewater.org/2015/08/12/water-pollution-indonesia-causes-higher-demand-water-
purifiers/

• Fifth Article : Kapoor K. , Costa A. B. D. , Tanakasempipat P. , & Lefevre A. S. , 2015. Malaysia

PM urges Indonesia to tackle fires, haze drifts to Thai sky. Accessed 17 September 2015.
Retrieved from http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/05/us-indonesia-haze-
idUSKCN0RZ0VY20151005
ARTICLE 1
MODULE 1
‘EATING TOO MUCH SUGAR CAUSES
DIABETES’
A BRIEF SUMMARY

We hear a lot about eating a lot of sugar can cause

diabetes but its actually untrue. Its mainly caused by
our pancreas that does not work properly.
REFLECTION OF HOW THE ARTICLE RELATES
TO SPECIFIC CONCEPTS EXPLORED IN THE
MODULE

This article is related to Module 1 under the topic

sugars and artificial sweeteners. In this topic, i learnt
about the structure of the molecule and the
approximate energy content. Consuming high
amount of sugar can cause complications so we
must always control our eating habits and stay
healthy.
THE CHEMISTRY IN THIS
ARTICLE IS RELATED TO:

• TECHNOLOGY

There is a new system that can detect the pancreas

that does not work earlier which will make us able to
prevent for many people from getting diabetes. Plus,
there is also food that is a lot more sweeter than
sugar but contains zero calorie as a sugar substitute
for a healthy lifestyle.
• SOCIETY

If most people take a lot of sugar, or a lot of stalls

that sell food that contains high amount of sugar
come from the same area, it will increase the number
of people who consume sweet things. Plus, it
depends on the person’s genetic history, if there’s
diabetes from the ancestors, there’s a higher chance
for the particular person to get diabetes.
MY OPINION ON THIS ARTICLE

Personally i think, people have misunderstood the

actual reason we get diabetes because they put
sugar at fault but its not. To prevent this from
happening, those who are responsible for this matter
should make an awareness or campaign so that
more people would understand about this better.
Secondly, we must also do a check up regularly so
that if there is anything bad happening, we can cure
it straight away.
ARTICLE 2
MODULE 2
EXPLOSION RIPS THROUGH SHANDONG
CHEMICAL PLANT
A BRIEF SUMMARY

In Eastern China, there was an explosion that

damaged and destroyed the whole chemical plant in
a such quick time and nine people were injured. 12
fire engines tried to stop the fire and they all did.
REFLECTION OF HOW THE ARTICLE RELATES
TO SPECIFIC CONCEPTS EXPLORED IN THE
MODULE

The article is related to Module 2 under the topic

combustion which causes flames. Forest fires can
affect air quality on a much larger scale. Scientists
found that burning pine forests release large
quantities of chemicals called alkaloids into the air.
Alkaloids are naturally occurring substances
produced by plants. Some, like morphine, are
beneficial for humans. In large doses however, the
alkaloids produced can be potent toxins.
THE CHEMISTRY IN THIS
ARTICLE IS RELATED TO:

• TECHNOLOGY

The chemicals that came from the plant should be

investigated fast with a chemical detector or
anything that is related to it.
• SOCIETY

Before planting something chemical or related to

chemicals, must always consider the outcome that
we get from this, the good and the bad. At least
these things should never harm the people
surrounding it. Must also include safety and
precautions.
MY OPINION ON THIS ARTICLE

Personally i think, it is great to have a chemical plant

because we all know by planting this, we gain lots of
benefits from it but we must also consider the safety
and precautions. We should never harm anyone
because we are affecting those innocent people.
ARTICLE 3
MODULE 3
E-CIGARETTES AROUND 95% LESS
HARMFUL THAN REGULAR SMOKING
A BRIEF SUMMARY

They found out that E-cigarettes are not fully safe but
definitely less risky compared to smoking using
tobacco and cigarettes. Most adults from the UK
have stopped smoking and substitute it with E-
cigarettes. This will definitely cause a reduce in the
number of people who die each year.
REFLECTION OF HOW THE ARTICLE RELATES
TO SPECIFIC CONCEPTS EXPLORED IN THE
MODULE

The article is related to Module 3 under the topic

Quantities in Chemical Formula. It is stated that a
small dose is not harmful but a large dose can kill a
person which is definitely what an E-cigarette can
do.
THE CHEMISTRY IN THIS
ARTICLE IS RELATED TO:

• TECHNOLOGY

E-cigarette was built in 2003, it is a new technology

replacing the Tobacco. People have started using
this new technology maybe because it is said that
this E-cigarette can lessen the percentage of deaths
or maybe it is just cool to smoke electronically.
• SOCIETY

The amount of people using E-cigarette have

increased day by day, year by year. Without even
advertising about it, the news just swarmed like
bees.
MY OPINION ON THIS ARTICLE

Personally I think, risky or not, the people of the

world should really stop smoking because it does
not only affect themselves but also affect others
surrounding them. The amount of smoke produced
can definitely cause global warming, maybe not
much but still if we accumulate the years, it will result
negatively.
ARTICLE 4
MODULE 4
WATER POLLUTION IN INDONESIA CAUSES
HIGHER DEMAN FOR WATER PURIFIERS
A BRIEF SUMMARY

Indonesia holds 6% of the world’s fresh water,

however, the piped water’s quality is really bad
because it contains a lot of bacterias and germs
which can cause diseases. Most rivers in Indonesia is
so polluted but the citizens still use the water from
the rivers to wash, drink and etc. Hence, there is a
higher demand for water purifiers.
REFLECTION OF HOW THE ARTICLE RELATES
TO SPECIFIC CONCEPTS EXPLORED IN THE
MODULE

This article is related to Module 4 under the topic of

water. I learnt a lot about the importance of water
and the types of water contaminants which are
biological contaminants, chemical contaminants, and
physical contaminants.
THE CHEMISTRY IN THIS
ARTICLE IS RELATED TO:

• TECHNOLOGY

They should come up with a gigantic machine which

can collect all the rubbish from the rivers or simply
just make an awareness or campaign
• SOCIETY

People of Indonesia should take a good care of the

environment, stop polluting the country by throwing
rubbish anywhere, everywhere they want. The
government should take actions for those who
always do this. Most rivers are polluted by the
citizens themselves.
MY OPINION ON THIS ARTICLE

Personally, I think that Indonesia is a really beautiful

county with lots of amazing beaches and clear water.
But sadly the river near the village areas are
contaminated. The governments should really make
a change to this so that the people of Indonesia can
live a healthier life without any diseases that are
related with dirty water like UTI (urinary tract
infection).
ARTICLE 5
MODULE 5
MALAYSIA PM URGES INDONESIA TO TACKLE
FIRES, HAZE DRIFTS TO THAI SKY
A BRIEF SUMMARY

Malaysia PM, Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak urges

Indonesia to take decisive action against the
perpetrators. Even schools from Malaysia and
Singapore had to be closed to protect the school
children from the polluted air. The level of pollution
in the south area of Indonesia rose sharply because
of this issue.
REFLECTION OF HOW THE ARTICLE RELATES
TO SPECIFIC CONCEPTS EXPLORED IN THE
MODULE

The article is related to Module 3 under the topic

Gases and Atmospheric Chemistry. Carbon Dioxide
can contribute to climate changes which is released
during the activity of slash and burn agriculture.
THE CHEMISTRY IN THIS
ARTICLE IS RELATED TO:

• TECHNOLOGY

The high use of slash and burn agriculture has

caused the quality of air being infected. A new
technology should be developed to reduce the
emission of carbon dioxide also carbon monoxide
being released by the burnt agriculture
• SOCIETY

This issue has definitely caused the public to get

disease that is related to air pollution like the lung
disease or bronchitis. The temperature also would
increase gradually over time.
MY OPINION ON THIS ARTICLE

Personally I think, Indonesia needs to take a serious

action to overcome this problem in order to reduce
the air pollution that had been affecting other
neighbouring countries.