Solar Power Facts: A Brighter Future Blog

The Solar Power Facts blog is a quick summary of all the new or changed information on how solar power can work best for you. It will

** let you know about new pages added to the website, and

** give you updates on current information, technological development and rebates.

The Volcano Experiment: A Simple Acid - Base Reaction

The volcano experiment is an extremely simple and safe project that kids of all ages love doing. The materials are available in any supermarket and from around the home.

Childrens Science Experiments: Learn with Fun

This section of childrens science experiments is dedicated to learning through fun and to develop the child's natural curiosity.These experiments are split into appropriate age categories.

Water Science Experiment: Brownian Motion

This water science experiment demonstrates the degree of motion of water molecules at different temperatures. The materials needed are present in most homes or at most will cost a dollar or two.

The Balloon Rocket Experiment

The balloon rocket experiment is a great way for kids to investigate the uses of pressure while having a lot of fun in the process. The materials required are extremely low cost.

2 Stroke Exhaust Pollution: How It Happens

2 stroke exhaust pollution is more significant than that produced by four stroke engines. This is due to the way in which the two stroke engine burns its fuel and ejects its spent gases.

Carbon Offset Credits: Make A Difference

Carbon Offset Credits, also called simply Carbon Offsets, are a way to fund projects that directly reduce the amount of Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere and therefore offset our activities.

The Carbon Credit Scam

There are some good reasons to see the Kyoto based carbon trading system as a carbon credit scam. These reasons put the while process of Certfied Emissions Reductions in a poor light.

Solar Garden Decor

There is a large range of available solar garden decor items to make your garden more attractive while being as environmentally friendly as possible. Live green with your solar garden.

Solar Bird Feeders: Add Wildlife And Beauty To Your Garden

There is a vast array of solar powered devices available for the home and garden, and this is also true of solar bird feeders. These are the same as regular bird feeders, but with solar circuitry.

The Electron Dot Diagram - The Basics of Bonding

The easiest and most reliable way to come up with the electron dot diagram for a given atom is to use the electron details of the subshell filling pattern to get the correct electron configuration.

Fossil Fuels or Solar Future? We must choose carefully.

Solar or fossil? Let's take a look at the future of fossil fuels and of ourselves if we continue to rely on them. The evidence suggests that we need to re-think our approach to energy use.

The Photovoltaic Solar Cell: how it works.

Find out how a Photovoltaic Solar Cell generates electricity from sunshine! No-nonsense text and clear pictures make understanding this topic a breeze.

Solar Energy Education For Kids - hands on experiments

Solar energy education helps children appreciate the uses of Solar Power. These experiments have easy to follow instructions and are free to use. Start investigating!

The Alkene Homologous Series: Structures and Isomers

An Alkene is a Hydrocarbon which means that it is a molecule made up entirely of Carbon and Hydrogen atoms. The Alkene series is similar to the Alkane series except for a double bond.

Plastics Raw Materials, Properties and Production

Plastics Raw Materials: Most of the plastics we use are made from crude oil. The processes involved in turning the oil into the final product are not beyond our grasp

Ethene: Production and Properties

Ethene, which is more commonly known as ethylene, is one of the main components of plastics. It is the most produced carbon based chemical in the world. Most ethene is produced in oil refineries.

The Chemistry Of It All

This page focuses on the chemistry behind the operation of solar energy. The concepts are broad and fascinating and empower us to see the brilliance in the humble solar cell.

The Potassium Atom: Structure and Properties

Each Potassium atom consists of 19 Protons in the nucleus and 19 electrons orbiting it. The most common form of Potassium also has 20 neutrons in the nucleus though this number can vary.

The Element Argon: Structure and Properties

The element Argon is the eighteenth heaviest element. Each Argon atom has 18 protons in the nucleus and 18 electrons orbiting that nucleus. The most common form of Argon also has 22 Neutrons.

The Bakken Oil Field: Fact or Fiction?

The North American Bakken oil field has received a fair degree of news coverage recently amid claims of up to 500 billion barrels of crude oil under the ground.

Peak Oil Facts: Where Do We Stand?

Peak Oil Facts: Where do we stand in relation to secure energy supplies for the future? Peak oil has already been passed in many smaller producing nations, but what about the OPEC countries?

Chemistry Definitions: The Chemistry of Solar Part 2

Chemistry Definitions: We have previously learned about what atoms and elements are, and how their outer shell electrons determine how they behave around other atoms.

Future Solar Energy: The Big Projects

Here are some of the best large scale current and future solar energy projects from around the world. These landmark projects are as impressive as they are essential.

Green Skyscraper: The Bank Of America Tower

The new Bank of America Tower under construction in New York is another major green statement and will set the standard in environmentally friendly green skyscraper design.

Fractional Distillation Of Crude Oil

Fractional distillation of crude oil is the first step in the production of many of the materials we have come to rely on in modern life. Almost all our fossil fuelscome from this process.

The Element Chlorine: Structure and Properties

Atoms of the element Chlorine have 17 protons in the nucleus and 17 electrons orbit the nucleus in the neutral atom. Chlorine atoms are never found singly in nature.

The Green Lawn Mower - Worth the Expense?

The idea of a green lawn mower, or one that is more friendly to the environment, is not something we often give a lot of thought to. After all most of us only wheel it out once a month.

What Is Octane?

What is Octane? We hear a lot about Octane in petrol and how a higher Octane rating means better performance in the majority of petrol powered engines, but why is this the case?

Solar Garden Fountains: The Green Choice

Solar garden fountains are a great way to add some life and movement to your garden, as well as the peaceful sound of running water. There are many shapes, sizes and styles.

The Solar Project

The most effective Solar Project we can work on is to have every available rooftop covered in solar panels that are correctly aligned to the sun.

The Photovoltaic Solar Cell: Basic Principles

The photovoltaic solar cell needs to be part of a complete circuit before it can generate any electric current. Electricity is the result of electrons moving in ONE direction through a circuit.

The Element Carbon

The element Carbon is one of the most important for life. This is because of the way it can bond to other elements to form an infinite variety of molecules, as explained below.

The Carbon Allotrope Group

Carbon Allotrope: The ability of Carbon to bond to four other atoms covalently means that pure Carbon can found in a variety of structural forms. Each has a different bonding pattern.

Electronegativity Values of Elements

Electronegativity values of elements are a result of the relationship between the number of protons in the nucleus, the total number of electrons and the distance of the the outermost electron shell.

Sulfuric Acid Formula and Production

The Sulfuric acid formula is H2SO4 and its structure is shown to the right. This diagram follows vsepr rules and does not show lone pairs of electrons.

The Element Sulfur: Structure and Chemical Properties

The element Sulfur contains 16 protons in its nucleus and therefore has 16 electrons in its neutral state. Sulfur can be found in its pure form in nature and also occurs in a wide variety of states.

How Batteries Work: The Lead Acid Accumulator Reactions

How Batteries Work: To understand how a battery backup solar array provides power throughout the night as well as the day we need to know about the chemical reactions.

How Do Batteries Work? Technical Details and Applications

We use batteries in everyday life and many of our devices are reliant on them, but how do batteries work? The main focus of this section is rechargeable batteries.

Carbon Monoxide Pollution

Carbon Monoxide pollution occurs primarily from emissions produced by fossil fuel powered engines. The incomplete reaction ofl air with fuel produces the colourless, odourless and highly toxic gas.

Smog Air Pollution: What Is It and How Does It Form?

Those of us who live in large cities are familiar with smog air pollution; the familiar brown haze resting over the city on a still day. We need to know what smog contains and where it comes from.

Make A Battery and Discover The Reactions Involved

To best understand how batteries work, it is best to make a battery cell out of several household materiald and observe its operation. Metals rusting preferentially has already been covered.

Nellis Airforce Base 15MW Solar Project

The United States Nellis Airforce Base in the Nevada Desert near Los Vegas will be home to a 15MW photovoltaic solar cell installation that will meet approximately one quarter of the base's needs.

What Is Phosphorous: The Element

What is Phosphorous? Phosphorous is the 15th element in the Periodic Table. The nucleus of a Phosphorous atom contains 15 protons. Phosphorous is very reactive and is never found in pure form.

Understanding Oxidation Reduction Reactions

Oxidation reduction reactions (redox for short) are the core of energy supply in batteries. In short, when a battery is supplying energy, redox reactions are occurring that are converting energy.

Balancing Redox Reactions

Balancing redox reactions is an easy process once we have a clear understanding of oxidation number rules. All we need is the reactants which are the starting chemicals and products.

Properties Of Aluminium: The Element

The properties of Aluminium are based on its atomic structure, as with all elements. Aluminium is of vital importance commercially, particularly to industries such as aviation and construction.

Earth's Solar Greenhouse

The solar greenhouse effect is the warming of the planet caused by too much heat from the sun being trapped by the atmosphere. This is a complex situation that requires some clear explanations.

Oxidation Number Rules

The oxidation number rules for identifying the oxidant and reductant in a redox reaction seem complex at first but become quite simple with a small amount of practice and are an excellent tool.

Nuclear Power Information: Fuel Preparation

Nuclear Power Information: Uranium ore deposits consist mainly of the stable isotope Uranium 238, which is shortened to U-238. with less than 1% of the Uranium being of the fissile, or splittable.

A Nuclear Power Plant Works Like This

A nuclear power plant works to provide us with electricity by harnessing the energy released by the nuclear fission reaction of radioactive fuel, often Uranium 235.