Controversial Substances Mini Summative G
Controversial Substances Mini Summative G
Controversial Substances Mini Summative G
Background
Since many people in the general public do not have a strong scientific
background, they are unaware of the dangers caused by many every-day
chemicals, ranging from home use pesticides to commercially available
addictive substances such as cigarettes and alcohol. Our job as science
students and educators is research and inform those in our life about the
dangers of harmful substances.
Synchronous Work period: Wednesday May 12th (half the period), Asynchronous
work period 3: May 13th and 17th.
The note taking section of your project will be due May 17th by midnight to the
dropbox
The flipgrid will be due May 17th by midnight to the flipgrid website (you do not need
to download or hand this into the dropbox)
The Assignment
● Each student will choose one harmful substance from the list below (see provided PDF
document for a more complete list)
● Conduct research on your substance and learn the following information
o Background and Purpose (What is your chemical and what is it used for?)
▪ Chemical formula and type of matter (element, compound, solution, mechanical
mixture)
▪ How essential is the substance in day-to-day life of people?
o Hazards – How exactly is the substance dangerous?
▪ What negative effects does the substance cause to humans?
▪ Refer to WHMIS classifications – Which WHMIS symbols apply to your substance?
o Regulations – Are there any regulations limiting or outlawing use of the substance?
▪ How do regulations in Canada compare to regulations in other countries?
● Reach a conclusion – Should your chosen substance be banned for the sake of human safety?
Explain why or why not
Note-Taking Section- YOU ARE PRACTICING PARAPHRASING YOUR OWN WORDS AND SOURCING
YOUR WORK.
JASS Resources:
1. How to do a basic investigation with online databases (Mr. Blackwood)
2. Investigating with google docs explore (Mr. Blackwood)
3. Practice Paraphrasing (Mr. Blackwood)
4. How to use myBib for your bibliography (Mr. Blackwood)
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/Tox
Profiles/tp22-c1-b.pdf
Application: List arguments for Pros (Why should we ban your chosen chemical?) and Cons (Why
shouldn’t we ban your chosen chemical?) for banning your chosen chemical?
Consider the following: How does it affect health? Does it affect people in society? Does it affect the
terrestrial or aquatic animals/plants (environment)? Does it affect the economy (is there a cost?)
Pros Cons
● Major health issues come from high levels of ● it is a part of our everyday life and only high
aluminum intake amounts of consumption are harmful which
is rare
● can be flammable
● it helps purify drinking water and other
foods
● it is used in everyday life for things like cell
phones, cans, zippers and car parts
● it is very sustainable
Based on the arguments above, make a decision about whether to ban the chemical or not, then
support your claim by explaining why in the space below: (explanation can be in point-form – this is
your rough copy) This can also be the script for your short flipgrid video!
Explanation: In my opinion, we should not ban aluminum. Aluminum is a silvery, lightweight metal
that is seen in everyday materials such as cans, foils and kitchen utensils. I don’t this substance should
be banned because aluminum is a part of everyday life and everyone consumes it daily. The reason this
substance shouldn’t be banned is that everyone consumes it and the only way it is harmful is if high
amounts are consumed and that shouldn’t be happening unless you or where you work is not following
the regulations and recommendations to keep your air from being polluted. Even with high amounts of
aluminum being consumed, there are no guaranteed health issues that come from that it is more based
on each person. Aluminum is essential and there is almost no way that you can get rid of it. Aluminum
helps filter drinking water and other foods. With the way the world is today, almost everyone has a cell
phone or mobile device. Aluminum is a very sustainable element that is seen in things like mobile
devices and is the best option for the manufacturing of these things. Even though aluminum has some
rare negative effects it is mostly positive and the negative effects are too rare to ban the substance.
Aluminum is everywhere and there isn’t really a way to ban it. There are so many good things that
come with aluminum such as purifying water, used in cell phones and it is a sustainable substance, I
believe that this substance should stay.
List your sources in the proper bibliographic format in alphabetical order below:
Bibliography in APA
References
Aluminium - Element information, properties and uses | Periodic Table. (n.d.). Retrieved from www.rsc.org
website:
https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/13/aluminium#:~:text=Aluminium%20is%20a%20silvery
%2Dwhite
Aluminum 101 | The Aluminum Association. (n.d.). Retrieved May 18, 2021, from www.aluminum.org
website:
https://www.aluminum.org/aluminum-advantage/aluminum-101#:~:text=Lightweight%2C%20durabl
e%20and%20highly%20recyclable
Aluminum Formula - Chemical Formula, Structural Formula And Properties. (n.d.). Retrieved May 18, 2021,
https://www.aluminum.org/resources/electrical-faqs-and-handbooks/safety
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/tp22-c1-b.pdf
Health Canada. (2015). The safe use of cookware - Canada.ca. Retrieved from Canada.ca website:
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/household-products/safe-use-cookware.html
Grading Rubric