Alcohols and Energy it takes to break them Essays

  Alcohols and Energy it takes to break them Essays   Alcohols and Energy it takes to break them Essay Alcohols and Energy it takes to break them Essay This experiment is to investigate how much energy alcohols give off when they are burnt. When burnt the alcohol reacts with oxygen to give the products Carbon Dioxide and Water. Chemical Formula: Structural formula (methanol) Structural formula (ethanol) The structural formulas for the rest of the group of the homologous alcohols have the same structure, with more carbon and hydrogen atoms arranged in the same way. In an exothermic reaction heat is given out when the new bonds are formed. When bonds are broken the heat energy is taken in so the reaction is endothermic. In this experiment we have an exothermic reaction because it produces more energy forming new bonds than breaking them. So it gives out heat energy. The energy output is found by subtracting the energy produced to form the bonds from the energy produced to break the bonds. This is known as the enthalpy, which is always negative as heat is lost from the reaction. This can be shown in this rough energy level diagram. Chemical Principles By Master Slowinski suggest that heat used by products (Hp) subtracted by heat used for reactants (Hr) equals the enthalpy (? H). It can be shown in this chemical formula. Hp Hr = ?H However doing a practical experiment is not the only way to work out the enthalpy of an alcohol. We can show it in energy level equations, using figures from textbooks to tell us the energy in kJ/mol. This is a good way to predict what results we might get from our experiments if they go according to plan. Here is an energy level equation, how to work out the energy produced by burning Methanol. Chemical symbol of bond Energy required to break/form bonds C-C 347 O=O 498 O-H 464 C=O 805 C-O 350 C-H 415 In our practical experiment to work out the amount of energy released from the reaction we need to use this equation. Heat Energy = mass of water x specific heat capacity x change in temperature = ________ Joules This equation is only assuming that the energy released by the alcohol we are burning is the same as the heat energy absorbed by the water. The specific heat capacity is the amount of energy required to heat the substance. The specific heat capacity of water is 4.2J/à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C because that is the reliable figure that I have researched The bonds are made due to the forces of attraction between the atoms. This can be either covalent bonding, where the atoms share an electron, or ionic bonding which involves a metal and the one atom gives an electron to another atom. In our experiment the Hà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½O and the COà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ are examples of covalent bonding. I need to make my experiment a fair test by keeping the material of container, the volume of water in the container, the change in temperature and the height of the container from the flame the same. The only variable I will not be changing is the type of alcohol and the time taken to burn it. The variables for this experiment are: Material of Container: The beaker I keep the water in has to be the same as some materials are better conductors of heat than others. I will probably be using a copper container as it is easy to find and can withstand high temperature. The material will heat up, and I will have to use wooden tongs to keep the experiment safe and make sure that I dont get burnt. Volume of Water in Beaker: This needs to be the same throughout all of my experiments otherwise heat will be lost in the environment quicker or slower than the previous experiment. I have chosen water because it is safe and easy to obtain. Change in Temperature: We will keep this the same so that each of the alcohols can release the same amount of energy. If we were to use time as our controlling factor, then a fast burning alcohol such as Pentanol would increase the temperature far quicker than a slower burning alcohol such as Methanol. Height of Beaker above flame: This should be kept the same so that not very much heat energy can escape from going into the water. A boss and clamp, or a tripod should control this; I will investigate in my preliminary work, which one will work better. Length of Wick: I dont have any control over this factor, other than the Burner that I am using, the wicks should all be about the same size anyway. However I will try and chose burners that have wicks roughly the same length. Preliminary Work: In my preliminary work I will be trying to find out what volume of water would be best to use and whether to use a tripod or a boss and clamp to hold the beaker in place. I will also be investigating the temperature change in the water and what mass of the alcohols I should be using. I need to decide how many alcohols to burn and also to see how far above the flame the beaker will need to be. I will also be investigating the material of the beaker that the water is held in and looking at the length of wick. Prediction of Diagram of Preliminary work: Results of Preliminary Work: I tried out two different volumes of water, 50ml and 100ml. 50ml of water reached the temperature very quickly and 100ml of water is easy to use in my enthalpy calculations. The length of wick couldnt be altered from the length that it was originally at. The distance of the wick from the bottom of the beaker could be altered easily. I started off with it at 6cm from the bottom of the container, but changed it to 4.5cm as the movement of air in the classroom tended to blow the flame about a lot. I decided to use a copper beaker instead of a glass one as copper transfers heat quickly and not a lot of heat will be used to heat the copper beaker up. I also discovered that I would have to use a boss and clamp instead of a tripod as a boss and clamp is a lot more stable and I can alter the height of the beaker more easily. I cannot alter the mass of the alcohol that I am using, but I can measure the mass before I start and the mass at the end of the experiment, to work out how much mass of the alcohol has been burned. To decide what the temperature change had to be I could work out what it couldnt be before my preliminary experiment. I could cool the water, but it would take up valuable practical time. I could change the starting temp of my water, but there was no point as it was 24à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C, room temperature. I also couldnt raise it to more than 70à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C incase some of the water evaporated. In the end I settled with 20à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C temperature change as it didnt get too hot, and didnt take up too much time, so it allowed for some repeats. I also had to stir the water with a thermometer, to keep the heat constant in the copper container. Here are my preliminary results: Experiment 1: Mass changed from 127.22g to 126.7g when we burned Pentanol. We used 100ml of water and we had the beaker 6cm above the wick. The starting temperature was 24à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C which we raised 10à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C. Experiment 2: Mass changed from 126.7g to 126.0g when we burned Pentanol. We used 100ml of water and the beaker was 4.5cm above the wick. The starting temperature was 24à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C, which we increased by 20à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C. Experiment 3: Mass changed from 117.42g to 116.85g when we burned Methanol. We used 50ml of water and the beaker was 4.5cm above the wick. The starting temperature was 24à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C and we raised it by 20à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C. Experiment 4: Mass changed from 116.85g to 115.94g when we burned Methanol. We used 100ml of water and the beaker was 4.5cm above the wick. The starting temperature was 24à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C and we raised it by 20à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C. Diagram of Experiment: Apparatus: 1 measuring cylinder 5 different alcohol burners 1 copper container 1 box of matches 1 boss and clamp stand 1 pair of wooden tongs 1 thermometer 1 heat proof mat 1 set of scales A piece of paper and a pen 1 tap supplied with water Measurements: 100ml of water Copper Beaker 4.5cm above the burner I will be using a boss and clamp stand I will be raising the temperature of the water 20à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C Method: 1) Measure 100ml of water into a copper container, making sure that the container is clean. If it is not clean then rinse it out before beginning experiment. 2) Record the mass of the alcohol burner and place on a heatproof mat next to the boss and clamp stand. 3) Set up the boss and clamp with the container 4.5cm above the wick of the burner. 4) Stir and record initial temperature of the water. 5) Light the wick immediately after I have done this and continue stirring the water. 6) As soon as the water has reached 20à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C above the starting temperature blow out the wick and record the mass of the alcohol and burner. Throughout the test I will control the mass of water, 100ml, the same copper can and the wick 4.5cm from the bottom of the copper container. Predictions: I predict that alcohols with more carbon atoms in their chemical structure will produce more energy when their new bonds are formed. I predict that the alcohols with more carbon atoms such as Pentanol will produce more energy than an alcohol with less carbon atoms such as methanol. I also predict that the alcohols with more carbon atoms in their chemical structure will not have as much mass burned. This is because they are releasing more energy per gram than the alcohols with less carbon atoms in their chemical structure. Using the theoretical energy level diagram I can see how my results will come up against the theoretical ones. Alcohol Theoretical Energy Level Diagrams Results Methanol 666 kJ/mol Ethanol 1276 kJ/mol Propanol 1895 kJ/mol Butanol 2520 kJ/mol Pentanol 3138 kJ/mol Robert Bennett 10JR, 10A5 Robert Bennett 10A5 Dame Alice Owens School

W1D Tacoma Narrows Bridge Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

W1D Tacoma Narrows Bridge - Essay Example As emphasized, if a different kind of design was used, specifically that of â€Å"Clark Eldridges original design for the 1940 Tacoma Narrows Bridge† (Washington State Department of Transportation: What if†¦?, 2005, par. 2), the bridge was perceived to have been able to stand the natural forces and wind speeds that it encountered. The fact was corroborated as a comprehensive evaluation of the cause of the failure finally attested that â€Å"aerodynamic forces never have been taken into consideration in the design of any bridge. Heretofore bridges have been designed to withstand static stresses only† (American Association of Physics Teachers, 2000, p. 14). Thus, the project’s failure was identified to have been sourced in the planning and design stage where information was noted to be crucial and paramount prior to implementation of the structural phase. Washington State Department of Transportation. (2005). Lessons From the Failure of a Great Machine. Retrieved February 24, 2015, from wsdot.wa.gov:

The power of language Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The power of language - Essay Example But writers have huge capacity to influence the outlook of people which can be used to bring about constructive changes in the social fabric. Construction of meaning In ‘Superman and Me’, Alexie has emphasized that language plays hugely critical role in the development of individuals. As an Indian, living in Washington, he was often confronted with the dual personalities of the people of his race. They were meek and unassuming in the company of Whites but otherwise exhibited their natural vivacious personality. The language was key barrier which made them hesitant in interacting with others. But writer had constructed his own language and meaning which was inspired by his passion for reading books. He has used words and language in way that defines his will to make his own space in the dissenting society. He constructed his own meaning by asserting that ‘The words inside a paragraph worked together for a common purpose’. He further clarifies that ‘Our reservation was a small paragraph within the United States’ thereby justifying his existence. Limitation of broken language Alexie has used language to understand social differences and says that ‘knowledge delighted me’. ... His success is testament of their misconceived ideas. He is now an inspiration for his race. ‘Many are writing their own poems, short stories and novels’ shows the ability to read and write English language has made Indians assert themselves as individuals. Amy Tan’s Mother Tongue is another very important article that showcases how language can overcome barriers of class, race and culture. She has used ‘all the englishes’ in her writing. This is interesting phrase because it displays the confidence of the writer to use vernacular English to communicate effectively with people whose mother tongue might not be English. The variation in English language has occurred because immigrant families have changed it to make it easy for them to use and communicate. She asserts that vernacular english ‘has become our language of intimacy’. In a foreign land, ‘the fractured language’ is ‘perfectly natural’ for immigrant to fe el comfortable. She has raised very pertinent issue of language and says that people who do not speak perfect English are deemed ‘limited’. But she also asserts that her writing has captured ‘what language ability tests can never reveal: her intent, her passion, her imagery, the rhythms of her speech and the nature of her thoughts’. The writer has shown that even ‘broken english’ has the power to communicate ideas. Conclusion Both the writers have used English as language for writing and communication. They have adopted the mainstream language to integrate as well as to understand the psychology of human relationship. The language is a means of communication and if the person is able to communicate in ‘broken english’, he has served his/her purpose: which is to transfer some idea or suggestion or

Conflict Resolution Essay Example for Free

Conflict Resolution Essay Leaders must learn how to deal with issues that may arise among their followers. Some of these issues may consist of the leader managing conflicts, handling communication challenges among team members, or addressing organizational communication needs. The communication process is important step for the transfer and understanding of meaning between individuals when working toward a goal together (Robbins Judge, 2013). With the correct style of communication utilized leaders can help to avoid conflicts among groups. Storybook #1 How would you react when a team member is being vague and trying to spin bad news to sound more positive, thereby making it harder for the team to actually approach and resolve the issue? Communication is an essential tool for the group’s success when working together as a team. When a team member chooses to be evasive or sugar coat issues or problems with a project can result in a missed deadline or complete failure depending on how bad the problem is. If a problem arises, the best thing to do is discuss it with the entire team as soon as possible to allow time to address the issue and come up with an alternative plan. How could you encourage someone to continue to voice his or her opinion or to share an idea when you know he or she is hesitant to do so? For someone who is hesitant to share his or her opinion or idea, leaders should encourage their participation by offering some their own opinions and ideas on the matter and asking a question or two regarding his or her thoughts. Through back and forth dialogue, slowly the leader would obtain the individuals ideas and opinions on the project. By obtaining everyone on the teams thoughts, a well-informed final decision can be made on how to proceed. By doing this, the reluctant team member will believe that they have contributed to the project. Storybook #2 As a manager, how would you relay an important negative message with as little impact on your team as possible? Why would you choose this method?  As a manager, delivering any negative message is a hard thing to do. It is even harder when you are trying to do it with little impact on your team.  Communicating a negative message is a difficult task and must be handled delicately to minimize the demotivating impact of the message. Negative message routinely pop up in the business world and can impact personal relationships. It is important for managers to determine the most appropriate way to deliver a negative message to employees. Managers can deliver bad news either with the direct approach or the indirect approach. The direct approach seems to be the best used when managers want to get to the point quickly and when the bad news is not too serious. When individuals compromise they are using a direct approach to resolving conflict by giving up something to gain something (Duggan Media, n.d.). The indirect approach is best used when you need to prepare the audience for what he or she is about to discover. This method is an excellent approach because it shows compassion and shows that the leader is actually making an effort to provide options. What is the best way to handle gossip before it spreads? The best way to handle gossip before it spreads it to try to catch it as it happens. Gossip usually spreads fast therefore; I would try to capture the gossip before it gets out of hand. As a manager, gossip is the negatively spreading of rumors about someone or something so by capturing the event is a great way to establish a nice working environment for everyone. How might you handle your team’s feelings after a negative situation has occurred that does not directly affect your team but affects others around them? There are several ways to handle a team’s feelings after a negative situation has occurred. As a manager, you have to know all your team’s personalities because everyone in a negative situation handles things differently. Some may need to be left alone whereas others need more of an explanation further on the negative situation. Handling negative feelings with a team depends on the team’s individual personalities. Storybook #3: What strategies would you use to help your team alleviate stress caused by deadlines before any conflict arises? Each day managers are confronted with scenarios that require attention. These can range from balancing a budget, customer service, and conflicts within teams. Managers must determine the best way to handle these situations on a case-by-case basis.  Managers must choose the best option based upon corporate culture, persons affected, and the nature of the scenario. Conflict in the workplace is inevitable and healthy. It breeds new ideas and creativity when handled properly. Conflict among teams that disrupts productivity and risks deadlines should be handled immediately. Allowing disruptive conflict in the workplace to linger, presents a threat of missed deadlines, which results in decreased revenue. This can devalue the company and the manager’s reputation, and cause the company to miss out on future opportunities for revenue in the marketplace. An important leadership responsibility is to interpret confusing events and build consensus around. Reacting to a disruptive conflict in the workplace immediately would demonstrate the manager taking on this important role. A leader immediately stepping in willing to meet with the individual’s one-on-one and as a whole to come to an agreement demonstrates what an effective leader he or she is. A manager could easily spend minutes, hours or even days trying to figure out what is standing in the way of a team coming together and successfully meeting their deadlines, but a great leader intervenes and help everybody come together to resolve conflicts to meet his or her deadlines. Multiple perspectives often conflict with one another and it is difficult to determine the best solution. Actions sometimes support one perspective. When faced with a dilemma the leader needs clarity in identifying varying perspectives to make the best decision. Opening a communication channel between emp loyees and management is a key step in establishing a comfortable environment. Conclusion Each of the Storybook scenarios demonstrates how leaders must use different methods of communication to avoid conflicts. Leaders must analyze the situation to determine which principle or style of communication is best suited for the particular circumstance. It is the leader’s responsibility to avoid conflicts among the group and to ensure that communication is being exchanged in the correct matter among team members. References Duggan, T., Media, D. (n.d.). Indirect Direct Approaches to Conflict. Retrieved from http://www.smallbusiness.chron.com Robbins, S. R., Judge, T. A. (2013). Organizational Behavior (15th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.

Essay --

John C. Maxwell once wrote, â€Å"Leadership is the power of one harnessing the power of many.† Rousseau, in The Social Contract Theory writes that leadership is necessary to create law. A leader must have the ability to provide for all, no matter the case. Thus, they must have the â€Å"power of many† in order to understand the will of the people. A population cannot create laws for itself without guidance from some higher power. An effective leader must be able to harness the power of many in order to create effective laws and rules for the collective good. Rousseau uses several examples of worthy leaders in order to prove that quality leadership determines fair law in Book II, Chapter VI: THE LAW. In particular, he discusses the role of God, legislators, and guides. First, the efficiency of lawmaking will be discussed, then the reasons law is essential, next the characteristics per Rousseau of an ideal lawmaker, and finally the best type of leader or guide will be debated. Many things have changed since Rousseau’s time, however the need for a leader to determine fair law has remained the same, and will continue to be a large part of governments and societies. Rousseau describes the efficiency of lawmaking, saying: â€Å"So long as men are content to attach to this word only metaphysical ideas, they will continue to debate without being understood† (p.178). Rousseau is essentially arguing that the relationship between the number of leaders and the productivity of those leaders is an inverse one: the more leaders, the less accomplished. This is why it is necessary to have one strong leader instead of having the whole of the people lead the people. The difference between decrees and laws is the difference between States and republics. R... ...lways right. A guide who is able to enlighten the general public and create laws is a true asset to the population because of a leader’s ability to view objects and situations without a personal perspective. This is why there is always â€Å"need of a legislator.† Some leaders believe that they are held to lesser standards than their people. This is one problem with putting certain people in charge of the rest of the community. However, laws apply to everyone, including those who make them. This is why there is a separate party that enforces the law, to create equality for all. This is why leaders and guides are beneficial for a community. In order to maintain a fair society, there is need for legislators who are subjected to the laws they create. Without guides, the laws would not be effective or fair to all, and the State would not obtain the status as a republic.

Introduction Chapter

Key Terms and Concepts (1-24) 1. Denudation is the total effect of all actions (weathering, mass wasting, and erosion) that lower the surface of the continents. 2. Weathering- the physical and chemical disintegration of rock that is exposed to the atmosphere. Mass-wasting- the short-distance down slope movement of weathered rock under the direct influence of gravity; also called mass movement. Erosion- detachment, removal, and transportation of fragmented rock material. 3.Openings in the surface and near- urface bedrock are frequently microscopic, but they may also be large enough to be conspicuous and are sometimes huge. In any case, they occur in vast numbers and provide avenues along which weathering agents can attack the bedrock and break it apart. Subsurface weathering is initiated along these openings, which can be penetrated by such weathering agents such as water, air, and plant roots. As time passes, the weathering effects spread from the immediate vicinity of the openings i nto the denser rock beyond. . Joints are cracks that develop in bedrock due to tress, but in which there is no appreciable movement parallel to the walls of the joint. Faults are breaks in bedrock along which there is relative displacement of the walls of the crack. 5. Master Joints are Joints that run for great distances through a bedrock structure. Master Joints play a role in topographic development by functioning as a plane of weakness, a plane more susceptible to weathering and erosion than the rock around it. 6.Mechanical weathering is the physical disintegration of rock material without any change in its chemical composition; also alled physical weathering. Chemical weathering is the chemical decomposition of rock by the alteration of rock-forming minerals. 7. Frost wedging is the fragmentation of rock due to expansion of water that freezes into ice within rock openings. 8. Salt wedging is the rock disintegration caused by the crystallization of salts from evaporating water. 9. Exfoliation is the weathering process in which curved layers peel off bedrock in sheets.This process commonly occurs in granite and related intrusive rocks after overlying rock has been removed, allowing the body to expand slightly. An exfoliation dome is a large rock mass with a surface confguration that consists of imperfect curves punctured by several partially fractured shells of the surface layers (due to exfoliation). 10. Oxidation is the chemical union of oxygen atoms with atoms from various metallic elements to form new products, which are usually more voluminous, softer, and more easily eroded than the original compounds.When iron-bearing minerals react with oxygen (become oxidized), iron oxide is produced. This reaction, probably the most common oxidation in the lithosphere, is called rusting. 1 . Hydrolysis- a chemical union of water with another substance to produce a new compound that is nearly always softer and weaker than the original. Carbonation- a process in whi ch carbon dioxide in water reacts with carbonate rocks to produce a very soluble product (calcium bicarbonate), which can readily be removed by runoff or percolation, and which can also be deposited in crystalline from if the water is evaporated. 2. Biological weathering is rock biological weathering is lichens. Lichens are primitive organisms that consist of algae and fungi living as a single unit. Typically they live on bare rock, bare soil, or tree bark. They draw minerals from the rock by ion exchange, and this leaching can weaken the rock. 13. Differential weathering is the process whereby different rocks or parts of the same rock weather and/or erode at different rates. 14. The steepest angle that can be assumed by loose fragments on a slope without downslope movement is called the angle of repose.This angle, which varies with the nature and internal cohesion of the material, represents a fine balance between the pull of gravity and the cohesion and friction of the rock materi al. If additional material ccumulates on a debris pile lying on a slope that is near the angle of repose, the newly added material may upset the balance and may cause all of part of the material to slide downward. 15. Rockfall (fall) is the mass wasting process in which weathered rock drops to the foot ofa cliff or steep slope. 16. Talus (scree) are pieces of weathered rock, of various sizes, that fall directly downslope.Sometimes the fragments accumulate relatively uniformly along the base of the slope, in which case the resultant landform is called a talus slope or talus apron. 17. A talus cone is a sloping, cone-shaped heap of dislodged talus. This cone pattern is commonplace because most steep bedrock slopes and cliffs are seamed by vertical ravines and gullies that funnel the falling rock fragments into piles directly beneath the ravines, usually producing a series of talus cones side by side along the base of the slope or cliff. 18. A rock glacier is an accumulated talus mass that moves slowly but distinctly downslope under its own weight. 9. Landslides do not require the lubricating effects of water or clay, although the presence of water may contribute to the action; many slides are triggered by rains that add weight to already overloaded slopes. Landslides may be activated by other stimuli as well, most notably by earthquakes. 20. A slump is different from other kinds of landslides because it is a slope collapse slide with rotation along a curved sliding plane. 21. A landslide is a general term for a type of slope failure involving an instantaneous collapse of a slope and movement along a generally flat sliding plane.A mudflow is a rapid, downslope movement of a dense mixture of weathered rock and water through or within a valley. 22. Earthflow is the mass wasting process in which a portion of a water- saturated slope moves a short distance downhill. A debris flow is a stream-like flow of dense, muddy water heavily laden with sediments of various size s; a mudflow containing large boulders. 23. A soil creep is the slowest and least perceptible form of mass wasting, which consists of a very gradual downhill movement of soil and regolith.Soil creeps happen slower than a snail can move, and they usually can be prevented if falling towards a house/building. 24. Solifluction is a special form of soil creep in tundra areas; associated with summer thawing of the near-surface portion of permafrost, causing the wet, heavy surface material to sag slowly downslope. Study Questions (1-5) 1. It is possible for weathering to take place beneath the surface of bedrock because of things such as Joints within the rock. If the Joints are deep enough, the weathering will take place underneath certain parts of the rock.There are many types of a whole, not Just the surface. 2. Chemical weathering is more effective in humid climates than in arid climates because arid climates do not have water. Humid climates have higher amounts of water and higher tem peratures so chemical weathering happens faster. 3. There is a direct relationship between gravity and ass wasting. Any mass moves in the direction of the vector sum of all the forces acting on it, with acceleration numerically equal to the magnitude of the sum of the forces divided by its mass.On or near the Earth's surface, gravity is always one of the forces. 4. Clay reacts to water by expanding, and when it dries, it contracts. Some clay does it so small that it's barely noticeable, some clay does it so much that you can very easily see it happen right in front of your eyes. If these clays are in a crack between rock, or in a layer beneath rock, or basically any place that the clay is omehow packed between two hard rocks, and it gets wet, then it will expand, and put force on the two rock layers.Then it will dry, and â€Å"pull† the layer or Joint into a weaker state. If this happens over a long enough time, then it will break the rock that is in the weaker position. 5. R ainfall can expedite mass wasting because when there is more water in the objects that are falling, the objects (falling rocks) become heavier, therefore the process is speeded up. The more rainfall there is, the more water will be accumulated and the heavier the falling rocks will be.

Leveling The Playing Field - 1479 Words

Leveling the Playing Field Tracy Hunt BA340 G00114492 June 11 2015 Stephen Shortland Leveling the Playing Field The term Affirmative Action had very little meaning for the average American years ago. Affirmative action has been described as actions or steps an organization must take to show that it is not showing or fostering any kind of discrimination. It provides qualified people with the same access to educational and professional opportunities that would otherwise have been denied them if they were fully qualified. Through out the years the affirmative action has adapted to the times and to the people. Affirmative action has been known for accomplishing a great deal of good but also a great deal of harm. Good examples†¦show more content†¦Plus Congress discuss Civil Rights Act that Congress prohibited private employers from discriminating against applicants or employees on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or religion with respect to employment decisions. Organizations that had find an imbalance may actively search for qualified minorities by recruiting from colleges where most African Americans or women attend. During these times this program was a target and also received lawsuits. Much of the scrutiny had focused on the realization that affirmative action based employment decisions were focused on group membership rather than individual performances. So to change the imbalance of information the Privacy Act of 1974 came out. This act applied to the federal government agencies, and it required all employee personnel files to be open for inspection. So during this time employees would be permitted or be allowed to look into their files at anytime to make sure all the information inside is correct. Affirmative action at that time became a very touchy subject. So the action would change drastically and became something that it was never intended to be. In fact, it has become reverse racism in this day and age. A good example of how affirmative action has becoming reverse racism was obvious in the â€Å"Gutter and Gratz case.† Although the Gratz case was ruled