Read the text and see if your answers were correct.

Nanotechnology is one of the buzzwords today. One can encounter it in materials related to a wide range of topics. Can it really affect our life so much? Let’s look into the issue.

So what exactly is nanotechnology?

Nanotechnology is science, engineering and technology conducted at the nanoscale, which is about 1 to 100 nanometers.

Nanoscience and nanotechnology deal with the design, characterization and application of extremely small things and can be used across all the other science fields such as chemistry, biology, physics, materials science and engineering as well as humanities.

Nanotechnology is not just a new field of science and engineering but a new way of looking at things and studying them.

An American physicist Richard Feynman is considered the father of nanotechnology. In 1959 he described a process in which scientists would be able to manipulate and control individual atoms and molecules. It was not until 1981, with the development of the scanning tunneling microscope that could “see” individual atoms, that modern nanotechnology began.

It is hard to imagine just how small nanotechnology is. One nanometer is a billion of a meter, or 10^-9of a meter. Here are a few illustrative examples:

- There are 25.4000000 nanometers in an inch.

- A sheet of newspaper is about 100000 nanometers thick.

Nanoscience and nanotechnology involve the ability to see and control individual atoms and molecules.

Nanotechnology has been shown to be one of the primary reasons that so many things in life are being improved on and enhanced. It is also revolutionizing the way in which things are manufactured, processed and much more. Today’s scientists and engineers are finding a wide variety of ways to deliberately make materials at the nanoscale to take advantage of their enhanced properties. Such as higher strength, lighter weight, increased control of light spectrum, a greater chemical reactivity than their larger-scale counterparts.

In the future nanotechnology will let us achieve the ultimate in precision: place almost every atom in exactly the right location; make molecularly intricate structures as easy and inexpensively as simple materials; reduce the manufacturing costs.

Current applications of nanotechnology involve production and use of nanoparticles as well as new nanostructuredmaterials including metals, oxides and other inorganic nanotubes and fullerenes and their use in technological processes; the making and using of novel materials for electronics and active surfaces (for example, self-cleaning windows0, to name a few.

The scientific opportunities for Chemistry to make important contributions to nanoscience are great. In particular, one should mention 1) syntheses of nanostructures; 2) invention and development of materials whose properties depend on nanoscale structure; 3) understanding the molecular mechanisms of functional nanostructures in biology (DNA, the cell); 4) tools and analytical methods. Developing new nanostructures requires knowing what they are. Physical and Analytical Chemistry will help to build the tools that define these structures.

Presently there is a lot of focus world wide on chemical nanotechnology and it is bringing the chemists closer in other disciplines including physics and biochemistry, as well as materials scientists, engineers and industrialists.

Modern life and specifically the industry depend upon various man-made processes and products. Nanotechnology affects all these processes not only in terms of its potential in bringing out new products or substituting certain products but actually in much more fundamental ways. It is therefore important to comprehend the social, educational, environmental benefits of chemical nanotechnology. At the same time it is also imperative to know its implications in the health, safety and environmental areas.

 

Comprehension Aspect

Ex.1. Say whether the following statements are true or false. Correct the false ones.

1. Nanotechnology is science engineering and technology conducted at the nanoscale which is about 1 to 1000 nanometer.

2. Nanoscience is a cutting-edge technology which can be used only by all the sciences but humanities.

3. Modern nanotechnology began with the advent of powerful electronic microscopes in 1959.

4. One nanometer is a millionth part of a meter.

5. Nanotechnology allows to make materials at the nanoscale by manipulating individual atoms and molecules.

6. Nanotechnology is a completely safe technology, it doesn’t involve any risk for health and environment.

7. Nanotechnology has a great potential for technical sciences but it is not very relevant to humanities like history, culture, philosophy, and so on.

 

Ex.2. Match the words and expressions in the left-hand column with their definitions in the right hand column. They appear in the text you have just read.

1. imaging 2. buzz word 3. implications 4. scanning tunneling microscope 5. nanostructured 6. novel 7. issue 8. dramatically accelerate 9. fullerene

a. allotropic form of carbon b. speed up significantly, very noticeably c. a question under discussion d. of most advanced design, superior e. extremely small in size, very thin f. a “clever” term g. process of obtaining optical pictures h. electronic optical device designed to examine things at the atomic level i. consequences, effects that may occur

Ex.3. Find synonyms to the following words:

1. bring out 2. counterpart 3. take advantage of 4. substitute 5. the ultimate 6. encounter 7. intricate 8. enhanced 9. to name a few

a. a copy b. and so on c. the upper limit d. complex e. results in f. find g. improved h. use i. replace

 

Ex.4. Complete the following sentences using the text.

1. Nanoscience and nanotechnology are the study and … of … small things.

2. An American Physicist Richard Feynman described a … in which scientists would be able to … and … individual … and ….

3. In the future nanotechnology will let us achieve the … in precision: place almost every atom in exactly the … ….

4. It is also important to … the social, educational and environmental … of chemical nanotechnology and imperative to know its … in the health, safety and … areas.

 

Ex.5. Find and write out the key idea of each paragraph.

 

Ex.6. Discuss the following questions in groups. Make your own research and find the necessary information.

 

1. Do you agree that nanotechnology is not just a new field of science and engineering but a new way of looking at things and studying them?

2. Can nanotechnology ultimately change people’s life in every possible way?

3. Do you agree that nanotechnology will be able to boost sciences dramatically? (What research areas should scientists focus on? )

4. In what way can Chemistry contribute to nanoscience?

5. What do you know about nanochemical engineering?

6. What industries have already made use of nanotechnology?

7. Is there any potential of nanotechnology in medicine, (communications, agriculture, construction, theoretical physics, research information technology, space exploration, humanities, designing/construction)

8. What are the risks of nanotechnology? Do you believe (that) it can go out of control? What are the possible effects of nanoparticles on health, privacy, civil liberties?

 

Ex.7. Choose between the two conclusions:

1. Nanotechnology has a huge potential and can change our life significantly. Society should push nano-related research.

2. The importance of nanotechnology is very much exaggerated. Society needs to focus on real life problems instead of investing money in unrealistic projects.

 

Ex.8. Make up a presentation:

Current applications of nanoscale materials and their potential in the future.

 

 

GRAMMAR ASPECT

THE GERUND

The Gerund is a non-finite form of the verb which has both noun and verb functions.

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