Mike Ghia
If you only know one chemical equation, this is the one Mike thinks you should know.
What is photosynthesis?
The form of energy that breaks chemical bonds during photosynthesis.
What is sunlight?
The average percentage of sugar in maple sap before boiling.
What is 2%?
The most common method of collecting sugar maple sap used by large scale sugarmakers.
What is the sapline?
The way sugarmakers measure the acidity of the soil?
What is the pH scale?
The number of years Mike has been managing Vermont Academy's sugarbush.
What is 16 years?
The two chemical reactants in photosynthesis.
What are CO2 and H2O?
The percentage of sugar in maple sap when if officially becomes syrup.
What is 66%?
The months of the year that sap flows in Vermont.
What are February and March?
The name of the supercontinent that began to break up into seven continents 175 million years ago.
What is Pangea?
The device Mike uses to test the sugar content of the sap.
What is a refractometer?
The two products of photosynthesis.
What are glucose and oxygen?
The average number of gallons of sap it takes to make one gallon of syrup.
What is 40?
*I'll give it to you if you're off by one or two.
The technology used by modern sugarmakers to increase the concentration of sugar in sap before boiling.
What is a reverse osmosis machine?
The three main types of rocks.
What are igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic?
Mike's favorite brand of jacket to wear while sugaring.
The chemical formula for the glucose molecule.
What is C6H12O6?
Three grades of syrup from lightest to darkest.
What is Vermont Fancy (the lightest), Grade A Medium, Grade A Dark, Grade B (Robust)?
*three out of four will suffice
The name of the device that a sap bucket hangs from.
What is a spile?
The name for the processes that transfer matter through the atmosphere, biosphere and geosphere.
What are the biogeochemical cycles?
The number of children Mike has.
What is 2 (boys)?
The balanced chemical equation for photosynthesis?
6CO2 + 6H20 ---sunlight---> C6H12O6 + 602
The technical name for the browning that takes place in sap as it undergoes the boiling process.
What is Maillard reaction?
The Native American people who lived in this region and passed their knowledge of sugaring on to European settlers.
Who are the Abenaki people?
The molecular formula for a greenhouse gas that is produced by cows.
What is CH4?