What To Do After the Exams?

Lead contributor Nora Walsh has compiled several activities for AP students to follow after the exam. From engaging one-day activities to Organic lessons and project ideas, Nora has you covered for a successful end of the school year with your AP students. 

Schrödinger’s Chef: Quantum superposition and the result-less-ness of unperformed experiments

A pre-dinner conversation leads to a different way of thinking about quantum superposition.  A meal from an idiosyncratic chef is not defined until “the reveal.”  Discussion of this leads to the statement by Asher Peres that “unperformed experiments have no results.”  Discussion of Peres’ statement, then contrasting versions of resultlessness in both macroscopic and quantum realms, leads to classroom discussion.  This, hopefully, creates an easier and deeper understanding of quantum mechanics.

A Critical Look at Units

In this blog, Michael Jansen considers the significance of using proper units and their role in helping students develop a conceptual understanding of Chemistry. 

Not so Green Up Close: a Peek at a dyed Chicago River Sample

Light absorbance and fluorescence were studied for a sample of the Chicago River that had been dyed green for St. Patrick’s Day. The sample had weak green fluorescence, showing that the intense green appearance of the river was in part due to the long path length of light through the water. The ability of the green color to partition into 1-octanol was also explored.

Chemistry Topics

acids/bases applications of chemistry aqueous solution chemistry Atomic Properties / Structure conductivity consumer chemistry Demonstrations density electrochemistry electrolysis equilibrium Food Science gases General Chemistry Intermolecular Forces kinetics Laboratory Instruction liquids metals noncovalent interactions Outreach oxidation/reduction Oxidation / Reduction Phases / Phase Transitions / Diagrams Physical Chemistry physical properties Polymer Chemistry Public Understanding reactions solids stoichiometry thermodynamics