The WEIRDEST Chemical Reaction I've Ever Seen!
Tom Kuntzleman | Sat, 09/07/2024 - 11:17
This chemical reaction is just plain weird...but also beautiful!
first-year undergraduate
Fluorescence Rocks! Exploring Glowing Sodalite
Dean Campbell | Wed, 08/21/2024 - 12:41
Syenite rocks containing sodalite that fluoresce yellow have been found on Lake Superior beaches in recent years and are of interest to collectors. The fluorescence of this mineral, which can be found in other localities, can be shown in classrooms and studied spectroscopically. Its structure can also be modeled with LEGO bricks, enabling further classroom connections.
Mechanochemistry with Phenolphthalein and Base
Dean Campbell | Wed, 07/24/2024 - 17:11
Grinding solid colorless phenolphthalein indicator and solid colorless magnesium hydroxide base can produce a reaction that causes the mixture to turn pink.
The Chemistry of Water Reveal Coloring Books
Tom Kuntzleman | Tue, 07/16/2024 - 07:01
How do Melissa & Doug’s “Water WOW!” Water Reveal coloring books work? Let's do some experiments to find out!
Using LEGO bricks and paper springs to illustrate helical chemical structures
Dean Campbell | Sat, 06/29/2024 - 13:56
Helical structures can be built from media such as LEGO bricks and paper. These structures can be used to model helical structures in chemistry. These include circularly polarized light and various helical biomolecules.
Amount and rate of heat transfer using iron spheres and liquid nitrogen
Dean Campbell | Tue, 06/04/2024 - 11:00
When iron spheres at room temperature are added to liquid nitrogen, the nitrogen boils as heat is transferred in from the iron. The amount of liquid nitrogen boiled depends on the amount of heat transferred, which depends on the mass of the iron added. However, the rate at which liquid nitrogen boils depends on the surface area of the iron in contact with the liquid nitrogen. These phenomena can be studied with experiments which measure the mass lost by the boiling liquid nitrogen.
Exploring Color Separation in Salting-Out Experiments
Tom Kuntzleman | Sat, 05/04/2024 - 07:44
Adding dyes to salting out experiments can create a variety of interesting color effects as the dyes differentially dissolve in the aqueous and organic layers. Can this differential solubility of dyes be explained using intermolecular forces as a guide?
Connecting Acid-Base and Redox Connections
Joseph Lomax | Mon, 04/01/2024 - 15:25
The connections between Acid-Base and Redox reactions already exist. How so? Let's find out.
Demonstrating the Glass Transition of Polylactic Acid with a Rattle
Dean Campbell | Wed, 03/27/2024 - 20:42
Polylactic acid (PLA) exhibits a glass transition from hard and brittle to soft and rubbery when immersed in boiling water. PLA-based structures containing a small metal object can be used as rattles when they are shaken. The sound of the rattles change when they are heated above or cooled below their glass transition, enabling them to be used as demonstrations.
The Chemistry of Pharaoh's Serpent with Calcium Gluconate
Tom Kuntzleman | Wed, 02/28/2024 - 13:59
Pharaoh's serpent is the name of a very interesting chemical reaction that produces a snake-like foam. Unfortunately, it requires the use of a toxic mercury compound. Explore this very similar reaction that can be achieved quite simply by using fuel tablets and calcium gluconate tablets and learn a lot about the chemistry that is involved!