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!
high school chemistry
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.
The Fun Side of Gas Laws: Brain Breaks with Boyle's Law
Melissa Hemling | Tue, 08/06/2024 - 22:33
Looking for a fun way to teach gas laws? Try using brain breaks! Activities like the Longest Straw Challenge and Suck it Up Skittles Challenge not only get students up and moving but also make learning Boyle's Law engaging and memorable.
Solubility Showdown: A Brain Break for Chemistry Classrooms
Melissa Hemling | Fri, 07/26/2024 - 22:46
Discover how "Solubility Showdown," a lively brain break game, transforms learning solubility rules into a memorable experience filled with student banter and excitement.
Ion Chip Challenge: A Brain Break for Chemistry Classrooms
Melissa Hemling | Thu, 07/25/2024 - 21:37
The Ion Chip Challenge is an interactive brain break game where students play rock-paper-scissors to exchange electron chips, helping them understand ion formation by addressing common misconceptions about positive and negative charges. This engaging activity combines movement and social interaction, making chemistry concepts more accessible and reinforcing that ions are formed through the transfer of electrons, not protons.
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.
Bronsted-Lowry Balloon Blast Brain Break
Melissa Hemling | Mon, 06/03/2024 - 13:32
Discover how a simple brain break activity, involving water balloon tosses, creatively reinforces the principles of Brønsted-Lowry acids and bases, making chemistry engaging and accessible for students.