1. Home
  2. high school chemistry

high school chemistry

Does Alka-Seltzer Tell the Truth? A lab activity with a video pre-lab assigment

Josh Kenney | Mon, 11/15/2021 - 08:55

The lab activity shared here is a simple experiment where students use stoichiometric principles to experimentally determine the amount of sodium bicarbonate in an Alka-Seltzer tablet. Novice students tend to find stoichiometric calculations difficult, so practicing the calculations on a pre-lab assignment boosts their confidence and ultimately leads to more successful labs. The Asynchronous Video Pre-Lab Assignment shared here demonstrates the procedure and the calculations required in the experiment.

Chemical Bonding and Naming with Nora Walsh

Deanna Cullen | Sun, 11/07/2021 - 15:52

In this ChemBasics Talk, Nora Walsh offers everything necessary to plan a unit on the topic of chemical bonding and naming including introductory and discovery activities, manipulative activities, practice problems, her favorite online teaching resources and more. Watch the recording and access resources she shared.

Video Pre-Labs Improve the Lab Experience

Josh Kenney | Sun, 10/17/2021 - 14:49

Teaching during COVID was challenging; however, a few positive results surprisingly emerged. For one, Josh Kenney filmed a small library of chemistry lab videos for use in virtual chemistry labs after his school switched to remote learning. At first, he wasn't sure if he would continue to use those videos when his district returned to in-person instruction until he discovered that they would make excellent pre-lab assignments. 

Lithium Battery Flame

Tom Kuntzleman | Mon, 09/27/2021 - 16:42

Inspired by a recent article in the Journal of Chemical Education, Tom Kuntzleman attempted to extract lithium from a coin battery, and to use the extracted lithium to produce a pink flame.

The Mole Concept with Krystle Moos

Deanna Cullen | Sat, 09/18/2021 - 18:23

In this ChemBasics Talk, Krystle Moos offers everything necessary to plan a unit on the topic including linked NGSS standards, introductory activities and handouts, manipulative activities, practice problems, links to real world context, a lab and an assortment of videos. Watch the recording and access resources she shared.

Soda Fountains from Aluminum Cans

Dean Campbell | Thu, 09/16/2021 - 15:18

The familiar soda fountains that can be produced by adding Mentos candies to plastic bottles of carbonated beverages can also be produced by adding objects to carbonated beverages in aluminum cans. A variety of simple methods for producing soda fountains from cans are described.

The Start of Another Year.....

Chad Husting | Mon, 09/06/2021 - 14:03

Chad Husting explains how he used two hands on activities to get a sense of where his students were at within the realm of labwork and the scientific process as school began.