Ryan Johnson and I took a trip to the top of Pikes Peak to study the Coke and Mentos experiment. And we had a few surprises along the way...
Engage your Chemistry students with a dynamic, 40-minute lab that uses the Ideal Gas Law to uncover the molar masses of "mystery gases." Perfect for Grade 11 or Honors Chemistry, this adaptable experiment combines theory with real-world applications!
During our October 2024 AP Teach meeting, we discussed Kinetic Molecular Theory, Maxwell-Boltzmann curves, and why gases deviate from ideal predictions. Check out the video summary and the presentation slidedeck!
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.
Dive into the topic of gas laws through a station-based activity designed to engage students in hands-on exploration. Students articulate their understanding through particulate models.
The floating soap bubble is an impressive experiment that is surprisingly easy to carry out.
A trip to see the 2024 solar eclipse provided the opportunity to explore ideas associated with sulfur in petroleum, sunlight intensity measurements, laser interference patterns from eclipse glasses, and large-scale light emission from excited hydrogen.
This timely post is a perfect fit for the theme of Chemists Celebrate Earth Week 2023! Algae is a rich topic with many possible connections to the chemistry classroom. Algae needs to take in light, carbon dioxide, and various simple nutrients and, though it can sometimes get out of control, can produce oxygen, diatomaceous earth, and other products. It can even fluoresce pink!
Michael Jansen offers one of his favorite demos - producing liquid CO2 from dry ice.
The Diet Coke and Mentos reaction is used as the basis for this hands on experiment. Students work in groups to research, test, and adapt as needed with the goal to get the highest possible geyser!
