Want a gas-law demo that students talk about all year? Try launching ping-pong balls with liquid nitrogen. This article shares how a pep-rally idea grew into an explosive, high-engagement lesson—and how the chemistry behind it creates a moment they won’t forget.
At our October meeting, teachers shared creative ways to make practice more engaging and meaningful. Kristen Vanderveen demonstrated a movement-based station activity for gas laws, while Sue Biggs presented her Molar Mass of a Gas lab that blends instruction with review and reflection.
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!
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.
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.
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.
Check out the schedule for upcoming ChemEd X Talks along with recordings of past events.
The floating soap bubble is an impressive experiment that is surprisingly easy to carry out.
Michael Jansen offers one of his favorite demos - producing liquid CO2 from dry ice.
