oxidation reduction

The Required Skills to Balancing Redox Equations—Logical and Easy

Michael Jansen | Fri, 09/26/2025 - 11:12

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Balancing redox reactions doesn’t have to feel like a guess-and-check process. Once students master oxidation numbers, they can follow a clear “script” to keep every atom, charge, and electron on cue—even in acidic solutions like Fe²⁺/MnO₄⁻ → Fe³⁺/Mn²⁺. This article shares a student-ready, color-coded, animated PPT and a step-by-step routine (LEO/GER, electron equalization, H₂O/H⁺ balance) that turns messy equations into solvable scenes.

An Empirically-Based and Logical Approach to Teaching the Oxidation Number Concept

Michael Jansen | Sun, 08/24/2025 - 12:32

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Oxidation-Reduction (Redox) reactions, also referred to as electron-transfer reactions, are common. So common, in fact, that four of the five general reaction types studied in Honors Chemistry involve the transfer of electrons. In this post, lead contributor Michael Jansen outlines three approaches to teaching electron transfer and Redox reactions.

The WEIRDEST Chemical Reaction I've Ever Seen!

Tom Kuntzleman | Sat, 09/07/2024 - 11:17

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This chemical reaction is just plain weird...but also beautiful!

Interactive Notebooking in AP Chemistry - An Electrochemistry Unit

Nora Walsh | Sun, 04/14/2024 - 12:28

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Nora Walsh outlines the interactive notebook pages she uses for her AP Chemistry electrochemistry unit. All of the documents and foldables are available for download.

Connecting Acid-Base and Redox Connections

Joseph Lomax | Mon, 04/01/2024 - 15:25

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The connections between Acid-Base and Redox reactions already exist. How so? Let's find out.

Burning paper towels soaked in various metal nitrates

Tom Kuntzleman | Mon, 10/16/2023 - 13:04

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Igniting paper towels that have been soaked in concentrated potassium nitrate and allowed to dry yields a flame reminiscent of that produced by guncotton. Repeating this experiment with other metal nitrates produces flames with different colors, plus a few other chemical surprises! This series of experiments is fascinating and connects to a wide variety of chemical topics including combustion, redox reactions, chemical thermodynamics, and flame tests. You don't want to miss this one!

Colourful Chemistry of Canning – Part 5

Iain Smellie | Wed, 09/06/2023 - 08:56

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Part 5 of Colourful Chemistry of Canning explores the ability of tinplated food cans to reduce aromatic azo compounds to amines.

Colourful Chemistry of Canning – Part 4

Iain Smellie | Fri, 08/18/2023 - 09:45

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Part 4 of Colourful Chemistry of Canning explores how to make gold in an old tin can!

Colourful Chemistry of Canning – Part 3

Iain Smellie | Thu, 04/13/2023 - 13:38

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Part 3 includes further anthocyanin experiments to make a connection between the food we eat and the chemical principles that are employed to ensure that canned foodstuffs can be preserved properly. These recent studies have focused on the reaction of tinplate cans with iodine.

A Demo A Day II: Demonstrations and Props Used in My Environmental Chemistry Class

Dean Campbell | Sat, 12/03/2022 - 21:08

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Short descriptions of demonstrations and props that Dean Campbell has used while teaching his collegiate Environmental Chemistry course. Many of these examples are also suitable for use in high school and collegiate General Chemistry courses.