polarity

Molecular geometry is a center piece to a student’s understanding of intermolecular forces. Unfortunately, many students don’t have the special skills to “see” the geometry without a model kit. We use a model kit in our laboratories, but there are not enough of them nor are there funds to purchase more. The students are unable to use thes

Co-Authored by James W. Webb and Otis Rothenberger Department of Chemistry, Illinois State University, Normal, IL

At the end of our unit on chemical bonding, I wanted to provide an opportunity for students to apply the various topics from the unit into one culminating lab that was practical to execute and challenged their current understanding of the material.

Good day, Gentle Readers: After a recent study of Intermolecular Forces, my AP Chemistry students experienced the joy of performing a microscale extraction of caffeine from tea.

Teaching VSEPR theory presents some unique challenges for students - particularly picturing molecules in 3-D space. I have found manipulatives to be a powerful tool to help students visualize 3-D molecules. Here are some of my favorite manipulatives for teaching VSEPR and cheap at-home modifications for virtual learners.

Determination of Lewis Dot structures and visualization of the shapes of molecules using valence shell electron pair repulsion theory (VSEPR theory) is an example of an abstract concept that students often find difficult to learn.

By Tom Kuntzleman, Tori Talaski and Charles Schaerer   There is a new experiment circulating the web.  Check it out:  

I was looking for a new demonstration to initiate a discussion about polarity and related properties to use as part of an exam review. I found a video at ChemEd X (this is part of a ChemEd X subscription). It is entitled “Floating Squares – Hexane and Water” (see note below). I have placed both solutions together before, but I had not added the squares. The demonstration fulfilled my needs. I could have used the original video and muted it if I had not had hexane to demonstrate with.

Wow! Talk about an interesting idea! A very neat experiment, called “Hydroglyphics”, has been published by Philseok Kim, Jack Alvarenga, Joanna Aizenberg and Raymond Sleeper in the Journal of Chemical Education.