1. Home
  2. Chemistry

Chemistry

The Required Skills to Balancing Redox Equations—Logical and Easy

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

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. 

Ramping Up the Disappearing Rainbow with the Assassin’s Water Bottle

Tom Kuntzleman | Tue, 09/16/2025 - 09:44

What happens when chemistry and illusion collide? In The Disappearing Rainbow, a simple acid–base demonstration transforms into a spellbinding performance. With a single pour, colorless liquids bloom into a vibrant rainbow—then vanish in an instant. Now, with the arrival of the “Assassin’s water bottle,” this classic demo gets a modern twist that makes the magic easier (and cleaner) than ever.

Using My HELP System: A Grading Practice That Works

Anthony Stetzenmeyer | Sat, 09/06/2025 - 08:28

Grading can feel tricky when school policies and student expectations don’t quite match—especially when students assume turning in all their classwork should equal an A. To bridge that gap, I created the HELP system, which lets students earn extra “HELP points” through things like going beyond the required work or scoring above the benchmark on tests. These points act as a kind of currency that students can redeem to recover from a low quiz score or a missed assignment. The system keeps students motivated, gives them ownership of their progress, and turns grading into more of a growth experience than just a final judgment.

Magnesium Citrate: Synthesis of a Pharmaceutical Compound at Time of Use

David Cash | Fri, 08/29/2025 - 10:28

This post offers a case study of magnesium citrate used as a pharmaceutical. How does adding a dry white powder to water form aqueous magnesium citrate? To understand what occurs requires students to name chemical compounds, balance chemical equations, calculate theoretical yields, limiting and excess reagents, and use elemental percentage composition. A student question set is available as a resource.

Five for the First - Part II

Nora Walsh | Tue, 08/26/2025 - 08:44

In this, the second installment of "Five for the First", Nora Walsh shares five simple activities for the first few weeks of school to help build her classroom culture.