Acid, Base, pH and Food Chemistry
Chad Husting | Fri, 06/09/2017 - 06:58
Students will be engaged in this activity that will help them make the connection between food and chemistry. Acid, bases and pH are addressed.
Science Practice: Planning and Carrying out Investigations
Exploring the Diet Coke and Mentos Experiment
Tom Kuntzleman | Tue, 05/09/2017 - 07:39
I think this experiment provides a fantastic vehicle to involve students of all ages in small, hands-on and exploratory research projects. Like many others, my students and I have investigated various aspects of this interesting fountain.
Investigating the Effect of Concentration on Reaction Time
Ben Meacham | Tue, 01/24/2017 - 09:33
Whether you are introducing collision theory or something more demanding like reaction order, the reaction between sodium thiosulfate—Na2S2O3 and hydrochloric acid can provide a consistent, accurate, and engaging opportunity for investigating these topics.
Reflections from Kinetics - Solidifying Why I Teach Method of Initial Rates AND Integrated Rate Laws
Tracy Schloemer | Thu, 01/05/2017 - 19:16
I taught my students how to use the method of initial rates. I taught my students rate laws. However, they strugged to differentiate when to use what method. Upon further probing, they struggled to articulate why one might use one method over the other. They could parrot back some ideas ("The rate law tells you about the particles involved in the rate determining step of the reaction."), but I wasn't convinced of mastery and connections.
An Easy Copper Electroplating Demo for Your Redox Unit
Lowell Thomson | Sun, 11/20/2016 - 02:00
My IB seniors are just wrapping up our unit on electrochemistry and redox. This has always been a challenging topic within the IB curriculum. Admittedly, electrochemistry has not ever been my strong suit either, so this year I aimed to strengthen the unit with two additional demonstrations.
Give Me Back My Copper! A Simple, but Multi-Faceted Lab Activity to Review Lab Skills in Week One of AP Chemistry
Allison Tarvin | Mon, 04/18/2016 - 19:36
A simple multi-faceted lab activity for the first week of AP Chemistry.
An Unexpected Source of Inquiry-Based Lab Practicals
Erica Posthuma | Sat, 03/19/2016 - 16:54
Each spring my Local Section of The American Chemical Society (ACS) hosts a rigorous two part exam as part of the selection process for the The International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO). The lab practicals on the exams are presented as problems. No procedure is given. Students must use their chemistry knowledge and lab experience to devise a plan and solve the problem. The best part is that the released exams come with lists of materials and equipment, helpful hints to the proctors, and solutions! This is a great source for Inquiry-Based Lab Practicals.
Teaching Kids How to Fail
Erica Posthuma | Mon, 09/07/2015 - 10:54
Last year, I worked hard to teach my students how to fail and I believe it was the most important lesson they could have taken away from my class.
Build a Boat (and a classroom culture)
Erica Posthuma | Fri, 07/25/2014 - 12:40
This back to school activity can be a valuable way to create a classroom culture of teamwork and growth mindset. Links to a virtual version are included.
Electrolytic Dissolution of Copper Metal
Tom Kuntzleman | Thu, 08/15/2013 - 20:43
Looking for an easy, hands-on experiment to use in your classroom at the beginning of the school year? In the June, 2013 issue of the Journal of Chemical Education, Isao Ikemoto and Kouichi Saitou describe a simple experiment to demonstrate the electrolytic dissolution of copper ions from a copper electrode. This experiment can be conducted using only items that are easily obtained around the home or in grocery stores.