Using Candy To Simulate Alpha and Beta Decay
Jeanette Marshall | Thu, 05/05/2022 - 13:33
This engaging activity uses wrapped and unwrapped candy to simulate alpha and beta decay.
30 minutes
Teaching Percent Composition, Empirical and Molecular Formulas through the Lens of Aspirin
Nora Walsh | Mon, 01/31/2022 - 13:37
This flipbook activity helps students to identify and solve problems involving empirical formulas, molecular formulas and percent composition while also helping them see how they are related to each other.
Analogy Experiment—Projectile Pennies with Rutherford
Ben Meacham | Mon, 11/08/2021 - 15:48
Atomic theory is a common topic throughout any introductory chemistry course. It is likely that Rutherford’s gold foil experiment gets at least some attention in your course. This simple activity gives students an opportunity to replicate Rutherford’s experiment through an analogy experiment that may allow for easier conceptualization of the experiment itself and provide additional support for model development.
The Extraction of Caffeine from Tea—with Several Important Outcomes
Michael Jansen | Wed, 10/13/2021 - 11:02
Students use a micro-scale method to extract caffeine from tea using dichloromethane. At the end of the activity, the students' dochloromethane extractions are pooled; the solvent is distilled after class for re-use.
A Manipulative Paper Tool for Teaching Simple Organic Nomenclature: Part 1 Hydrocarbons
Melanie Harvey | Mon, 04/05/2021 - 18:05
Organic nomenclature is usually taught as an introduction to organic chemistry. To help introduce students to organic nomenclature in a way that clearly summarizes the patterns that exist, a paper tool for naming hydrocarbons was developed.
Intermolecular Forces and FLIR Cameras
Chad Husting | Mon, 03/15/2021 - 10:23
Infrared technology (FLIR Cameras) can be used to investigate intermolecular forces.
Float or Sink? An at-home lab on density
Tom Kuntzleman | Wed, 03/03/2021 - 13:43
Observing the floating and sinking behavior of diet and sugared sodas is a classic chemistry demonstration. Learn how to perform this experiment as a quantitative lab that can be accomplished as an at-home activity!
Spectroscopy in Everyday Life
Thomas Cox | Tue, 10/06/2020 - 17:20
Spectroscopy-based experiments are commonplace in college labs. This out-of-classroom activity post provides links to applications of spectroscopy in a diverse spectrum of disciplines and work fields.
Exploration of Gas Laws Using Atomsmith Online
lowell Thomson | Fri, 09/11/2020 - 11:21
Using the online simulation tool (Atomsmith Classroom Online) and the ADI framework students investigate the properties of gases, along with two gas laws. An ADI "whiteboard discussion" helps in getting students to really process what the results of experiments mean to us as chemists - and how this leads to expanding our understanding of matter. This activity lends itself to an online classroom.
Oxidation Argumentation Activity
Stephanie O'Brien | Mon, 07/08/2019 - 14:19
I facilitate a working group of chemistry teachers in the New York area and we recently created our own activity surrounding the topic of oxidation. The goal of the probe was to force students to think about what the meaning of oxidation is, as well as to allow students to engage in the science and engineering practice of argumentation. This was an introductory lesson to my oxidation and reduction unit prior to students learning the terms oxidation and reduction.