Activities

ChemEd X activities are student-centered resources intended to aid learning chemistry topics.

ChemEd X encourages engaging activities where students (with guidance from the teacher) pose questions, analyze data, and make observations to offer a plausible explanation supported by data and consistent with physical observations.

by 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.

Recent activity: 2 years 10 months ago
by 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.

Recent activity: 9 months 3 weeks ago
by Josh Kenney
Sun, 07/25/2021 - 12:43

Many novice students struggle to see elements' valence electron configuration trends across the rows and columns on the periodic table. There are many diagrams and explanations available as resources for students however, a deeper understanding may be possible when students discover these trends independently through a game called Electron Configuration Battleship.

Recent activity: 9 months 3 weeks ago
by Nick Thomas
Tue, 06/22/2021 - 08:13

After a year or more of virtual laboratory instruction due to pandemic restrictions in many colleges, a simple experiment has been designed to provide students returning to in-person lab instruction with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience reviewing basic chemistry laboratory apparatus and techniques.

Comments: 2
Recent activity: 9 months 3 weeks ago
by Josh Kenney
Sun, 06/20/2021 - 08:55

The Golden Drain is a case study developed by Sharma and Wolfgang where students work to uncover a company’s lost revenue due to the error of a new employee.

Recent activity: 9 months 3 weeks ago
by Melanie Harvey
Tue, 06/15/2021 - 18:25

This is the third in a series of classroom activities using paper tools to teach organic nomenclature. This post covers the two common naming systems used for carboxylic acids and derivatives, and second for alcohols, thiols, ethers, amines, and ketones.

Recent activity: 9 months 3 weeks ago
by Melanie Harvey
Tue, 05/04/2021 - 21:20

To help introduce students to organic nomenclature in a way that clearly summarizes the patterns that exist in the IUPAC system, a series of paper tools were developed. The paper tool in this activity can be used to introduce the IUPAC naming of major classes of organic compounds. These paper tools are easy to print and distribute to every student each semester.

Recent activity: 9 months 3 weeks ago
by 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. 

Recent activity: 2 years 1 week ago
by Katy Dornbos
Sun, 04/04/2021 - 17:30

This activity aims to boost students’ confidence in representing the atomic world. It also aims to educate both students and the general public about the “chemicals” found in everyday objects.

Recent activity: 9 months 3 weeks ago
by Thomas Cox
Fri, 04/02/2021 - 22:30

This classroom activity challenges students to figure out the volume of gaseous carbon dioxide emitted from the combustion of 1 gallon of gasoline fuel.

Comments: 1
Recent activity: 9 months 3 weeks ago