Blogs

ChemEd X contributors offer their ideas and opinions on a broad spectrum of topics pertaining to chemical education.

Blogs at ChemEd X reflect the opinions of the contributors and are open to comments. Only selected contributors blog at ChemEd X. If you would like to blog regularly at ChemEd X, please use our Contribution form to request an invitation to do so from one of our editors.

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Resources for an AP Chemistry Exam Review
// Wednesday, April 16, 2025 • Nora Walsh
The AP Chemistry exam is given at the beginnig of May and its never too early to start reviewing!  In this post, I’ve collected a variety of resources to support your review time, divided into two sections: ideas for structuring your review and pointers from AP readers.
Order of Topics
A Logical Order of Topics for Honors Chemistry and AP Chemistry
// Friday, April 4, 2025 • Michael Jansen
After almost 40 years as a Chemistry teacher, I have noticed that the prescribed order of topics in high school chemistry is, according to the Province of Ontario’s Guidelines, anywhere from less-than-ideal to downright illogical.
Learnging and Earning
Student Learning vs. Student Earning
// Friday, March 21, 2025 • Kevin Morse
I’m just old enough that I never kept a paper gradebook. When I was a student in school, my grades were on paper and arrived in the mail. As a teacher, my grades have always been entered into the computer and sent off to the world with a click of a button. Parents and students know the grade as soon as I share it. 
APTeach: The Chaos of Unit 9
// Monday, March 17, 2025 • Shifra Yonis
The March APTeach Meeting will discuss common student missteps in Gibb’s Free Energy & entropy, quick and easy electrochem activities, and student misconceptions in electrochemistry.
Teachers and students in classroom
Using AI to Assist My Chemistry Classroom
// Monday, March 17, 2025 • Anthony Stetzenmeyer
When I started hearing about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ChatGPT, I was incredibly skeptical. I have a colleague who uses AI to grade his classroom essays and provide feedback to students.  This colleague raved about it, but it has upset other teachers, parents, and students alike.
egg carton models
Egg-lectrons and McLewis Structures
// Friday, February 28, 2025 • Dean Campbell
  Egg-lectrons and McLewis Structures: More Representations of Electron Arrangements in Atoms and Molecules Co-Authored with Ali Patel* *Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois
UNO Out Game
UNO OUT…..Demystifying Stoichiometry
// Tuesday, February 25, 2025 • Nina Hike
I enjoy playing UNO, a popular card game by Mattel, with my family. Students enjoy playing UNO with their friends during lunch or at the end of the day at my school. As a teacher, I have also experienced students having difficulty using dimensional analysis to solve stoichiometry problems. Students have issues with setting up and solving stoichiometry problems.
"Don't Let Acids Make You Salty" title over colorful pH chart
APTeach - Don't Let Acids Make You Salty
// Sunday, February 16, 2025 • Shifra Yonis
In February 2025 we discussed using particle diagrams, calculations, and titration curves to support student understanding of acids, bases, and buffers.