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.

by Chad Husting
Sat, 09/25/2021 - 16:07

Chad Husting uses a few simple gas law experiments to introduce his students to the particulate level of chemistry.

Recent activity: 1 year 2 months ago
by Patrick Brown
Thu, 09/16/2021 - 19:41

A primary goal of modern education is to prepare students for a globally competitive society. Importantly we must ask questions such as, “who is doing the hard intellectual work in the classroom?” and "what does doing hard intellectual work look like?"

Recent activity: 1 year 2 months ago
by Dean Campbell
Thu, 09/16/2021 - 15:18

The familiar soda fountains that can be produced by adding Mentos candies to plastic bottles of carbonated beverages can also be produced by adding objects to carbonated beverages in aluminum cans. A variety of simple methods for producing soda fountains from cans are described.

Recent activity: 1 year 2 months ago
by Chad Husting
Mon, 09/06/2021 - 14:03

Chad Husting explains how he used two hands on activities to get a sense of where his students were at within the realm of labwork and the scientific process as school began. 

Comments: 2
Recent activity: 1 year 2 months ago
by Francisco Villa
Sun, 08/29/2021 - 16:45

Yes, sitting down and having "The Talk" with your students- the one focused on their careers and goals. Sometimes it is difficult and each student can be very different. But it is still worth it in the long run to do this.

Recent activity: 1 year 2 months ago
by Tom Kuntzleman
Wed, 08/18/2021 - 09:09

Check out the solution to Chemical Mystery #18: Peek A Boo Blue! 

Recent activity: 9 months 1 week ago
by Michael Jansen
Mon, 08/16/2021 - 16:01

Michael Jansen reflects on a very common empirical formula lab that asks students to determine the empirical formula of MgxOy. He then explains how he continues to use it as a "successful failure", how he demonstrates an alternate procedure and leads his students to an important lesson.

Comments: 1
Recent activity: 1 year 2 months ago
by Tom Kuntzleman
Thu, 08/12/2021 - 18:51

Can you use your knowledge of chemistry to figure out what is going on in this blue/green/yellow/blue color change?

Recent activity: 1 year 2 months ago
by David Cash
Tue, 08/03/2021 - 15:41

The two-page instruction sheet that accompanies the Luster Leaf Rapitest© Soil Test Kit could be a useful curriculum resource for chemistry teachers for generating discussion about the key aspects of the content or for helping students practice close reading skills. This article will briefly describe the contents of the instruction sheet and suggest possible uses in the general chemistry curriculum by posing questions for students to answer or consider. 

Recent activity: 1 year 2 months ago
by Dean Campbell
Wed, 07/28/2021 - 13:03

The differing electrostatic and solubility properties of starch and polystyrene foam packing peanuts are used in various demonstrations to describe aspects of microplastics and their interactions with the environment. Their differing responses to exposure to liquid nitrogen and iodine solutions are also described.

Recent activity: 1 year 2 months ago