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It’s true—chemistry really rocks! Explore the science of rocks and minerals with these demonstrations, activities, and articles. Build your own volcano in a cup, design and eat a soil profile, grow beautiful crystals, and more.
Sections
Activities
- Investigating the Chemistry Under Your School from AACT
Investigate the earth chemistry under your school by examining what rocks or other materials are found there use geological maps. Also, determine how the rocks are affected by surface conditions, like the weather.
- Paint with Soil! From Soil Science Society of America
The ground beneath your feet can yield unusual materials for showing your artistic side.
- Dirt Shirts from Dr. Dirt K-12 Teaching Resources
It’s one time you won’t mind getting dirt on your shirt. Explore the use of soil as a natural dye.
- Cookie Mining: Ore Production & Cost-Benefit Analysis
from Teach Engineering
Prospect your mine for as many chocolate chips as possible. Can you turn a profit while protecting the land?
Demos
- Colorful Stalactites and Stalagmites from Flinn Scientific
Pink, blue-green, and blue. Watch these beauties form in your beakers as you learn about double replacement reactions.
- Great Glaciers from Flinn Scientific
No need to wait years and years to observe a glacier. Pop this simulated glacier next to a sunny window and watch its effects on rocky soil.
- A Demonstration of Chemical and Physical Weathering from University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Use this procedure compare the physical and chemical processes of weathering.
- Water Hardness from Steam Experiments
Understand water hardness and the role of soap in distinguishing hard from soft water as well as water hardness can be removed.
Labs
- How do Sinkholes Form? from AACT
Sinkholes form when eroded limestone underneath the surface of the earth can no longer support the ground above it. Test how acid reacts with a variety of rocks and determine which rocks would be best to build a city on top of in order to reduce the chance of sinkholes forming.
- Chemical Weathering in Geology from AACT
Explore the differences between erosion, weathering and chemical weathering. complete a lab experiment that simulates chemical weathering on 4 different types of rocks and learn how to use the Mohs Hardness Test to analyze the results.
- Test Tube Geology from AACT
Observe a reaction between an iron nail and copper(II) sulfate in a test tube over the course of several days, modeling how a similar reaction occurs to form copper deposits in the earth.
- Mineral Investigation from AACT
Put your problem solving skills to work to determine how many specific samples of ore can be made from a lode equivalent to the size of your chemistry classroom.
- Determining the Composition of Bridge Straw Stalactites from AACT
Examine and investigate “straws” that hang from a local bridge, and then determine various tests that can help to understand their chemical composition.
Articles
- Why a Pennsylvania Town has been Burning for 60 Years
from ChemMatters Magazine
At its peak, the former coal town of Centralia, Pa., was home to about 2,000 residents. But a dangerous fire started in an old mine, putting lives at risk. Condemned in the ’90s, the ghost town is still on fire.
- Volcanoes: Terror from Below from ChemMatters Magazine
Volcanoes are a spectacular and terrifying example of nature’s might. But what we know about them can help us predict their eruptions—and save lives.
- Crystal Caves from ChemMatters Magazine
Natural crystals of mind-blowing proportions have captivated scientists since their discovery in a Mexican cave 20 years ago. Researchers have unlocked the secrets of the crystals’ past, and now work to secure their future.
- Sinkholes: Chemistry Goes Deep from ChemMatters Magazine
The ground swallowing a house or a car sounds like science fiction. Learn about the frightening reality.
- Farming in "Martian Gardens" from NASA
We can’t test gardens directly on Mars, but volcanoes give us the next best thing.
- Explaining a Soil Profile from Seneca High School
Great color pictures tell the story in this soil how-to. Get the scoop.
- Geochemistry Careers from ACS
What does a geochemist do all day? Find out here.
- Why Do Geysers Erupt? It Boils Down to Plumbing from Live Science
Why don't geysers just continually emit water, like a spring? Read all about it.
Videos
- Great Minds: James Hutton, Founder of Geology
from SciShow
Rocks are more than just rocks, they're the key to Earth's history!
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Why this Town has been on Fire for 50 years from ACS Reactions
In 1962, an underground fire started in the coal-mining town of Centralia, Pennsylvania. That fire still burns. Let’s explain the history and science behind the Centralia mine fire. Does anyone still live there? How could the fire keep burning for so long, and why hasn’t it been extinguished?
- How Do We Know How Old the Earth Is? from ACS Reactions
This short video makes us wonder how do we know how old the earth is? What's its age? Chemistry and science is how we know.