Chemical Technical Professionals
17 Classroom Resources
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Lesson Plan | Accuracy, Accuracy, Error Analysis, Error Analysis, Intermolecular Forces, Measurements, Significant Figures | High School
Fit for Consumption?
In this lesson, students will learn about a product recall of baby formula. Students will explore regulations around foods for human consumption and the quality control process that is part of food production. They will use their knowledge of the difference in intermolecular forces between solids and liquids to determine the moisture content in samples of powders. Students will then assume the role of quality control technicians and write a report in which they provide a data-informed decision as to whether their batch should be discarded or is fit for consumption.
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Lesson Plan | Accuracy, Concentration, Dimensional Analysis, Error Analysis, Indicators, Measurements, Oxidation, Redox Reaction, Reduction, Significant Figures, Titrations | High School
Vitamin C Quality Control
In this lesson, students will learn about a career in the skilled technical workforce, develop skills utilized in a quality control lab, and obtain data that may not have a clear “right answer.” For example, though many over-the-counter medications and vitamins state the amount of active ingredient, any individual tablet may have between 97 to 103% of the stated label claim. In addition, any products past the expiry date may have less due to potential decomposition. Students practice scientific communication by reporting their findings in a professional manner.
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Lesson Plan | Accuracy, Chemical Properties, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Error Analysis, Experimental Design, Observations, Scientific Method | High School
Screen Your Sunscreen!
In this lesson, students will learn more about UV radiation, its effect on skin, and the different ways in which sunscreen protects skin. After exploring this, students will develop an investigation to assess the claims made by different sun protection products. Students will compare the effectiveness of a variety of sunscreens and/or clothing that claim to offer sun protection. The lab will be wrapped up with a CER-style report.
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Lab | Acid Base Reactions, Balancing Equations, Chemical Change, Concentration, Dimensional Analysis, Error Analysis, Indicators, Measurements, Molarity, Stoichiometry, Titrations | High School
Vinegar Quality Control
In this lab, students will perform a titration of a vinegar sample to determine if it is it close to the concentration claimed on the bottle.
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Lab | Acid Base Reactions, Indicators, Percent Composition, Stoichiometry, Titrations | High School
The Egg-straordinary Issue
In this lab students will determine the percent composition of calcium carbonate contained in an eggshell by using a back titration in order to address a farmer’s concerns about his hen’s fragile eggs. Two versions of the student lab are included, a scripted version, and an inquiry version.
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Lab | Atomic Spectra, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Electrons, Identifying an Unknown | High School
The Case of the Contaminated Well
In this lab, students will observe the colors produced when different metal salt solutions are heated in a flame. Students will take on the role of a forensic investigator and use their results to help them determine if collected evidence was contaminated.
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Lab | Calorimetry, Identifying an Unknown, Specific Heat | High School
The Search for a Hit and Run Suspect
In this lab, students will determine the specific heat capacity of multiple unknown metal samples through collecting data and completing calorimetric calculations. Students will take on the role of a forensic investigator and use their results to help them determine if a suspect’s vehicle was potentially involved in a hit and run incident.
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Lab | Balancing Equations, Chemical Change, Classification of Reactions, Concentration, Identifying an Unknown, Molarity | High School
An Environmental Impact Study
In this lab, students will test a water sample which comes from a local zoo, where, it is reported that many bird eggs are not hatching. Students will test the water for the presence of multiple ions. Once the type of ion in the water is determined, students will write balanced equations to illustrate their findings. Students will also conduct a serial dilution to determine the concentration, or molarity, of the ion in the water sample. This molarity will be compared to known values to determine if the materials in the water are at an unhealthy level.
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Lesson Plan | Acid Base Reactions, Identifying an Unknown, Molarity, Titrations | High School
Investigating a Suspicious Drowning with Titrations
In this lesson, students take on the role of a forensic chemist who is tasked with investigating a suspicious drowning incident. Students will conduct a series of titrations on an evidence sample of water collected from the victim's lungs as well as on several water samples from local water sources (lakes, rivers, wells, etc.) Based on their findings, they will determine where the victim actually drowned.
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Lesson Plan | Density, Identifying an Unknown, Physical Properties | High School, Middle School
The Shattered Glass Mystery
In this lesson, students will take on the role of a Forensic Scientist to help solve a hit and run investigation. They will learn how physical properties of matter, such as density and refractive index, can be used to help identify evidence samples such as glass.
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Lesson Plan | Concentration, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Graphing | High School
Determining the Time of Death
In this lesson, students will perform a flame test on a sample of vitreous humor (liquid found in the eyeball) in a forensic investigation. They will determine which element from the sample is used to determine the time of death. Then they will engineer a simple spectrophotometer to quantify that element. Evaluating a fake sample of vitreous humor in their spectrophotometer will help them determine the time of death for a hypothetical cadaver.
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Lab | Chemical Change, Error Analysis, Graphing, Identifying an Unknown, Mixtures, Observations, Physical Change, Precipitate, Solubility, Solute & Solvent | High School, Middle School
Chemicals, Chromatography, and Crime!
In this lab, students will test “evidence” that has been collected from a crime scene. In order to determine if the victim was poisoned, students will perform a solubility and crystallization test on an unknown powder. Then, students will attempt to identify the culprit by using paper chromatography to analyze the lipstick from the potential criminals.
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Lab | Concentration, Percent Composition | High School, Middle School
Homemade Hydrometers
In this lesson, students will engineer simple hydrometers from straws and clay to learn about standard solutions, calibration, and instrument drift. They will use their hydrometers to test the salinity of samples of natural water.
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Lab | Alloys, Heat, Physical Properties | High School
Investigating Heat Treatments and Properties of Steel
In this lab, students will take on the perspective of a material scientist working for a company that makes shocks and struts for car suspension by applying three different heat treatments to steel coils. Students will test how these heat treatments affect the properties of the high carbon steel.
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Lab | Chemical Properties, Identifying an Unknown, Mixtures, Solute & Solvent | High School, Middle School
Local Water Analysis
In this lab, students use simple pool test strips to collect water samples from local water sources, such as area faucets, pools, lakes, rivers, puddles, etc. They will compile all of the collected data to allow students to collectively make observations and ask testable questions. After determining a question of interest, groups of students will organize the related data, research relevant background information, form reasonable conclusions, and present their arguments.
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Lab | Concentration, Molarity, Reactions & Stoichiometry, Solubility, Solubility Rules, Solutions, Stoichiometry | High School
The Gravimetric Analysis of Lead in Contaminated Water
In this lab, students will perform a gravimetric analysis of a simulated water sample contaminated with “lead”. Using their knowledge of solubility and chemical reactions they will precipitate the “lead” from the water sample. Then from the data collected, they will calculate the concentration of “lead” in their samples and compare that value to those found in water samples from the Flint, Michigan water crisis.
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Lesson Plan | Accuracy, Accuracy, Anode, Cathode, Chemical Change, Dimensional Analysis, Electrolysis, Electrolytic Cells, Electron Transfer, Error Analysis, Error Analysis, Half Reactions, Mole Concept, Oxidation, Redox Reaction, Reduction, Significant Figures | High School
Recycling Copper from E-Waste
In this lesson, students will consider the need for innovative solutions to e-waste both from an environmental perspective as well as for the economic benefit to reclaiming raw materials from used electronic devices. They will then take on the role of an electroplate technician who is tasked with evaluating the effectiveness of a copper recycling process that uses electrolysis to purify and recover copper metal from e-waste. As e-waste is a relatively new—and growing—issue, it demonstrates how new industries can develop that utilize skills from existing jobs.