Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics
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326 – 350 of 665 Classroom Resources
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Lab Safety, Introduction | Middle School, High School
Lesson Plan: ACS Chemical Safety Video: RAMP Mark as Favorite (16 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about a simple yet powerful tool for protecting themselves and their classmates in the lab, RAMP. It stands for: Recognize hazards; Assess risks; Minimize risks and Prepare for emergencies. Using a video, and multiple activities, students will become more knowledgeable and better prepared to assess risks and identify hazards in the lab.
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Periodic Table, Elements, Percent Composition | Middle School
Activity: The Universe of Elements Mark as Favorite (16 Favorites)
In this activity, students are introduced to the periodic table and its elements. Student will discuss that all material in the Universe is composed of elements and that the atom is the smallest particle that still has the physical and chemical properties of any given element. Students will engage in an activity to determine the percent composition of common elements in the universe, and based on their results they will hypothesize the identity of each element based on its relative abundance.
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Chemical Change, Observations, Redox Reaction, Electron Transfer, Oxidation Number, Chemical Change, Activation Energy | High School
Lesson Plan: Cyanotypes: Taking Pictures with the Sun Mark as Favorite (16 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will read about the chemistry behind two photographic methods, including cyanotypes, and then prepare their own sun-sensitive cyanotype paper from two different types of paper. They will place items of their choosing on the prepared papers, place them in the sunlight, and develop and compare the images. Finally, students will be asked to think about different variables they could test with adjustments to the original procedures.
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Periodic Table, Subatomic Particles, History, Introduction, Elements, Atoms, Valence Electrons, Electrons | Middle School
Project: Elemental Art: A Visual Periodic Table Mark as Favorite (16 Favorites)
In this activity students will research an assigned element of the Periodic Table and then create a poster that visually explains and expresses the element. The final posters can be arranged into a classroom Periodic Table.
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Chemical Change, Chemical Change, Physical Change, Physical Properties | Middle School
Lab: Little Miss Muffet Investigation Mark as Favorite (16 Favorites)
In this lab, students will work in cooperative groups to conduct a chemical reaction by mixing vinegar with milk. This reaction will cause the curds to precipitate and separate from the liquid whey. The lesson can be extended by experimenting with different types of milk or by using different acids.
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Observations, Combustion, Phase Changes, Experimental Design, Scientific Method | High School, Middle School
Lab: Observing a Candle Mark as Favorite (16 Favorites)
In this lab, students accumulate observations of a candle including a look at the combustion reaction's reactants and products.
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History, Observations, Identifying an Unknown, Molecular Structure , Functional Groups | High School
Lesson Plan: Introduction to Flavor Chemistry Mark as Favorite (16 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will read an article about flavor chemistry to learn about the science of tasting. There are a series of activities to help promote literacy in the science classroom related to the reading and help students experience what they’ve read about. One part, the Job Interview, could be used as plans for a substitute teacher since the activity is self-guided.
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Concentration, Titrations, Indicators, Equivalence Point, Chemical Change, Accuracy, Error Analysis, Chemical Change | Middle School, High School
Lesson Plan: Comparison of Vitamin C in Juice Drinks Mark as Favorite (16 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will use a color-changing indicator called indophenol and a simplified titration method to determine if vitamin C is present in a variety of store-bought juices. The indicator solution will turn from dark blue to colorless once all the indophenol has reacted with vitamin C in the juices. Students will count how many drops of juice it takes to produce this color change in a 5-mL sample of indicator solution. The greater number of drops it takes to cause the color change, the less vitamin C is present in each drop. They will use their data to compare the relative amounts of vitamin C in the juices to a solution prepared from a vitamin C tablet.
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Matter, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Mixtures, Elements, Alloys | High School
Lesson Plan: Observing Properties of Those Marvelous Metals Mark as Favorite (16 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will see how metals, both pure metals and alloys, may have different physical and chemical properties. They will investigate how these properties contribute to their usefulness in manufacturing and construction.
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Separating Mixtures, Observations, Physical Change, Mixtures, Physical Properties | High School
Lab: Distillation Mark as Favorite (16 Favorites)
In this lab, students complete a simple distillation lab separating water from cinnamon and food coloring.
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Conservation of Mass, Measurements, Conservation of Mass, Chemical Change, Observations, Physical Change, Chemical Change | High School, Middle School
Lab: Mass & Change Mark as Favorite (16 Favorites)
In this lab, students will use unified particle pictures of solid, liquid, and gas to explain the law of conservation of mass after carrying out various experiments.
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Physical Properties, Intermolecular Forces, Identifying an Unknown, Experimental Design, Scientific Method, Error Analysis, Graphing, Molecular Structure | High School
Lesson Plan: The Importance of Motor Oil Viscosity in Optimal Car Functioning Mark as Favorite (16 Favorites)
In this lesson students will determine how temperature affects viscosity and relate the data to the structure of motor oil and the optimal functioning of a car.
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Radioactive Isotopes, Atomic Theory, History, Pros Cons of Nuclear Power, Radiation, Subatomic Particles | Middle School, High School
Activity: Lise Meitner Video Questions Mark as Favorite (16 Favorites)
In this activity, students will complete a short series of questions as they watch the Founders of Chemistry video about Lise Meitner. The video tells the story of Lise Meitner, a pioneering female scientist in the field of nuclear chemistry, who was denied a Nobel Prize but has an Element named in her honor.
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Graphing, Interdisciplinary | Middle School, High School
Activity: Simulation Activity: Graphing Mark as Favorite (15 Favorites)
In this activity, students will use a simulation to learn good graphing techniques, as well as how to interpret data presented in a graph. They will take a quiz in the simulation, and then have an opportunity to put their graphing skills to work and generate their own graph using sample data.
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Percent Composition, Intermolecular Forces, Interdisciplinary, Elements | High School
Activity: Investigating how the Chemistry of Plate Tectonics Affects Volcanoes Mark as Favorite (15 Favorites)
In this activity, students will learn about the impact chemistry has on plate tectonics and volcanoes. Students will analyze graphs and charts in order to better understand these topics during this investigation.
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Subatomic Particles, Model of the Atom, Elements, Molecular Formula | Middle School, Elementary School
Project: What's It Made Of? Mark as Favorite (15 Favorites)
In this project each student will conduct research to discover what compounds, molecules, and elements make up a basic everyday object of their choice. The student will create a poster detailing what the object is made of, including a Bohr model. The student will also create a question about their object’s atomic structure for their peers as part of a culminating project gallery walk to observe, discuss, and learn about each poster.
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Titrations, Limiting Reactant, Acid Base Reactions, Indicators, Chemical Change, Equivalence Point, Stoichiometry, Balancing Equations, Chemical Change, Graphing, Error Analysis, Chemical Change, Error Analysis, Measurements, Concentration, Molarity | High School
Lab: Acid-Base Mole Ratio Mark as Favorite (15 Favorites)
In this lab, students study several concepts, including acid-base reactions, limiting reactants, and stoichiometry, by observing the contained reaction of acetic acid (diluted vinegar) with sodium hydrogen carbonate (baking soda) in an unconventional, cost effective titration.
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Gas Laws, Sublimation, Ideal Gas, Volume, Temperature, Pressure, Density, Phase Changes, Interdisciplinary, Density, Physical Change, Mole Concept, Dimensional Analysis, Measurements | High School
Demonstration: Ideal Gas Law using Carbon Dioxide Mark as Favorite (15 Favorites)
In this demonstration, students observe dry ice sublime while the CO2 gas fills a balloon. They then calculate the moles and volume of CO2 produced.
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Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Interdisciplinary | High School
Project: Working for NASA Mark as Favorite (15 Favorites)
In this project, students will take on the role of a NASA employee on a mission to discover what resources humans need in order to survive on another planet inside of our solar system as well as an exoplanet outside of our solar system. Students will research the materials and resources needed to sustain life on Earth and compare these to another planet and exoplanet to determine if they can possibly be habitable and sustain life.
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Limiting Reactant, Chemical Change, Conservation of Mass, Stoichiometry, Observations, Inferences, Chemical Change, Exothermic & Endothermic | High School
Demonstration: Introducing Limiting Reactants Mark as Favorite (15 Favorites)
In this demonstration, the teacher will perform a series of reactions between acetic acid--vinegar-- and varying amounts of sodium bicarbonate --baking soda--in order to inflate several Ziploc bags. Students will observe the reactions and analyze the quantities of reactants used as well as the results in order to understand the concept of limiting reactants. Students will also determine if the reaction is an endothermic or exothermic process based on their observations.
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Introduction, Inferences, Observations, Scientific Method | High School, Middle School
Activity: Check Activity Mark as Favorite (15 Favorites)
In this activity, students develop a theory based on evidence they collect from (fake) cancelled checks to come up with a story of how they are related.
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Heat, Boiling Point, History | High School
Lesson Plan: Norbert Rillieux, Thermodynamics and Chemical Engineering Mark as Favorite (15 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about thermodynamics through a historical story of a budding Black chemical engineer named Norbert Rillieux. He is credited with creating the process for isolating sugar crystals from sugarcane because of his keen understanding of thermodynamics. There are a series of activities to help promote literacy in the science classroom related to the reading. This lesson could be easily used as plans for a substitute teacher, as most of the activities are self-guided. Rillieux’s story is interesting from a diversity standpoint. He was a free biracial scientist living in the South during pre-Civil War times. This story provides an opportunity to discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion in the chemistry classroom.
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Conservation of Mass, Observations, History, Measurements, SI Units | Middle School, High School
Activity: Lavoisier Video Questions Mark as Favorite (15 Favorites)
In this activity, students will watch a video about Antoine Lavoisier, who many consider to be the father of modern chemistry. They will answer questions as they learn about oxygen, hydrogen, and the first proposal of the Law of the Conservation of Mass.
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Molecules & Bonding, Ionic Bonding, Polyatomic Ions | High School
Game: Ion Dice Mark as Favorite (15 Favorites)
In this game, students roll ion dice and select ions to create various ionic compounds in order to score points. As the game progresses, fewer dice are available, so students must decide to either play it safe or risk a “bust” which would result in losing all their points for the round.
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Redox Reaction, Oxidation, Reduction, Half Reactions, Cathode, Anode, Electron Transfer, Electrolysis, Electrolytic Cells, Error Analysis, Error Analysis, Accuracy, Chemical Change, Accuracy, Dimensional Analysis, Mole Concept, Significant Figures | High School
Lesson Plan: Recycling Copper from E-Waste Mark as Favorite (15 Favorites)
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.