Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics
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351 – 375 of 522 Classroom Resources
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Pros Cons of Nuclear Power, Radiation, Radiation, Renewable Energy, Interdisciplinary, History | High School
Activity: Nuclear Energy Debate Mark as Favorite (39 Favorites)
In this activity, students will watch a debate between experts on the merits and drawbacks of nuclear energy. They will use this debate, as well as additional research, to write a short position paper on whether or not to continue using nuclear energy that explains and defends their opinion, as well as the chemistry involved in nuclear energy production.
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Pros Cons of Nuclear Power, Radiation, Radiation, Renewable Energy, Interdisciplinary, History | High School
Activity: Nuclear Energy Power Plants Mark as Favorite (29 Favorites)
In this activity, students will conduct research and write a persuasive essay in which they state an opinion about whether the number of nuclear plants should be increased or decreased.
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Physical Change, Chemical Change, Observations, Molecular Structure | Middle School, High School
Lab: Determining a Chemical or Physical Change Mark as Favorite (29 Favorites)
In this lab, students will follow a laboratory procedure that instructs them how to heat a small sample of copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate. Students will make observations in order to determine if a chemical or physical change occurs.
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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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Culminating Project, Chemical Properties, Physical Properties, History, VSEPR Theory, Polymers, Covalent Bonding | High School
Project: The Evolution of Materials Science in Everyday Products Mark as Favorite (71 Favorites)
In this project, students will be able to understand the progression of development of an everyday product and display their knowledge through a creative video. They will investigate the history and chemical composition of the product through the present day. The students will then suggest an innovation about how the product can be altered in the future to improve society.
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Solubility, Intermolecular Forces, Intermolecular Forces, Mixtures, Intramolecular Forces, Polarity, Observations, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Identifying an Unknown, Mixtures | High School
Lab: Solubility & Compound Type Mark as Favorite (41 Favorites)
In this lesson, students determine whether unknown substances are polar, nonpolar, or ionic by testing their solubilities.
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Molecular Structure, Intermolecular Forces, Ionic Bonding, Covalent Bonding, Metallic Bonding, Polarity, Intramolecular Forces, Chemical Properties, Physical Properties, Interdisciplinary, Culminating Project | High School
Project: Problem-Solving with Materials Mark as Favorite (59 Favorites)
In this project, students will develop a presentation to explain how and why a specific material can solve a problem. The explanation will involve researching the properties of the material and how its properties are suited for solving a specific problem.
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Lab Safety | High School, Middle School
Activity: The Essentials for Survival Mark as Favorite (119 Favorites)
In this activity, the students will be introduced to and explore different lab equipment, model appropriate group work and class discussions, and practice writing efficient Claim-Evidence-Reasoning reports. This is an introductory activity for use in a general education chemistry class.
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Phase Changes, Elements, Mixtures | High School, Middle School
Activity: Visualizing States of Matter Mark as Favorite (140 Favorites)
In this activity, students will view, sort and classify pure substances and mixtures into the 3 common states of matter found in the laboratory. Students will also discuss their classification system with their teacher and peers.
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Introduction, Interdisciplinary, Experimental Design, Dimensional Analysis | High School
Project: Food Chemistry Infographic Mark as Favorite (27 Favorites)
In this project, students will research the chemical content and nutritional value of their favorite holiday foods, presenting their findings in an infographic. They will also include a recipe, which they will convert to metric units to practice dimensional analysis. As an extension to explore experimental design, they could alter one aspect of the recipe and observe how that change affects the final product.
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Chemical Change, Identifying an Unknown, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Chemical Change, Experimental Design, Scientific Method | High School, Middle School
Lab: As Easy as Pie Mark as Favorite (62 Favorites)
In this lab, students will use chemical and physical properties to identify an unknown powder.
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Polyatomic Ions, Ionic Bonding | High School
Activity: Common Ion Memory Game Mark as Favorite (20 Favorites)
In this activity, students will play a modified version of the classic Memory Game in order to help identify common ions by name and symbol. This activity provides an opportunity for students to increase their familiarity with the names and formulas of common ions that they will be expected to properly use when they begin writing chemical formulas and reactions.
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Molecular Structure , Functional Groups, Experimental Design, Interdisciplinary, Chemical Change | High School
Lab: Designing Biomimetic Songbird Preen Oil from Waste Cooking Oil Mark as Favorite (18 Favorites)
In this guided-inquiry lab, students will design and test a procedure reacting waste cooking oil in a blue cheese slurry to create a substance that mimics songbird preen oil, which is both antibacterial and hydrophobic. Students will convert the fatty acids in waste oil to methyl ketones, thought to be the principal antibacterial component of preen oil, using the P. roqueforti mold found in blue cheese. Students will expand their knowledge of biomimicry, inherent properties of preen oil, and chemical synthesis by applying the principles of green chemistry. They will also assess their own process through higher-order problem solving and building on their scientific research skills.
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Mole Concept, Measurements, History, Ideal Gas, Gas Laws | High School
Video: Amedeo Avogadro Video Mark as Favorite (47 Favorites)
This video tells the story of Amedeo Avogadro, the scientist given credit for the mole concept, but who discovered other things in chemistry too.
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Density, Chemical Properties, Polymers, Polymers | High School
Lab: The Big Six Plastics Mark as Favorite (28 Favorites)
In this lab students will use data and chemical tests to better understand different types of plastics and their properties. Ultimately, students can choose the best plastic material to construct a compost bin.
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Solubility, Intermolecular Forces, Mixtures, Separating Mixtures | High School
Lab: Using Paper Chromatography to Separate the Pigments Found in Ink Mark as Favorite (38 Favorites)
In this lab, students will separate the component pigments of a water-soluble black marker using paper chromatography.
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Intermolecular Forces, Solute & Solvent, Scientific Method | High School
Lab: Exploring Intermolecular Forces Mark as Favorite (26 Favorites)
In this lab, students will investigate the idea that “like dissolves like” by discovering which liquids are best suited for dissolving various substances. This can serve as a great inquiry lab prior to teaching intermolecular forces.
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Chemical Change, Observations, Acids & Bases, Chemical Change, Mixtures | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Demonstration: Inflating a Balloon with Chemistry Mark as Favorite (29 Favorites)
In this demonstration, the teacher will perform a reaction between acetic acid (vinegar) and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) in order to inflate a balloon and to introduce the concept of a chemical reaction to students. Students will observe the reaction, and identify indicators of chemical change as well as discuss the different types of matter that are involved.
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Introduction, Lab Safety, Review | Middle School, High School
Activity: Laboratory Equipment Bingo Mark as Favorite (54 Favorites)
In this activity, students will play a Bingo game, crossing out the names of laboratory equipment on their Bingo card that corresponds to the pictures of equipment shown by the teacher. This will help students to identify common equipment found in a chemistry lab.
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Physical Change, Chemical Change, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Activity: A Physical vs. Chemical Challenge Mark as Favorite (111 Favorites)
In this activity, students will first complete a card sort to best categorize examples of change as physical or chemical change. Then they will compete in teams to identify whether given situations represent a physical change or a chemical change, or a physical or a chemical property.
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Radioactive Isotopes, Half Lives, Subatomic Particles, Periodic Table | High School
Activity: Why are Some Isotopes Radioactive? Mark as Favorite (63 Favorites)
In this activity, students use periodic trends and data to make predictions about what makes an isotope radioactive. They will then verify or refine their predictions using a PhET simulation.
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Chemical Change, Physical Change, Chemical Change | Middle School, High School, Elementary School
Lab: Chemical and Physical Changes Mark as Favorite (78 Favorites)
In this lab, students will observe and analyze a number of examples in order to determine if a chemical or physical change occurred.
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Ionic Bonding, Covalent Bonding, Physical Properties | High School
Lab: You Light Up My Life! Mark as Favorite (121 Favorites)
In this lab, students will participate in a guided inquiry in which they will test different physical properties, such as conductivity and solubility of given samples. This lab can be used to introduce ionic, covalent and metallic bonds as well as their properties. This lab should help students make connections between the types of bonds, differentiate between them, as well as help to better understand the nomenclature of ionic and covalent compounds.
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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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History, Interdisciplinary | Middle School, High School
Video: Spellbound Episode 8—The Winds of War: Helen Free, Ph.D. Mark as Favorite (0 Favorites)
Produced for the 2011 International Year of Chemistry, the video series Spellbound, tells the story of scientists whose childhood curiosity about everyday things helped them launch careers in the lab, win Nobel Prizes and make other achievements. Their early childhood experiences may encourage young people into careers in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. This episode features Helen Free, Ph.D.