Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics
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351 – 375 of 522 Classroom Resources
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Review, Culminating Project, Molecular Structure | Middle School, High School
Activity: Online Meeting Scavenger Hunt Mark as Favorite (14 Favorites)
In this activity, students will work in teams on a virtual meeting platform to find as many objects as possible from a comprehensive scavenger hunt list within their homes during a given timeframe. The items on the list provided in this activity are related to organic chemistry topics, however the list can be easily modified for use with many chemistry topics.
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Molecular Motion, Density, Physical Properties, Density, Gas Laws, Ideal Gas, Temperature, Pressure, Volume | Middle School, High School
Simulation: Density Mark as Favorite (14 Favorites)
The simulation for the September 2015 issue allows students to investigate the effect of changing variables on both the volume and the density of a solid, a liquid, and a gas sample. Students will analyze the different states of matter at the particle level as well as quantitatively.
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Separating Mixtures, Mixtures, Physical Properties, Distillation | Middle School, High School
Activity: Animation Activity: Separating Mixtures Mark as Favorite (14 Favorites)
In this activity, students will view an animation that explores different ways of separating a variety of mixtures. The separation techniques addressed in this animation include filtration, evaporation, distillation, and chromatography (focusing on paper chromatography). Real-world applications as well as particle diagrams of the separation processes are included.
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Atomic Theory, Model of the Atom, Subatomic Particles, History | High School
Activity: Atomic Theory Timeline Mark as Favorite (14 Favorites)
In this activity, students will attempt to identify the historical contributions of several famous chemists and also identify the year of their work.
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Conservation of Mass, Observations, History, Measurements, SI Units | Middle School, High School
Activity: Lavoisier Video Questions Mark as Favorite (14 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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Intermolecular Forces, Mixtures, Intermolecular Forces, Colligative Properties, Freezing Point Depression, Solubility, Polarity, Phase Changes, Freezing Point, Density, Mixtures, Physical Properties | High School
Lesson Plan: Fuel Line Antifreeze Mark as Favorite (14 Favorites)
In this lesson students will explore the role of a gasoline additive, fuel line antifreeze (generally methanol or 2‑propanol), in reducing the potential of water to block fuel lines in freezing weather. Students will prepare test tube models of water-contaminated fuel tanks and explore the effect of adding different types of fuel line antifreeze. This lesson can be used to bolster concepts about miscibility, density, intermolecular forces, phase changes (freezing), and colligative properties (freezing point depression).
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Review, Density | High School, Middle School
Activity: Round Robin Mark as Favorite (14 Favorites)
In this activity, students solve problems on a series of sheets shared in a group.The activity can be extended beyond the topics of temperature and density. This lesson accompanies an article in Chemistry Solutions.
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Colligative Properties, Specific Heat, Freezing Point Depression, Solute & Solvent, Concentration, Heat, Temperature, Calorimetry, Error Analysis | High School
Lesson Plan: The Hot and Cold of it All Mark as Favorite (13 Favorites)
In this lesson students will analyze the effectiveness of different brands of antifreeze/coolants and their ability to protect an engine in cold climates. Students will conduct a lab investigation to examine the freezing point depression in samples that have been diluted with distilled water. Students will also determine the specific heat capacities of antifreeze/coolant products as compared to pure water and explain how it relates to thermal energy transfer in the internal combustion engine.
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Periodic Table, Identifying an Unknown | High School
Activity: Mendeleev's Cards Mark as Favorite (13 Favorites)
In this activity, students learn about periodic trends by organizing cards and then determining the information on a missing card.
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Electromagnetic Spectrum, Identifying an Unknown | Middle School, High School
Video: Color Matching Paint Video Mark as Favorite (13 Favorites)
This video explains how technology, specifically focusing on spectrophotometry, can be used for paint matching. Students will learn how the spectrophotometer interacts with the spectrum of visible light in order to match or reproduce specific paint colors.
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SI Units, Mole Concept, Measurements, Physical Properties, Density | Middle School, High School
Animation: Units of Chemistry Animation Mark as Favorite (13 Favorites)
This animation explores the importance of including units to communicate the value of measurements effectively. It presents definitions, units of measurement, and measuring tools for physical properties that are commonly measured or calculated in chemistry class: mass, length, temperature, volume, amount (moles), and density. This animation was featured in the November 2022 issue of Chemistry Solutions. **This video has no audio**
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Lab Safety | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Video: Video 3: How to Dress for the Lab? And what about Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)? Mark as Favorite (13 Favorites)
Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) for short is one of the main ways for you and your students to stay protected from injury in the lab. PPE includes things like goggles, gloves, lab coats or aprons. These are designed to protect eyes, hands and skin, as well as clothing, from exposure to chemicals. PPE is the most obvious way of preventing contact with chemicals--but it is not the first line of defense. Use these video to teach your students that before they put on any PPE, why they should dress properly for lab.
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Heat, Specific Heat, Temperature, Experimental Design, Scientific Method, Physical Properties | High School, Middle School
Lesson Plan: Designing & Engineering a Fast Defroster Mark as Favorite (13 Favorites)
In this activity students use their understanding of energy transfer to “design a solution to a complex real-world problem, based on scientific knowledge, student-generated sources of evidence, prioritized criteria, and tradeoff considerations.” And “evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem, based on scientific knowledge, student-generated sources of evidence, prioritized criteria, and tradeoff considerations.” The real world problem is to help a cook who is trying to make a meal, but realizes some of the ingredients are frozen and must be thawed before he can begin.
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Molecular Structure, Intermolecular Forces, Physical Properties | High School
Lab: Solubility Plays a Role: Making Seitan from Flour Mark as Favorite (13 Favorites)
This lab offers insight into a practical aspect of solubility and demystifies a common ingredient, wheat flour. In this lab students will read about the composition and observe some properties of whole wheat flour by preparing seitan, a vegetarian meat substitute made from the glutenin and gliadin proteins in flour. Gluten, formed from the interaction of the aforementioned proteins, has a unique property of elasticity.
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Periodic Table, History | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Video: Mercury Video Mark as Favorite (12 Favorites)
In this video, Sam Kean tells stories about Mercury.
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Radiation, Alpha/Beta/Gamma Decay, Graphing, Scientific Method, Experimental Design | High School
Lab: Alpha Beta Gamma Radiation Mark as Favorite (12 Favorites)
In this lab, students will investigate properties of three types of ionizing radiation—alpha, beta and gamma radiation. Students will have the opportunity to design their own procedures to explore the relationship between distance and radiation intensity.
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Catalysts, Reaction Rate, Experimental Design, Scientific Method, Chemical Change, Error Analysis, Balancing Equations, Percent Yield, Stoichiometry, Chemical Change, Measurements, Error Analysis, Dimensional Analysis | High School
Lesson Plan: Catalysis & Catalytic Converters Mark as Favorite (12 Favorites)
In this lesson students will be introduced to catalysts while expanding their knowledge of chemical reactions and stoichiometry. They will first learn about catalytic converters and then be challenged to create the best “catalytic converter” of hydrogen peroxide to oxygen gas in an inquiry-based activity.
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Electromagnetic Spectrum, Heat, Radiation, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, History, Interdisciplinary, Functional Groups, Molecular Structure | High School
Lesson Plan: Mars Exploration with Infrared Spectrometers Mark as Favorite (12 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about how space scientists used infrared spectrometers to explore Mars through an article reading. Space exploration involves a lot of chemistry, which many students are surprised to learn. 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.
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Alloys, Molecular Structure, Physical Properties | High School
Lab: Chemistry of Art through Alloys and Metal Plating Mark as Favorite (12 Favorites)
In this lab, students will learn about and experiment with the process of electroless chemical plating in order to create a piece of artwork made from a combination of copper, zinc-plated copper, and brass.
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Lab Safety | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Video: Video 2: Safety Data Sheet (SDS) Mark as Favorite (12 Favorites)
Preparation and planning are key to working in the chemistry lab. To be prepared, your students must understand the hazards of any chemicals they will be working with. The place to find that information is the Safety Data Sheet or SDS. The SDS provides detailed information about the properties of a chemical, its hazards, and how to protect yourself from those hazards. Use this video, to guide your students through 16 sections of the SDS for isopropyl alcohol to demonstrate importance of SDS information.
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Measurements, SI Units, Physical Properties, Observations | High School
Lesson Plan: Setting the Standards of Excellence Mark as Favorite (12 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will learn about standards through a reading about the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which is the U.S. body that defines standards. 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.
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Ionic Bonding, Covalent Bonding, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Density, Inferences | High School
Lesson Plan: Murder Mystery Mark as Favorite (12 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will use their knowledge of the properties of ionic and covalent compounds to examine the evidence from a crime scene. Students will conduct several tests, and compare their data with known data in a collection of SDS documents. Using the evidence from their investigation, students will write a claim, evidence and reasoning statement detailing whether the victim was murdered or died accidentally.
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Periodic Table, History, Radioactive Isotopes | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Video: Astatine Video Mark as Favorite (12 Favorites)
In this video, Sam Kean tells stories about astatine, the rarest element in the universe.
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Polyatomic Ions, Review, Ions | High School
Activity: Trade Ions Mark as Favorite (12 Favorites)
In this activity, students will learn common ions by creating notecards and quizzing each other.
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Redox Reaction, History, Oxidation, Reduction, Chemical Change, Observations | High School
Demonstration: Nitric Acid Acts Upon Copper Mark as Favorite (12 Favorites)
In this demonstration, students will hear a story about Ira Remsen and watch a demonstration that recreates her first experiment reacting nitric acid with a copper penny.