Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics

26 – 50 of 104 Classroom Resources

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  Chemical Change, Physical Change, Observations, Molecular Structure, Lewis Structures, Polarity, Chemical Change | High School

  Lab: DIY Triiodide

  In this lab, students will investigate how iodine interacts with various substances. They will use color changes to justify whether a chemical or physical change is taking place. This activity is referenced in the October 2019 ChemMatters article called “Cash, Chemistry, and Counterfeiting.”

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  Measurements, Dimensional Analysis, Chemical Properties, Physical Properties, Chemical Change, Physical Change, Matter, Observations, Mixtures | Middle School, High School

  Activity: Cupcake Conversions, Bench to Bakery

  This activity will help to reinforce the importance of scientific measurement and apply it to the introduction of chemical reactions. Using an example of baking a single batch of cupcakes, students will plan for a larger production scale in a commercial bakery. This will help to introduce the idea of producing a reaction at the lab bench and converting it to mass production. In addition this activity investigates how chemistry is used in everyday life and challenges students to consider potentials errors that may occur when completing chemical reactions in the kitchen.

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  Chemical Change, Chemical Change, Acid Base Reactions, Observations | Middle School, High School

  Lab: How do Sinkholes Form?

  In this lab students will learn how acidic groundwater reacts with limestone, causing it to erode. Sinkholes form when eroded limestone underneath the surface of the earth can no longer support the ground above it. Students will 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.

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  Conservation of Mass, Observations, History, Measurements, SI Units | Middle School, High School

  Activity: Lavoisier Video Questions

  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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  History, Physical Properties, Matter, Observations | Elementary School, Middle School, High School

  Activity: Ancient Chemistry Video Questions

  In this activity, students will watch a video about the history of chemistry. They will answer questions while learning about the history of chemistry, starting with the discovery of fire, progressing through the various metal ages, and be introduced to the great philosophers.

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  Density, Observations, Measurements | Middle School, High School

  Lab: Penny Boats

  In this lab, students will explore Archimedes’ Principle and how it relates to density. Each student will be given a piece of aluminum foil and asked to design and build a boat that will hold as many pennies as possible without sinking when placed in water.

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  Classification of Reactions, Chemical Change, Catalysts, Observations | Middle School, High School

  Demonstration: Catalyst in Motion

  This demonstration allows students to visualize how a catalyst can impact a chemical reaction. Students will also identify the products of a decomposition reaction, as well as determine if the reaction was endothermic or exothermic based on their observations.

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  Physical Properties, Observations | Middle School, High School

  Lab: Abe Goes Swimming

  In this lab, students will investigate surface tension by comparing the number of liquid drops of water and of alcohol that can be held on the surface of a penny. An optional opportunity to investigate surfactants is also provided.

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  Scientific Method, Observations, Inferences, Intermolecular Forces, Mixtures | High School

  Lab: Magic Milk

  In this lab, students will investigate the addition of detergent to a mixture of whole milk and food coloring. Students will attempt to explain the cause of their observations. Also, students will have the opportunity to manipulate the experiment and determine how other variables may impact the results.

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  Scientific Method, Observations | High School

  Lesson Plan: Is it Real Science or Pseudoscience?

  In this lesson, students will deepen their knowledge of the scientific method by learning how to determine if researched information is valid and if it should be used for gaining or furthering our scientific knowledge. Students will view the documentary “Mermaids: The Body Found”, a pseudo-documentary that was later reported to be a hoax by the Discovery Channel. They will then use a “Baloney Detection Kit” to analyze the authenticity of information presented through different media as scientific fact.

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  Limiting Reactant, Chemical Change, Conservation of Mass, Stoichiometry, Chemical Change, Observations, Conservation of Mass | High School

  Demonstration: Understanding Limiting Reactants

  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 balloons. 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.

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  Conservation of Mass, Observations, Inferences, Matter, Error Analysis | High School

  Lab: Investigating Mass Change

  In this lab, students perform seven different investigations in order to develop an understanding of conservation of mass.

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  Activity Series, Chemical Change, Oxidation, Reduction, Net Ionic Equation, Redox Reaction, Observations | High School

  Lab: Fine Art of Redox

  In this lab, students will practice writing and balancing redox reactions and use the activity series to verify the outcome of a chemical reaction.

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  Physical Properties, Observations, Experimental Design, Scientific Method | High School

  Lesson Plan: Not Breaking Up is Hard to Do: the Properties of Glass

  In this lesson students will learn about the properties of glass, and relate those properties to the new engineering design of glass in a car.

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  Conservation of Mass, History, Observations, Measurements, SI Units | Elementary School, Middle School, High School

  Video: Antoine Lavoisier Video

  This video tells the story of Antoine Lavoisier who many consider to be the father or modern chemistry. Lavoisier discovered oxygen and hydrogen and first proposed the Law of Conservation of Mass.

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  History, Physical Properties, Observations, Model of the Atom | Elementary School, Middle School, High School

  Video: Ancient Chemistry Video

  This video traces the history of chemistry from the discovery of fire, through the various metal ages, and finally to the great philosophers.

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  Limiting Reactant, Percent Yield, Stoichiometry, Balancing Equations, Measurements, Observations, Error Analysis, Separating Mixtures, Error Analysis, Dimensional Analysis, Mole Concept | High School

  Lab: Limiting Reactant Lab

  In this lab, students react copper(II) chloride with aluminum to determine the limiting reactant. They then isolate one product to determine their percent yield.

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  Limiting Reactant, Percent Yield, Stoichiometry, Balancing Equations, Net Ionic Equation, Concentration, Molarity, Precipitate, Solubility, Dimensional Analysis, Mole Concept, Observations, Graphing, Separating Mixtures, Identifying an Unknown | High School

  Lab: White Lab

  In this lab, students use molarity concepts to review limiting reactant concepts mathematically, conceptually, and graphically. They can then carry out a follow up investigation to identify an unknown using concepts learned in the first investigation.

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  Limiting Reactant, Balancing Equations, Stoichiometry, Observations, Chemical Change | High School

  Lesson Plan: Observing the Limiting Reactant

  In this lesson, students will be introduced to the concept of limiting reactants by applying various literacy strategies to a one-page informational text and through a short demonstration (or lab). The reading and demo will help students create connections between the macroscopic, particulate, and symbolic representations of chemical reactions and limiting reactants.

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  Heat, Temperature, Specific Heat, Observations, Molecular Motion | High School, Middle School

  Activity: What Makes Something Feel Warm

  In this lesson students actively engage in thinking about energy issues in chemistry and the nature of energy (thermal) transfer. The idea that temperature is a measure of heat content will be challenged, and students will be given the opportunity to collect data that will allow them to clearly see that different materials transfer energy at different rates.

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  Temperature, Molecular Motion, Observations, Inferences | High School, Middle School

  Demonstration: What is Temperature?

  In this demonstration, students will observe food dye mixing with water at different temperatures.

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  Introduction, History, Periodic Table, Elements, Observations, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties | High School

  Lesson Plan: What is Chemistry?

  In this lesson, students watch a video narrated by Bill Nye, and then complete a SOMA cube to enhance their perspective in the process of discovery.

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  Conservation of Mass, Exothermic & Endothermic, Chemical Change, Heat, Temperature, Observations, Chemical Change | High School, Middle School

  Lab: Kitchen Reaction

  In this lab students will observe an endothermic chemical reaction involving baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and vinegar (acetic acid). Students will investigate the signs a chemical reaction has occurred (gas production, change in temperature). Students will perform the lab in an open system so they can see the change of mass due to gas production. This lab is a lead into the topic of conservation of mass. After the lab is completed, the teacher should do a demonstration of the exothermic reaction Hydrogen peroxide and potassium iodide.

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  Chemical Change, Classification of Reactions, Balancing Equations, Observations, Chemical Change | High School

  Lab: It's Time to React

  In this lab, students will conduct four chemical reactions and analyze each for indicators of a chemical reaction. Based on their observations students will write a balanced chemical equation for each reaction as well as identify the reaction type for each reaction.

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  Elements, Model of the Atom, History, Introduction, Matter, Observations, Periodic Table, Culminating Project, Atoms | Middle School, High School

  Activity: Is a Picture Worth 1000 Words?

  In this activity, students will learn about early chemistry discoveries through a textbook reading as well as from a cartoon.