Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics

51 – 75 of 104 Classroom Resources

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  History, Interdisciplinary, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Observations, Mixtures | Middle School, High School

  Lab: Top Secret

  In this lab, students will learn about the history of invisible ink and will have the opportunity to compare two types of homemade invisible ink recipes.

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  Naming Compounds, Observations | High School

  Activity: Ionic Compound Identification

  In this activity, students will practice naming and writing formulas of ionic compounds by looking at examples.

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  Acid Rain, Chemical Change, Acid Base Reactions, pH, Chemical Change, Classification of Reactions, Observations, Interdisciplinary | High School

  Activity: Investigating Acid Rain

  In this activity, students will investigate the chemistry of acid rain through web based research. Students will also have the opportunity to observe the reaction between a common acid and a material in a week long simulation and relate their findings to the effects of acid rain.

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  Limiting Reactant, Chemical Change, Conservation of Mass, Stoichiometry, Observations, Inferences, Chemical Change, Exothermic & Endothermic | High School

  Demonstration: Introducing 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 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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  Density, Observations, Chemical Change, Physical Change, Balancing Equations, Chemical Change, Mixtures, Physical Change | High School

  Lab: The Lovely Lava Lamp

  In this lab, students add food coloring to a mixture of oil and water and record their observations. They then add an Alka-Seltzer tablet, record their observations and answer a series of questions about the chemical and physical changes that took place.

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  Chemical Change, Physical Change, Separating Mixtures, Observations, Mixtures, Chemical Properties, Physical Properties, Experimental Design, Scientific Method | High School, Middle School

  Lab: Test Tube Separation

  In this lab, students will mix four substances in a test tube and recreate the original four layers through chemical and physical means.

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  Redox Reaction, Electron Transfer, Chemical Change, Observations, Experimental Design, Scientific Method | High School, Middle School

  Lab: Test Tube Geology

  In this lab, students will observe a reaction between an iron nail and copper(II) sulfate in a test tube over the course of several days, modeling how a similar reaction occurs to form copper deposits in the earth. Students will also modify the procedures to evaluate how changing a factor of their choice affects the results of the test tube reaction, introducing them to concepts of experimental design. It also introduces students to my version of the Science Writing Heuristic (SWH).

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  Observations, Separating Mixtures, Mixtures, Interdisciplinary, Physical Properties, Scientific Method | High School, Middle School

  Activity: How Do We Clean Up An Oil Spill

  In this activity, students simulate an oil spill and test different materials’ ability to “clean” the oil spill.

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  Combustion, Chemical Change, Catalysts, Acid Base Reactions, Chemical Change, Balancing Equations, Classification of Reactions, Observations, Chemical Change | High School, Middle School

  Demonstration: Stop & Go Gases

  In this demonstration, students will witness the ability of carbon dioxide to extinguish a flame and oxygen to feed a flame. They will also be introduced to the concept of catalysts. This demonstration could also be used as an opportunity to practice writing and balancing equations and classifying chemical reactions.

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  Density, Physical Properties, Graphing, Interdisciplinary, Observations, Error Analysis, Measurements, Error Analysis | High School

  Lab: Graphing Density

  In this lab, students will collect data and then use graphing to determine the density values of unknown metal samples.

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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

  In this lesson, students determine whether unknown substances are polar, nonpolar, or ionic by testing their solubilities.

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  Reaction Rate, Chemical Change, Reaction Rate, Observations | Middle School, Elementary School, High School

  Demonstration: Simple Kinetics

  In this demonstration, students will see that different food dyes react with bleach at different rates.

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  Distillation, Intermolecular Forces, Separating Mixtures, Observations, Physical Properties, Polarity, Cracking, Intermolecular Forces, Boiling Point, Balancing Equations | High School

  Lesson Plan: Fractional Distillation of Crude Oil

  In this lesson, students will be introduced to simple distillation while expanding their knowledge of intermolecular forces. Once a simple distillation has been accomplished in the lab, students will then research the various products of fractional distillation of crude oil and report on one of those products.

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

  Demonstration: Secret Message

  In this lesson, students will observe a hidden message while understanding simple acid/base chemistry and indicators.

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  Atomic Spectra, Activity Series, Emission Spectrum, Ions, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Emission Spectrum, Observations, Inferences | High School

  Lab: Flame Test: Going Further

  In this lab, students will investigate the colors produced when several mixtures of metallic ions are placed in a flame.

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  Density, Observations, Chemical Change, Combustion | High School

  Demonstration: Fish Tank Carbon Dioxide

  In this demonstration, students watch as a reaction between baking soda and vinegar produces carbon dioxide, which then causes lit candles to extinguish.

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  Polarity, Mixtures, Intermolecular Forces, Intermolecular Forces, Physical Properties, Observations, Mixtures | Middle School, Elementary School, High School

  Lab: Salad Dressing Science: Emulsions

  In this lab, students mix polar and nonpolar substances and then add various emulsifiers to encourage the mixing of the two substances. They use ingredients in salad dressing to relate science to real life scenarios.

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

  Lab: Recycling Copper: Understanding Chemical Reactions

  In this lab, students will demonstrate their understanding of writing, balancing, translating, and identifying types of chemical reactions. While doing so, they will learn about the process of recycling copper.

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  Conservation of Mass, Conservation of Matter, Chemical Change, Classification of Reactions, Percent Yield, Balancing Equations, Error Analysis, Accuracy, Chemical Change, Chemical Properties, Conservation of Mass, Conservation of Matter, Observations, Separating Mixtures | High School

  Lab: Reactions of Copper

  In this lab, students will convert copper metal into different copper compounds and then back to copper to illustrate conservation of matter.

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  Reaction Rate, Experimental Design, Scientific Method, Observations, Chemical Change | High School, Middle School

  Lab: Reaction Rate

  In this lab, students will explore factors that effect reaction rate and develop a general statement that describes how the factors (temperature, particle size, and concentration) effect the rate based on experimental data. This is an inquiry-based activity.

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  Chemical Change, Activity Series, Redox Reaction, Electrons, Electron Transfer, Reduction, Oxidation, Half Reactions, Galvanic Cells, Observations, Chemical Change | High School

  Lesson Plan: Exploring Automotive Corrosion

  In this lesson students will investigate the galvanic corrosion that can occur when different metals come in contact with each other in modern cars.

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  Density, Density, Observations, Inferences | High School, Middle School

  Demonstration: Qualitative Look at Gas Density

  In this demo, students witness three types of gases and observe their relative densities to air.

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  Introduction, Observations, Interdisciplinary, Scientific Method | Middle School, High School

  Activity: Engineering Project

  In this activity, students work together in a small team in order to solve a problem and achieve a common goal. Students will need to work collaboratively in order to be successful. They will be required to communicate their ideas both verbally and in written form, assign duties, design and carry out a procedure in this activity. They will also be challenged with problem solving when/if their original plan fails.

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  Gas Laws, Matter, Density, Density, Temperature, Pressure, Volume, Graphing, Observations, Measurements | High School, Middle School

  Lab: Pressure Bottle

  In this lab, students determine the relationship between volume and pressure of a gas and its temperature and address the common misconception that air does not have mass or density.

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  Exothermic & Endothermic, Heat, Specific Heat, Temperature, Enthalpy, Calorimetry, Observations, Inferences | High School, Middle School

  Demonstration: Energy in Hot and Cold Packs

  In this demonstration, students will observe temperature changes in chemical hot and cold packs and discuss processes of endothermic and exothermic changes. They will also see that common household products can be used to make a hot and cold pack.