Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics

1 – 25 of 49 Classroom Resources

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  Chemical Change, Error Analysis, History, Exothermic & Endothermic, Chemical Change | Middle School

  Lesson Plan: The Chemistry of Casts

  In this lesson, students will learn about the history of the chemistry involved in creating orthopedic casts. Students will then work in small groups to conduct a hands-on experiment in which they will determine the optimum plaster of Paris to water ratio for model casts.

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  Reaction Rate, Catalysts, Experimental Design, Chemical Change, Reaction Rate, Chemical Change | Middle School

  Lesson Plan: Investigating Fast and Slow Reaction Rates

  In this lesson, students will review the characteristics of chemical changes and then use a catalyst and an inhibitor to explore the reaction rate of the oxidation of iron.

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  Physical Change, Chemical Change, Observations | Elementary School, Middle School

  Lab: Comparing Physical and Chemical Changes

  In this lab, students will analyze different scenarios in order to determine if a physical or chemical change has occurred. This lab experience will provide students with the opportunity to record observations, as well as improve their ability to differentiate between physical and chemical changes.

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  Heat of Vaporization , Boiling Point, Intermolecular Forces, Phase Changes, Heating Curve, Heat of Combustion, Temperature, Specific Heat, Observations, Chemical Change, Physical Change | Middle School, High School

  Demonstration: Cooking an Egg in Chemistry Class

  In this demonstration, students will observe the very high latent heat of vaporization for water by boiling water over a Bunsen burner in a paper cup to cook a boiled egg. The discussion can be extended to incorporate intermolecular forces to explain the unusually high boiling point of water, as well as heat of vaporization and specific heat capacity.

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  Solubility, Solute & Solvent, Precipitate, Mixtures, Error Analysis, Chemical Change, Physical Change, Observations, Identifying an Unknown, Graphing | Middle School, High School

  Lab: Chemicals, Chromatography, and Crime!

  In this lab, students will test “evidence” that has been collected from a crime scene. In order to determine if the victim was poisoned, students will perform a solubility and crystallization test on an unknown powder. Then, students will attempt to identify the culprit by using paper chromatography to analyze the lipstick from the potential criminals.

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  History, Chemical Change, Interdisciplinary | Middle School, High School

  Video: Spellbound Episode 3—A Yellow Sweater: Bassam Shakhashiri, Ph.D.

  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 Bassam Shakhashiri, Ph.D.

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  History, Chemical Change | Middle School, High School

  Activity: Spellbound Episode 3 Bassam Shakhashiri Video Questions

  In this activity, students will answer questions while watching a video from the Spellbound series produced by ACS. Each episode focuses on a different notable scientist, recounting how their interest in science was sparked in their childhood and how they went on to make great contributions to the scientific community. This third episode focuses on the childhood of Bassam Shakhashiri, whose early interest in colors led him to study chemistry and become a passionate chemistry educator and ambassador.

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  History, Interdisciplinary, Chemical Change | Middle School, High School

  Activity: Spellbound Episode 1 Ahmed Zewail Video Questions

  In this activity, students will answer questions while watching a video from the Spellbound series produced by ACS. Each episode focuses on a different notable scientist, recounting how their interest in science was sparked in their childhood and how they went on to make great contributions to the scientific community. This first episode focuses on the childhood of Ahmed Zewail, who went on to become the 1999 Chemistry Nobel Laureate.

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

  Demonstration: What Causes Yeast to Ferment?

  In this lesson, students will observe and verify molasses sugar content as a result of its ability to ferment yeast. They will compare how molasses allows yeast to ferment with other sugar solutions as well as a sugar-free solution.

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  Physical Change, Chemical Change, Observations, Molecular Structure | Middle School, High School

  Lab: Determining a Chemical or Physical Change

  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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  Density, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Physical Change, Chemical Change, Graphing, Alloys | Middle School, High School

  Lesson Plan: The Captivating Chemistry of Coins

  In this lesson, students will develop a better understanding of physical and chemical properties of matter by comparing the composition of different pennies. This is done by determining the density of different pennies which will be compared to the density of different metals.

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  Physical Change, Chemical Change, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties | Elementary School, Middle School, High School

  Activity: A Physical vs. Chemical Challenge

  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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  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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  Review, Matter, Density, Physical Change, Chemical Change, Periodic Table, Elements, Mixtures | Elementary School, Middle School

  Activity: Chemistry Basics: Crossword Puzzle

  In this activity, students will complete a crossword puzzle by solving each clue that is related to a basic, yet fundamental chemistry topic.

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  Chemical Change, Chemical Change, Observations | Elementary School, Middle School

  Lab: It's Alive

  In this lab, students will practice making and recording observations, analyzing data, and identifying chemical change. They will transfer dirt, germs, and bacteria from their hands onto a piece of white bread and observe the changes that occur during the following days. Students will analyze the results, make comparisons between clean and dirty samples of bread and learn about the importance of hand-cleaning.

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  Polymers, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Physical Change, Chemical Change, Observations, Scientific Method, Mixtures | Middle School

  Lesson Plan: Exploring the Chemistry of Oil and Acrylic Paints

  In this lesson students learn about the chemistry of oil and acrylic paints. They make their own paint, and complete an experiment to collect qualitative and quantitative data through a series of tests. Students will also apply the concepts of physical and chemical change to the results of this controlled experiment.

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  Chemical Change, Chemical Change, Physical Change, Physical Properties | Middle School

  Lab: Little Miss Muffet Investigation

  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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  Chemical Change, Conservation of Mass, Chemical Change, Physical Change | Middle School, High School

  Lab: Chemistry in a Bag

  In this lab, students will observe and identify chemical and physical changes contained inside a plastic bag. Students will also use this lab to understand the Law of Conservation of Mass.

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  Chemical Change, Physical Change, Chemical Change, Scientific Method, Melting Point, Phase Changes | Middle School

  Lab: S'more Change Please

  In this lab, students will be able to demonstrate the difference between a physical and chemical change by making ooey, gooey, yet yummy S’mores!

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  Chemical Change, Physical Change, Chemical Change | Middle School, High School, Elementary School

  Lab: Chemical and Physical Changes

  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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  Conservation of Mass, Chemical Change, Interdisciplinary, Culminating Project, Phase Changes, Chemical Change | Middle School, High School

  Project: Law of Conservation of Mass Comic Strip

  In this project, students will work in groups to create a comic strip that illustrates understanding of the law of conservation of mass.

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  Chemical Change, Strong vs Weak, Salts, Mixture, Acid & Base Theories, Conductivity, Ions | Middle School

  Lesson Plan: Why Drink Gatorade?

  In this lesson, students will test different flavors of Gatorade and other liquids to investigate acids and bases. This will take several days unless students already know about acids and bases.

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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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  Polarity, Polymers, Molecular Structure, Monomer, Intermolecular Forces, Scientific Method, Chemical Change, Intermolecular Forces | Middle School

  Lesson Plan: Watch the Baby! Superabsorbent Polymer

  In this lesson, students will learn about how polymers, specifically superabsorbent polymers, work. Through lab activities, students will investigate polymer properties.

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  Molecular Formula, Chemical Change | High School, Middle School

  Lesson Plan: Valentine's Day Chemistry

  In this lesson, students learn about the chemistry of love. They see chemical structures of compounds involved in the biological process of love and learn about some of the chemical changes associated with love.