Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics
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Intermolecular Forces, Molecular Motion, Physical Properties, Density | High School
Activity: Molecular Structure in Glacier Formation Mark as Favorite (0 Favorites)
In this activity, students will model the compression of ice as a glacier forms. Students will make connections between density, distance between molecules, and the life of the glacier.
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Ionic Bonding, Polyatomic Ions | High School
Activity: Game Activity: Ion Dice Mark as Favorite (2 Favorites)
In this game, students will test their knowledge of how ions combine to form ionic compounds. Students will score points by rolling the 12 ion dice and combining ions to create various ionic compounds. As the players create compounds, they are left with fewer dice and must decide whether to stop and bank their points or to press their luck, risking a “bust” and losing all their points for the round. This accompanying activity encourages students to further practice the skills used in the game, as well as to take the next step of writing names and formulas for ionic compounds.
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Introduction, Interdisciplinary | High School
Activity: Careers in the Skilled Technical Workforce Mark as Favorite (8 Favorites)
In this activity, students will learn about career opportunities in the Skilled Technical Workforce (STW) – jobs that use STEM knowledge but do not require a four-year degree. They will be introduced to various STW jobs through articles, infographics, videos, and career websites, and will have a chance to reflect on their own career goals.
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Activity Series, Electrons, Electrons, Electron Transfer, Atoms, Ions, Chemical Change | High School
Activity: Game Activity: Activity Series Game Mark as Favorite (3 Favorites)
In this game, students will explore the activity series of metals by observing interactions between metals and metal ions. The game starts with a brief tutorial followed by a “capture the flag” game where students “steal” electrons based on the activity series. Then students play a pong-style game based on reactivity to earn points. Finally, there are two extension activities for students to view videos of real-world reactions and create particle models of these reactions.
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Identifying an Unknown, Solutions, Solubility, States of Matter, Melting Point, Phase Changes | High School
Simulation: Safety Data Sheets Mark as Favorite (9 Favorites)
Students learn about sections of a safety data sheet (SDS) and how the information can be used for safety purposes and for identifying unknowns. They will use the Physical and Chemical Properties section and particle diagrams to distinguish between substances with similar appearances in a variety of lab-based scenarios.
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Identifying an Unknown, Solutions, Solubility, States of Matter, Melting Point, Phase Changes, Acids & Bases, pH, Strong vs Weak, Observations, Molecular Motion | High School
Activity: Simulation Activity: Identifying Unknowns with Safety Data Sheets Mark as Favorite (15 Favorites)
In this activity, students will use a simulation to learn about some of the sections of a safety data sheet (SDS) and how the information on SDSs can be used not only for safety purposes but also for identifying unknowns. Specifically, students will use “Section 9: Physical and Chemical Properties” to distinguish between two or three substances with similar appearances in a variety of lab-based scenarios. Particle diagrams are also included to help students visualize the substances’ behavior on a particulate level.
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Lab Safety, Introduction, Review | Middle School, High School
Activity: Laboratory Equipment Scramble Mark as Favorite (7 Favorites)
In this activity, students will be challenged to solve a set of scrambled word puzzles. Each scrambled word corresponds to the name of a common piece of chemistry laboratory equipment. After solving each puzzle, students will use designated letters from each word to solve a riddle.
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Atomic Theory, Model of the Atom, Subatomic Particles, History | High School
Activity: Atomic Theory Timeline Mark as Favorite (12 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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Review | High School
Activity: ChemConnections Mark as Favorite (21 Favorites)
In this activity, students will complete a series of chemistry-themed word puzzles. There are 10 puzzles of varying difficulty levels in the set; each puzzle provides 16 words which students must categorize into four groups of four items that share something in common without knowing what the categories are. Each puzzle has only one correct solution. Words that have more than one meaning and/or could fit in multiple categories will be more difficult to categorize correctly. Students will then have a chance to reflect on any of the terms or categories that were particularly tricky or unfamiliar to them.
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Review | High School
Activity: Chemistry Emoji Pictionary Mark as Favorite (18 Favorites)
In this activity, students will try to determine the correct chemistry related term, phrase, or item based on a provided set of emojis.
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Periodic Table, Ionization Energy, Electronegativity | High School
Activity: Introduction to Ionization Energy and Electronegativity with a Tactile Model Mark as Favorite (14 Favorites)
In this activity, students will investigate the definitions of ionization energy and electronegativity as well as the periodic trends for each through building tactile models using Lego blocks.
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Physical Properties, Physical Change, Observations, Identifying an Unknown, Lab Safety, Covalent Bonding, Ionic Bonding, Intermolecular Forces, Molecular Motion | High School
Animation: Physical Properties and Particle Interaction Animation Mark as Favorite (21 Favorites)
This animation explores the relationship between physical properties and particle-level interactions. Particle diagrams of common household substances are used to illustrate that forces of attraction influence melting points. Similarly, particle diagrams of the same substances dissolved in water are used to compare their conductivity in solution. This animation was featured in the November 2023 issue of Chemistry Solutions. **This video has no audio**
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Physical Properties, Physical Change, Observations, Identifying an Unknown, Lab Safety, Molecules & Bonding, Covalent Bonding, Ionic Bonding, Intermolecular Forces, Molecular Motion, Solutions, Conductivity, States of Matter, Melting Point, Intermolecular Forces, Molecular Motion | High School
Activity: Animation Activity: Physical Properties and Particle Interaction Mark as Favorite (14 Favorites)
In this activity, students will view an animation that explores the relationship between physical properties and particle-level interactions. Particle diagrams of common household substances are used to illustrate that forces of attraction influence melting points. Similarly, particle diagrams of the same substances dissolved in water are used to compare their conductivity in solution.
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Polyatomic Ions | High School
Activity: Polyatomic Ion Word Search Mark as Favorite (17 Favorites)
In this activity, students will be challenged to recognize and identify common polyatomic ions by name and chemical formula. Unlike a traditional word search puzzle, students are only provided with a list of formulas for 24 polyatomic ions, instead of the names of each. They are tasked with finding the corresponding ion names hidden in the puzzle, and then must match each one with its correct formula.
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Separating Mixtures, Distillation, Physical Properties | High School
Activity: Investigating Crude Oil Mark as Favorite (2 Favorites)
In this activity, students will watch a video and answer questions about crude oil and the process of fractional distillation. They will see how this process effectively separates a mixture and the importance of understanding physical properties.
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Elements, Interdisciplinary, Periodic Table | Middle School, High School
Simulation: What Type of Element Are You? Mark as Favorite (47 Favorites)
In this simulation, students will take a nine question personality quiz to determine which of four types of elements best matches their personality. The accompanying student activity provides students an opportunity to reflect on why their answers led to their final quiz results and to consider what the "personality profile" of other types of elements not included in this quiz might look like.
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Elements, Periodic Table, Interdisciplinary | Middle School, High School
Activity: Simulation Activity: What Type of Element Are You? Mark as Favorite (34 Favorites)
In this activity, students will take a nine question personality quiz to determine which of four types of elements best matches their personality. They will then have an opportunity to reflect on why their answers led to their final quiz results and to consider what the "personality profile" of other types of elements not included in this quiz might look like.
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Physical Change, Chemical Change, Observations, Chemical Change, Radioactive Isotopes | High School
Activity: Physical, Chemical and Nuclear Changes Mark as Favorite (66 Favorites)
In this activity, students will analyze the representation of physical, chemical, and nuclear changes in four ways: submicroscopic (particle diagrams), symbolic (equations), macroscopic (observations), and linguistic (vocabulary words). This self-guided activity is designed to ensure that students internalize fundamental chemistry concepts that will serve as a meaningful basis for future learning about matter and its changes.
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Alpha/Beta/Gamma Decay, Radioactive Isotopes, Graphing | High School
Activity: The Nuclear Decay of Uranium Mark as Favorite (21 Favorites)
In this activity, students will model the Uranium decay series through nuclear equations, graphing, and particulate diagrams.
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Separating Mixtures, Mixtures, Distillation, Physical Properties | High School
Animation: Separating Mixtures Animation Mark as Favorite (22 Favorites)
This animation 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. This animation was featured in the May 2023 issue of Chemistry Solutions. **This video has no audio**
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Solutions, Concentration, Solubility, Molarity, Graphing | High School
Activity: Concentration and Solubility Mark as Favorite (26 Favorites)
In this activity, students will use news articles and EPA publications to compare Federal drinking water regulations to the concentrations found in Flint, Michigan. Students are introduced to the unit parts per billion (ppb) and compare it both conceptually and mathematically to molarity. As a group, students use data to compare the solubility of various lead salts and perform solubility calculations.
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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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Elements, Periodic Table, Review | High School
Activity: Clueless Crossword Mark as Favorite (21 Favorites)
In this activity, students will need a pencil and eraser as they are challenged to complete a crossword puzzle without any traditional clues! Instead, students are given a list of element symbols and tasked with determining the element name for each symbol. Then, using the names, they will then attempt to place each one correctly in the puzzle. With only one possible solution, this puzzle can be very tricky!
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Measurements, Graphing, Interdisciplinary | High School
Activity: Modeling Algae Growth Mark as Favorite (2 Favorites)
In this activity, students will read a ChemMatters article about the science of algal blooms to learn how the blooms affect ecosystems. While developing their understanding, students will create a mathematical model to predict algal growth.
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Interdisciplinary, Photosynthesis | High School
Activity: Algae Trivia Mark as Favorite (3 Favorites)
In this activity, students will participate in a trivia game created in support of the 2023 Chemists Celebrate Earth Week (CCEW) theme, The Curious Chemistry of Amazing Algae. Students will participate individually or as a team to test their knowledge about algae and related chemistry topics.