Classroom Resources: Energy & Thermodynamics

1 – 25 of 42 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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  Heat, Temperature, Specific Heat, Law of Conservation of Energy, Enthalpy, Calorimetry, Exothermic & Endothermic, Balancing Equations, Chemical Change, Measurements, Mole Concept, Dimensional Analysis, Culminating Project, Interdisciplinary, Review, Graphing, Observations, Chemical Properties, Physical Properties | High School

  Project: Handwarmer Design Challenge

  In this project, students will use their knowledge of thermodynamics to design a handwarmer for a manufacturing company that can maintain a temperature of 30-40°C for at least 5 minutes and is designed for the average human hand. Students will create a final product after rounds of testing and an advertising poster that summarizes the results of their testing and promotes their design.

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  Phase Changes, Molecular Motion, Intermolecular Forces, Heat of Combustion, Temperature, Exothermic & Endothermic | High School

  Lab: Investigating Condensation

  In this lab, students will explore the phase change of condensation and determine whether this process is endothermic or exothermic. Students will then investigate how water vapor condenses, what effect surrounding temperature has on the rate of condensation, and what is happening to the molecules when they condense.

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  Exothermic & Endothermic, Temperature, Heat of Combustion, Chemical Change | Middle School

  Lesson Plan: Chemical Volcanoes - A Tale of Two Reactions

  In this lesson, students will use volcanoes as a vehicle to learn about the differences between endothermic and exothermic reactions by completing a hands-on activities and observing a teacher-led demonstration.

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  Chemical Change, Reaction Rate, Chemical Change, Exothermic & Endothermic, Heat, Temperature | High School

  Lab: A Comparison of Two Chemical Reactions

  In this lab, students will perform two chemical reactions, one between acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate and the other between the citric acid and the sodium bicarbonate in an Alka-Seltzer tablet when dissolved in water. Both reactions will produce gas while reacting in a closed plastic sandwich bag, causing it to inflate. Students will observe the reactions and analyze the results in order to understand indicators of chemical changes, heat flow, and factors that affect reaction rates

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  Heat, Temperature, Exothermic & Endothermic | Middle School, High School

  Lab: Energy Transfer Investigation

  In this lab, students will experience several examples of energy transfer. They will analyze their observations and interpret their results in an attempt to explain why each transfer took place.

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  Heat of Combustion, Heat, Exothermic & Endothermic, Combustion, Polymers, Molecular Structure | High School

  Activity: The Internal Combustion Engine Video Questions

  In this activity, students will watch a video and answer related questions about the mechanical and chemical processed used in the internal combustion engine. Additionally they will learn about reactions and fuel types as well as the history and evolution of the combustion engine.

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  Enthalpy, Entropy, Gibb's Free Energy , Spontaneous vs. Non-spontaneous Reactions, Exothermic & Endothermic | High School

  Lab: Investigating Enthalpy and Entropy

  In this lab, students will be able to observe and measure energy changes during the formation of solutions. The students should be able to explain and describe these changes in terms of entropy, enthalpy and free energy.

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  Exothermic & Endothermic, Redox Reaction, Oxidation, Spontaneous Reactions , Classification of Reactions, Spontaneous Reactions | High School

  Demonstration: Potassium Permanganate Volcano

  In this demonstration, glycerol is oxidized by using potassium permanganate as a catalyst. This gives off a tremendous amount of heat, light, and gas as a volcano of purple flames emit. It is an excellent way to introduce exothermic reactions and discuss spontaneous reactions.

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  Heat, Temperature, Specific Heat, Exothermic & Endothermic, Energy Diagrams, Hess's Law, Calorimetry, Entropy, Enthalpy, Gibb's Free Energy | High School

  Lesson Plan: Thermochemistry and Thermodynamics Unit Plan

  The AACT high school classroom resource library and multimedia collection has everything you need to put together a unit plan for your classroom: lessons, activities, labs, projects, videos, simulations, and animations. We constructed a unit plan using AACT resources that is designed to teach thermochemistry and thermodynamics to your students.

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  Reaction Rate, Activation Energy, Hess's Law, Exothermic & Endothermic, Le Châtelier's Principle | High School

  Lab: Kinetics and Equilibrium

  In this lab, students will investigate the reaction of the hydrogen sulfite ion (HSO3-) and the iodate ion (IO3-) to determine the effect that changing concentration and temperature has on the reaction rate.

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  Exothermic & Endothermic, Specific Heat, Density, Phase Changes | High School

  Lab: Chemistry is Cooler Stress Test Challenge

  In this lab, students will design and build a device capable of insulating an ice cube submerged in boiling water for two minutes. In this open-ended inquiry based activity, students will be required to critically think about structure and function of the materials they wish to use to build a device to solve a complex real-world problem. Students must consider the thermal properties of the materials, density, and the need to form a non-permeable barrier between the ice cube and the boiling water.

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  Exothermic & Endothermic, Law of Conservation of Energy, Temperature, Bond Energy | High School

  Project: Thermochemistry Infographic

  In this project, students will apply the principles of thermochemistry and thermodynamics to explain real world phenomena by creating an infographic using web based tools.

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  Chemical Change, Exothermic & Endothermic | Elementary School, Middle School

  Demonstration: Giant Toothpaste

  In this demonstration, students will identify factors that indicate a chemical change has occurred while observing the production of giant toothpaste. This reaction uses simpler materials than those that are often used in the typical high school version of the Elephant’s toothpaste demonstration.

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  Chemical Change, Exothermic & Endothermic | High School

  Lab: Little Miss Muffet

  In this lab, students make homemade glue from milk and compare it to commercial glue.

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  Exothermic & Endothermic, Heat, Temperature, Classification of Reactions | Middle School, High School

  Lab: Determining Endothermic and Exothermic Reaction

  In this lab, students will analyze evidence to determine if a chemical reaction releases energy and can be classified as an exothermic reaction or if it absorbs energy and can be classified as an endothermic reaction.

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  Chemical Change, Exothermic & Endothermic, Chemical Change, Physical Change, Separating Mixtures | Elementary School

  Lab: Super Suds

  In this lab, students will investigate an endothermic chemical reaction by combining baking soda, hand soap and citric acid. The students will be tasked with differentiating between chemical and physical changes during this experiment.

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  Exothermic & Endothermic, Classification of Reactions, Energy Diagrams, Bond Energy, Activation Energy, Temperature, Chemical Change | Middle School, High School

  Activity: Simulation Activity: Energy Changes in Chemical Reactions

  In this simulation, students will evaluate the energy changes in an endothermic and an exothermic chemical reaction. Through the use of this simulation students will have the opportunity to compare how energy is absorbed and released in each reaction. Additionally, students will make a connection between the standard energy diagrams associated with each reaction type.

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  Exothermic & Endothermic, Law of Conservation of Energy, Heat, Temperature | High School

  Activity: Endothermic & Exothermic Reactions

  In this activity, students observe industrial-strength snap sticks and chemical cold packs and discuss processes of endothermic and exothermic reactions.

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  Heat of Combustion, Heat, Exothermic & Endothermic, Combustion | Elementary School, Middle School, High School

  Video: The Internal Combustion Engine Video

  This video investigates both the mechanical and the chemical processes used in the internal combustion engine, as well as the history and evolution of the combustion engine.

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  Calorimetry, Exothermic & Endothermic, Temperature, Stoichiometry, Limiting Reactant, Chemical Change, Molarity, Enthalpy, Heat, Concentration, Experimental Design, Scientific Method | High School

  Lab: Less Than Zero

  In this lab, students will investigate the endothermic reaction between baking soda and HCl. Students will consider stoichiometric ratios, molar concentrations, reaction scale, and calorimetry. The lab starts with a scripted reaction that uses given molar ratios, a glass beaker, and 2-M HCl. They will witness a temperature drop of about 5 to 8 C. Students then adjust the experiment so they can achieve a temperature drop of more than 20 C.

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  Le Châtelier's Principle, Establishing Equilibrium, Equilibrium Constants, Reaction Quotient, Exothermic & Endothermic, Heat, Temperature | High School

  Demonstration: Le Châtelier’s Principle

  In this demonstration, students will witness a system at equilibrium and apply different stresses to see how the equilibrium shifts.

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  Chemical Change, Exothermic & Endothermic, Redox Reaction, Reaction Rate | High School

  Demonstration: Potassium Permanganate Demo

  In this demo, students witness two chemicals that take some time to react. The KMnO4 and glycerin come into contact and appear not to react, but then a flame results. This is an example of an exothermic redox reaction.

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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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  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.