51 – 75 of 76 Classroom Resources

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  Polymers, Molecular Structure, Molecular Structure , Polymers, Solubility | High School

  Activity: Ingenious: How Science Is Fixing Recycling's Grossest Problem Video Questions Mark as Favorite (4 Favorites)

  In this activity, students will answer questions while watching the video, How Science is Fixing Recycling’s Grossest Problem, from the Ingenious series produced by the American Chemical Society. Each episode investigates a different topic related to how leading-edge chemistry is taking on the world’s most urgent issues to advance everyone’s quality of life and secure our shared future. This episode investigates the stinky problems associated with polypropylene recycling. Current polypropylene recycling techniques are more down-cycling than re-cycling, but a new technique, called dissolution recycling, is changing all that.

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  Catalysts, Molecular Structure | High School

  Video: Ingenious Video 1: The Strange Chemistry Behind Why You Get Sick on Planes Mark as Favorite (11 Favorites)

  The compound ozone, a known respiratory irritant, exists in high concentrations at flight altitudes, making the “fresh air” sucked in by air conditioners at those heights, well, not so fresh. In fact ozone exposure may be responsible for many of the short-term discomforts we associate with air travel. What’s more, ozone can react with other compounds in the air -- even the oils of our skin -- to produce other toxic compounds, like aldehydes and ketones. Some planes have catalytic converters, like the ones in cars, which use transition metals to turn ozone into breathable oxygen. But not every plane has one!

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  Electromagnetic Spectrum, Molecular Structure, Chemical Bond, Molecular Structure | High School

  Video: Ingenious Video 2: What Birds Know About Color that You Don't Mark as Favorite (8 Favorites)

  We’ve been using pigments and dyes for thousands of years, but they’re not the whole story when it comes to making color. “Structural” color occurs when tiny nanostructures interact with light waves, amplifying certain colors and canceling others. From brilliant bird feathers to butterfly wings, mole hairs to octopus skin, structural color is everywhere in the natural world. Researchers have tried for years to harness this incredible natural phenomenon in a useful way. Because these colors are so small and complex, and therefore hard to copy, their efforts have met with little success. But novel research using a computer model based in repeated random sampling — a so-called “Monte Carlo” model — is showing promise. Using this approach, scientists have been able to mimic the gorgeous blue of the mountain bluebird in a thin film of reflective beads, leapfrogging millennia of evolution.

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  Molecular Structure, Chemical Bond, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Molecular Structure | High School

  Activity: Ingenious: What Birds Know About Color that You Don't Video Questions Mark as Favorite (3 Favorites)

  In this activity, students will answer questions while watching the video, What Birds Know about Color that You Don’t, from the Ingenious series produced by the American Chemical Society. Each episode investigates a different topic related to how leading-edge chemistry is taking on the world’s most urgent issues to advance everyone’s quality of life and secure our shared future. This episode investigates structural color, its complexities as well as how it differs from pigments and dyes.

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  Molecular Structure, Catalysts | High School

  Activity: Ingenious: The Strange Chemistry Behind Why You Get Sick on Planes Video Questions Mark as Favorite (4 Favorites)

  In this activity, students will answer questions while watching the video, The Strange Chemistry Behind Why You Get Sick on Planes, from the Ingenious series produced by the American Chemical Society. Each episode investigates a different topic related to how leading-edge chemistry is taking on the world’s most urgent issues to advance everyone’s quality of life and secure our shared future. This episode investigates the compound ozone and why it might be responsible for some of the discomforts associated with air travel.

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  Mixtures, Molecular Structure, Separating Mixtures, Solute & Solvent | High School

  Lesson Plan: What Type of Mixture is Paint? Mark as Favorite (17 Favorites)

  In this lesson students will use simple laboratory tests to characterize differences between solutions, colloids, and suspensions. They will then apply those tests to paints to classify them as specific types of mixtures.

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  Molecular Structure, Introduction, Matter | High School

  Activity: Real World Particle Diagramming Mark as Favorite (77 Favorites)

  In this activity, students illustrate everyday objects on the particulate level. To do this, students pick an object around the school (or their home) and then take a picture of the object, research its composition, and draw a particle diagram representation of the object. This helps students to gain confidence in representing matter at a particulate level by starting with familiar objects.

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

  Lab: Determining a Chemical or Physical Change Mark as Favorite (29 Favorites)

  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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  Molecular Structure, Intermolecular Forces, Ionic Bonding, Covalent Bonding, Metallic Bonding, Polarity, Intramolecular Forces, Chemical Properties, Physical Properties, Interdisciplinary, Culminating Project | High School

  Project: Problem-Solving with Materials Mark as Favorite (59 Favorites)

  In this project, students will develop a presentation to explain how and why a specific material can solve a problem. The explanation will involve researching the properties of the material and how its properties are suited for solving a specific problem.

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  Introduction, Interdisciplinary, History, Heat, Renewable Energy, Polymers, Molecular Structure | Middle School, High School

  Video: Frontiers of Chemistry Mark as Favorite (18 Favorites)

  This video explores new scientific developments that were made possible by the application of fundamental chemistry concepts. Students will learn about exciting advances in science and technology focused on three main topics: Solar Cells, 3D Printing and Micro Machines.

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  Molecular Structure, Molecular Geometry, Polymers, Electronegativity, Heat, Temperature, Electricity | Middle School, High School

  Video: The Future of Paint Video Mark as Favorite (17 Favorites)

  This video explores the fascinating and innovative scientific advancements of paint. Students will learn how the molecular components in paint are helping to evolve in the world around them. Futuristic paint is capable of replacing light switches, conducting electricity, and regulating temperature amongst other things!

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  Ionic Bonding, Covalent Bonding, Melting Point, Molecular Structure | High School

  Lab: Ionic vs. Covalent Compounds Mark as Favorite (155 Favorites)

  In this lab, students will compare two seemingly similar substances, salt and sugar. Through melting a sample of each substance and analyze of their chemical composition, students will draw conclusions regarding ionic and covalent compounds.

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  Molecular Structure, Molecular Geometry, History, Periodic Table, Molecular Structure | Elementary School, Middle School, High School

  Video: Phosphorous Video Mark as Favorite (10 Favorites)

  In this video, Sam Kean tells the story of how phosphorus was at the center of the race to discover the structure of DNA.

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  Molecular Structure, Molecular Geometry, Bond Energy | High School

  Activity: Find the Best Bond Angle and Bond Length of Water Mark as Favorite (6 Favorites)

  In this activity, students participate in an introductory level computational chemistry investigation. Students will interact with computational software to conduct this activity and will analyze data to determine the best bond angle and bond length of a water molecule.

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  VSEPR Theory, Molecular Geometry, Molecular Structure, Lewis Structures, Covalent Bonding | High School

  Activity: Discovering Molecular Shapes Mark as Favorite (36 Favorites)

  In this activity, students will use tactile methods (manipulation of connected strings) and a computer simulation to discover how electron-electron repulsion determines the 3D VSEPR geometric shapes of simple covalent molecules. It will allow them to practice drawing Lewis structures as well as deepen their understanding of the connection between a molecule’s structure and its shape.

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  Polymers, Polymers, Molecular Structure, Physical Properties | High School

  Activity: Molecular Spaghetti Mark as Favorite (10 Favorites)

  In this activity, students will discover how the entanglement in cooked spaghetti depends on the length of the spaghetti strands and relate this discovery to polymeric materials.

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  Molecular Formula, History, Covalent Bonding, Molecular Structure, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties | High School

  Activity: Molecule of the Week Mark as Favorite (41 Favorites)

  In this activity, students research and present a molecule they find relevant to real life, either in the past or present. They must submit notes to the teacher the day before they present their findings in five to 10 minutes to their chemistry class.

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  Molecular Formula, History, Functional Groups, Covalent Bonding, Molecular Structure | High School

  Activity: Napoleon's Buttons Writing Assignment Mark as Favorite (26 Favorites)

  In this activity, students read Penny Le Couteur and Jay Burreson’s book Napoleon’s Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History. They discuss the book in class and complete a written assignment based on the chemistry and history highlighted in the book.

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  Mixtures, Solute & Solvent, Intermolecular Forces, Intermolecular Forces, Molecular Formula, Molecular Structure, Polymers, Electromagnetic Spectrum | Middle School, High School

  Video: What is Paint? Video Mark as Favorite (17 Favorites)

  This video investigates the composition of paint, while analyzing the fundamental chemistry principles of its main components. Students will learn about the differences between three common paint types, water colors, oil-based and acrylic paint as well as the chemistry of each.

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  Intermolecular Forces, Molecular Structure, Molecular Structure | High School

  Lab: Intermolecular Attractions in Organic Liquids Mark as Favorite (18 Favorites)

  In this lab, students will analyze the molecular structure of substances in order to predict how different types of intermolecular attractions will affect the boiling points of various organic liquids. Students will then complete laboratory testing in order to collect data and compare their results with their predictions.

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  Polymers, Intermolecular Forces, Molecular Structure, Physical Properties | High School

  Lesson Plan: The Right Polymer for the Job Mark as Favorite (19 Favorites)

  In this lesson students are introduced to polymeric materials by exploring polymers (mostly plastics) used in automobiles. Students will learn about the features that all polymeric materials have in common and the features that distinguish one polymer from another on the molecular level. Students will learn how the molecular differences translate into property differences. The selection of a polymer with the right properties for any particular application is of critical importance in an automobile.

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  Polymers, Physical Properties, Molecular Structure, Experimental Design, Scientific Method, History, Interdisciplinary | High School

  Lesson Plan: Give Your Car Some Bounce Mark as Favorite (4 Favorites)

  In this lesson students will learn about polymerization, specifically as it pertains to rubber tires and other materials in a vehicle. Students will take on the role of an engineer, and will investigate physical properties of different polymers and/or elastomers to determine the best material to use for an assigned product.

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  Polymers, Molecular Structure, Molecular Structure , Monomer, Chemical Bond, Chemical Change, Polymers, Monomer | Middle School

  Lesson Plan: The Power of Polymers Mark as Favorite (8 Favorites)

  In this lesson students will use lab activities and discussion to explore polymers and their use in 3D printing, with an emphasis on the benefits of 3D printing in automotive manufacturing.

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  Molecular Structure, Intermolecular Forces, Physical Properties | High School

  Lab: Solubility Plays a Role: Making Seitan from Flour Mark as Favorite (13 Favorites)

  This lab offers insight into a practical aspect of solubility and demystifies a common ingredient, wheat flour. In this lab students will read about the composition and observe some properties of whole wheat flour by preparing seitan, a vegetarian meat substitute made from the glutenin and gliadin proteins in flour. Gluten, formed from the interaction of the aforementioned proteins, has a unique property of elasticity.

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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 Mark as Favorite (6 Favorites)

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