Classroom Resources: Quantitative Chemistry

1 – 25 of 49 Classroom Resources

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  Measurements, Graphing, Interdisciplinary | High School

  Activity: Modeling Algae Growth

  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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  Measurements, SI Units, Mole Concept, Physical Properties, Density | Middle School, High School

  Activity: Animation Activity: Units of Chemistry

  In this activity, students will view an animation that explores the importance of including units to communicate the value of measurements effectively. The animation presents definitions, units of measurement, and measuring tools for physical properties that are commonly measured or calculated in chemistry class: mass, length, temperature, volume, amount (moles), and density.

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  Atomic Structure, Atomic Mass, Electrons, Ions, Subatomic Particles, Chemistry Basics, Density, Periodic Table, Dimensional Analysis, Mole Concept | High School

  Activity: A Pound of Numbers

  In this activity, students will review a series of fundamental chemistry questions and select the answer from two choices provided. Upon completion, the sum of all the correct answers will equal the number of grams in one pound. Students can then use dimensional analysis to determine the number of grams in one pound for comparison.

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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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  Stoichiometry, Balancing Equations, Predicting Products, Chemical Change, Mole Concept, Dimensional Analysis, Measurements, Chemical Change, Culminating Project | High School

  Project: Chemical Reaction Soda Bottle Boat Race

  In this project, students will design and build a soda bottle boat with the goal of having the fastest boat to get to the other end of the rain gutter racetrack. Students will have to complete stoichiometric calculations to determine an appropriate amount of “fuel” (baking soda + vinegar) to power their boat.

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  Mole Concept, SI Units | High School

  Activity: Mole Mischief Puzzle

  In this activity, students will analyze a collection of clues and attempt to determine the correct word that corresponds to each one. As a connection to chemistry, each of the answers contain the unit “mol” within the word.

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  Molecular Structure, Molecular Formula, Measurements, Significant Figures, Molecular Structure , Saturated vs. Unsaturated | Middle School, High School

  Project: Discovering Chemical Elements in Food

  In this project, students will analyze nutrition labels of some of the foods and drinks that they recently consumed. They will identify which type of macromolecule (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins) is mainly supplied by the item and they will compare their consumption with the daily recommended intake for that type of macromolecule. Students will also investigate salt and added sugar as well as vitamins and minerals in the item. Finally, students will present their findings through short, spoken messages that are recorded and presented through a QR code. These can become a source of information for the school community at large upon completion of the project.

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  Measurements, Volume | Elementary School

  Activity: Understanding Volume Measurements

  In this activity, students will use base ten-centimeter blocks to fill containers in order to understand the concept of volume. Through discussion and review of the data, the teacher will lead them to discover the formula for determining volume.

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  Scientific Notation, Measurements | Middle School

  Activity: Scientific Notation Practice

  In this activity, students will learn about the importance of scientific notation to the science community. Through guided practice problems, students will be introduced to scientific notation and learn how to convert values into scientific notation.

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  Measurements, Accuracy, Dimensional Analysis, Significant Figures, SI Units | Middle School, High School

  Activity: Measurement Tools, Significant Figures and Conversions

  In this activity, students will complete several hands-on measurements, using a variety of common measuring tools. They will carefully consider how to properly report each measurement based on the tool used. Students will then complete measurement conversions, and apply their knowledge of significant figures.

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  Atomic Radius, Scientific Notation, Measurements | Middle School, High School

  Activity: Powers of 10 - How Small Is an Atom?

  In this activity, students will use an online interactive to investigate the size of an atom, and compare the size of the atom to other objects using scientific notation.

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  Measurements, SI Units | Middle School

  Activity: Jumping the Metric System

  In this activity, students will become more familiar with using the metric system to convert units of measurement. Students then will then be challenged to redesign a school cafeteria tray using their understanding of metric system and unit conversion.

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  Introduction, Interdisciplinary, Experimental Design, Dimensional Analysis | High School

  Project: Food Chemistry Infographic

  In this project, students will research the chemical content and nutritional value of their favorite holiday foods, presenting their findings in an infographic. They will also include a recipe, which they will convert to metric units to practice dimensional analysis. As an extension to explore experimental design, they could alter one aspect of the recipe and observe how that change affects the final product.

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  Molecular Structure, Intermolecular Forces, Measurements, SI Units | High School

  Activity: Designing an Effective Respiratory Cloth Mask

  In this activity students will use unit conversion to help compare sizes of molecules, viruses, and droplets and then use them to interpret graphical data. They will then use their findings to design a cloth mask that helps protect its wearer against infection by SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

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  Measurements, Scientific Notation, Significant Figures, Subatomic Particles | High School

  Activity: Quantitatively Puzzling

  In this activity, students will analyze sixteen chemistry-based clues and use the numbers, zero through fifteen as possible answer choices for each one. The clues cover content related to measurement, scientific notation, significant digits, atomic structure and the periodic table.

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  Dimensional Analysis, Measurements | Middle School, High School

  Activity: Dimensional Analysis with Notecards

  In this activity, students will practice dimensional analysis using pre-made conversion factors on notecards to demonstrate the importance of canceling units to solve problems.

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  Mole Concept, History, Periodic Table | High School

  Activity: The Mole Crossword Puzzle

  In this activity, students will be challenged with clues that are related to the concept of the mole in order to complete a crossword puzzle.

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  Measurements, Dimensional Analysis | Middle School, High School

  Activity: Animation Activity: Measurement

  In this activity, students will view an animation that explores three forms of measurement, including length, mass, and volume. Various units of measurement will be presented for comparison, and several conversion calculations will be demonstrated using dimensional analysis.

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  Significant Figures, Measurements, SI Units | High School

  Activity: Investigating Significant Figures through Inquiry

  In this activity, students will develop an understanding of why significant figures are important in chemistry and learn how to determine the number of significant figures in a measurement.

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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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  Measurements, Dimensional Analysis, Physical Change, Matter, Mixtures | Middle School, High School

  Activity: Cooking with Conversions

  In this activity, students will be given a common homemade recipe for German chocolate cake with measurements in English units. They will be asked to convert the English ingredients list to metric units through scientific calculations. Students will also be asked to identify the ingredients as solid, liquid or gas. While reviewing the cooking procedures, students will classify certain steps as containing compounds or mixtures as well as identify whether chemical or physical changes are taking place. The culinary chemistry involved in this lesson should be introduced throughout the activity.

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  Measurements, Dimensional Analysis | High School

  Activity: Unit Conversions and Scaling Up

  In this activity, students will convert between English and metric units in order to scale from research lab (small) scale to manufacturing (large) scale. Students will also apply critical thinking skills in order to analyze data given and evaluate cost effectiveness.

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  Stoichiometry, Dimensional Analysis, Mole Concept | High School

  Activity: A Stoichiometry Puzzle

  In this activity, students will develop a better understanding of how to set up a stoichiometry problem using dimensional analysis (factor label method). Students will be able to use their prior knowledge of mole conversions and chemical reactions.

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  Percent Composition, Molecular Formula, Percent Composition, Mole Concept | High School

  Activity: Mystery Gang Empirical Formulae

  In this activity, students will determine empirical formulas for samples of trace evidence collected from various crime scene scenarios. They will use the information to link a criminal to a particular crime scene.

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  Mole Concept, Dimensional Analysis, Molar Mass, Molecular Formula | High School

  Activity: Calculating Moles in Daily Life

  In this activity, students will use dimensional analysis to complete calculations and conversions for the number of moles, atoms, and molecules in several everyday household items using collected data.