Classroom Resources: Solutions

1 – 14 of 14 Classroom Resources

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  Solubility, Observations | Elementary School, Middle School

  Activity: Paper Flower Blossoms

  In this activity, students will investigate solubility by using a combination of washable markers and permanent ink to color a paper flower. The petals of the flower will be folded, and then placed in a shallow dish of water. Students will be intrigued by the outcome as they observe several changes occur. Using their knowledge of several fundamental chemistry topics, student will explain their observations using evidence and modeling.

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  Solubility, Solubility Rules, Solute & Solvent, Intermolecular Forces, Chemical Bond, Ionic Bonding, Covalent Bonding, Polarity, Intermolecular Forces, Intramolecular Forces | Middle School, High School

  Activity: Animation Activity: Solubility

  In this activity, students will view an animation that explores how ionic and molecular compounds dissolve (or don’t) in water. They will see that if an ionic compound such as salt dissolves, the ions dissociate, whereas the molecules in a molecular compound such as sugar remain intact but are separated from one another by water molecules. They will also see that some ionic compounds such as chalk do not dissolve, and the cations and anions remain stuck together.

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  Colligative Properties, Boiling Point Elevation, Freezing Point Depression, Concentration, Solute & Solvent, Boiling Point, Freezing Point, Phase Changes, Molecular Motion, Graphing, Physical Properties, Heat, Temperature | Middle School, High School

  Activity: Simulation Activity: The Effect of Solutes on Boiling and Freezing Point

  In this activity, students will use a colligative properties simulation to investigate the effects of different solutes, and different amounts of those solutes, on the boiling point and freezing point of a solution. Students will see particle-level animations of boiling and freezing with different types and amounts of solutes, as well as graphical representations of the results of each trial.

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  Physical Properties, Covalent Bonding, Electronegativity, Polarity, Molecular Geometry, Intermolecular Forces, Solubility | Middle School, High School

  Activity: The Chemistry of Water Video Questions

  In this lesson, students will watch a video and answer questions about how the molecular geometry and polarity of water give rise to many of its unusual physical properties, including its relatively high boiling point and its ability to dissolve some substances but not others.

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  Concentration, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, pH | Middle School

  Activity: Would You Drink it?

  In this activity, students are provided with data regarding the water quality at multiple locations throughout a city. Students will determine which location should be prioritized for cleaning of contaminates. Students will utilize Claim Evidence and Reasoning (CER) to develop a claim that is supported by the data provided.

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  Electromagnetic Spectrum, Molecular Structure, Mixtures | Middle School, High School

  Activity: What are Pigments? Video Questions

  In this activity, students will watch a video and answer related questions about the chemistry of pigment molecules and how they are used to give paints their specific color. During the video, students will learn about the importance of a pigment’s molecular structure, how they are physically suspended to create a paint color, as well as how they interact with light.

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

  Activity: What is Paint? Video Questions

  In this activity, students will watch a video and answer related questions about the composition of paint. During the video, 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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  Solute & Solvent, Intermolecular Forces, Solubility | Middle School, High School

  Activity: Basic Modeling of the Dissolving Phenomenon

  In this activity, students explore the process of salt dissolving in water using cut-outs of ions and water molecules to model interactions between them. They then use their model to make a prediction about the relative solubility of salt in isopropyl alcohol compared to the solubility in water and design an experiment to test their prediction.

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  Solubility, Solute & Solvent, Intermolecular Forces | Middle School, High School

  Activity: Advanced Modeling of the Dissolving Phenomenon

  In this activity students build a model of sodium chloride based on their own knowledge of ionic compounds. Then they construct a model of the interactions between water and their salt model to develop an understanding of what caused the salt to dissolve. After refining their models based upon class discussions and critiques, students then construct a model of the interaction between salt and a different solvent, alcohol. Using their models, students make predictions as to which solvent (water or alcohol) would be better at dissolving the salt. Finally students design an experiment to test their prediction. As an extension, students are asked to use their solubility models to explain why calcium carbonate will not dissolve in water, even though it is also an ionic compound.

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  Electromagnetic Spectrum, Molecular Structure, Mixtures | Middle School, High School

  Video: What are Pigments? Video

  This video discusses the chemistry of pigment molecules and how they are used to give paints their specific color. Students will learn about the importance of a pigment’s molecular structure, how they are physically suspended to create a paint color, as well as how they interact with light.

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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

  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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  Solubility, Solute & Solvent, Mixtures, Intermolecular Forces, Intermolecular Forces, Polarity, Molecular Geometry | Elementary School, Middle School, High School

  Animation: Solubility Animation

  This animation explores how ionic and molecular compounds dissolve (or don’t) in water. Students will see that if an ionic compound such as salt dissolves, the ions dissociate, whereas the molecules in a molecular compound such as sugar remain intact but are separated from one another by water molecules. They will also see that some ionic compounds such as chalk do not dissolve, and the cations and anions remain stuck together. **This video has no audio**

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  Ionic Bonding, Naming Compounds, Precipitate, Ions, Molecular Formula | Middle School

  Activity: Bond with a Classmate

  In this activity, students are assigned an ion and form bonds with their classmates, recording the formula and name of the compound they created.

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  Balancing Equations, Conservation of Mass, Conservation of Matter, Conservation of Matter, Chemical Change, Chemical Change, Conservation of Mass, Polyatomic Ions, Precipitate | Middle School, High School

  Activity: Simulation Activity: Balancing Chemical Equations

  In this activity, students will learn how to count atoms and how to balance chemical equations using a simulation and games from PhET Interactive Simulations.