Beginning and Becoming: Introduction and Invitation

Clarissa Sorens... | Thu, 08/01/2019 - 11:45

Hi everyone! My name is Clarissa Sorensen-Unruh, and I am a new Lead Contributor/Blogger for the Two-Year College component of ChemEd Xchange. I am beyond thrilled, though, to join ChemEd Xchange and learn more about your interests on this platform. I am hoping you, as the audience, will help guide the topics I write about so that we can focus our discussions to interests both you and I share.

The Periodic Table- Economic Elixir and Agent of Destruction

Scott Donnelly | Wed, 07/31/2019 - 13:50

The history of the world is joined at the hip to the elements comprising the periodic table. The rise and fall of geopolitical empires, the quest to colonize new lands, the ballerina of regional and global diplomacy, the relentless exploitation of the natural landscape, and the driving force of world commerce past, present, and future- and not to mention what's in your refrigerator, pantry, on your person, and in your garbage can- all have the same starting point- the periodic table.

 

The Liquid Nitrogen Cloud

Tom Kuntzleman | Fri, 07/26/2019 - 10:42

Have you ever seen the liquid nitrogen cloud? Do you wonder how the cloud forms when hot water is thrown onto liquid nitrogen? This post explores the liquid nitrogen cloud and possible explanations for its formation.

Chem Ed 2019 - Not What I Expected

Chad Husting | Fri, 07/26/2019 - 08:39

After just returning from Chem Ed 2019 in Naperville, I was planning on writing a blog about the best ideas and take aways. Indeed there were many amazing and creative ideas shared. But a guy named Mike captured more attention from me than all of those.

A General Method to Prepare Halogen-Free Oxalate Diesters for Peroxyoxalate Chemiluminescence Demonstrations

Iain Smellie | Thu, 07/25/2019 - 10:26

Chemiluminescence demonstrations that use peroxyoxalate “glowstick” systems are very popular in a variety of lecture demonstrations and classroom activities. These reactions are very eye catching and easy to do; however, until recently, the range of oxalate diesters available has been limited. In this article we present a modification of the published procedures for the preparation of multigram quantities of oxalate diesters derived from vanillin and methyl salicylate. The modified protocol allows a common procedure to be followed to access both compounds efficiently.

Biochemistry Experience on the Border

Francisco Villa | Tue, 07/23/2019 - 10:00

Hello, and welcome back to my second blog about chemistry education in the tri-border region of California, Arizona, and Mexico. In my last I described the area and students who attend the two institutions in Yuma, AZ- Arizona Western College (AWC) and Northern Arizona University-Yuma (NAU). In this second post I will talk briefly about my experiences teaching an upper-division biochemistry course. I presume that what I observe in my classes is not much different than what you observe in your classes. 

Revisiting the Rainbow Safety Alert

Deanna Cullen | Wed, 07/17/2019 - 10:07

The American Chemical Society's Committee on Chemical Safety has reached out once again asking that the larger community share the warning about using the Rainbow Demonstration. They want to spread the word about the dangers of the Rainbow Flame Demonstration so no further injuries occur.