Blogs

ChemEd X contributors offer their ideas and opinions on a broad spectrum of topics pertaining to chemical education.

Blogs at ChemEd X reflect the opinions of the contributors and are open to comments. Only selected contributors blog at ChemEd X. If you would like to blog regularly at ChemEd X, please use our Contribution form to request an invitation to do so from one of our editors.

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Analysis of Devil's Milkshake
Thermochemical Analysis of the Devil's Milkshake
// Wednesday, October 28, 2020 • Tom Kuntzleman
A year ago I stumbled across a fun way to present the reaction between calcium metal and water. Check it out (including a video explanation): The Devil's Milkshake. Ca(s) + H2O(l) → CaO(s) + H2(g)       Equation 1
Text: Q = mcDT  The Ocean and Climate Change
Heat, The Ocean, and Climate Change
// Friday, October 16, 2020 • Tom Kuntzleman
For the past few years when I’ve been covering introductory concepts in thermodynamics, I’ve made a connection to climate change. My students and I calculate the energy that has been gained by Earth’s oceans as heat, using the following equation that is familiar to students of introductory and general chemistry:
empty classroom
Thoughts About Using the HyFlex Model for Science Instruction
// Friday, October 2, 2020 • Francisco Villa
My university adopted a version of the HyFlex course design to accommodate learning in the time of SARS-CoV 2. In short, HyFlex incorporates an online portion to a F2F (face-to-face) course that can be synchronous and/or asynchronous. Students decidce how to participate.
Sodium carbonate
An Upcycled Teaching Aid for Ionic Formulas
// Sunday, September 13, 2020 • Jerry Godbout
Determining the empirical formulas of ionic compounds based on charge balance is often a challenge for beginning chemistry students. Many visual aides have been developed for this purpose, from repurposing commercial interlocking bricks to custom 3-D printed bricks. This article describes yet another option– upcycled can carriers.
online learning
Realistic Expectations for Online (Remote) Classes
// Saturday, September 12, 2020 • Kathleen Carrigan
I have been hearing many complaints from colleagues who have growing (if possible) frustrations with teaching online. Are you frustrated? Some of what I hear is that the breakout rooms are not working perfectly well, internet disruptions, students are not engaging, or the time runs out before the problem gets solved in a Zoom breakout room.
text: hybrid, block & crazy
Hybrid, Block, and Crazy: Reflections from the Trenches
// Monday, September 7, 2020 • Melissa Hemling
Like many teachers, my fall 2020 teaching situation is the craziest I have ever encountered!  Crazy does not mean bad, just different, new, and at times uncomfortable and unexpected. I have survived my first week in this new normal with my students. I want to share my reflections and thoughts in case it may help others!
Coke and Mentos Color Changes
Color Changing Coke and Mentos
// Wednesday, September 2, 2020 • Tom Kuntzleman
If you know me, you know that I love the Diet Coke and Mentos reaction. It’s so simple to carry out, but yields incredible results! Just drop a few Mentos candies into a bottle of a carbonated beverage and watch the magic take place! See video 1.
particulate representations of a precipitation reaction - text: Creating Interactive Particle Diagram Activities for Online Instruction
Creating Interactive Particle Diagram Activities for Online Instruction
// Monday, August 31, 2020 • Michael Farabaugh
You don't have to be a Modeler (i.e., a teacher who practices Modeling Instruction) to appreciate the utility of particle diagrams. Many chemistry teachers use models and diagrams to help students describe how matter behaves at the particle level.