The Floating Soap Bubble
Tom Kuntzleman | Mon, 08/21/2023 - 09:03
The floating soap bubble is an impressive experiment that is surprisingly easy to carry out.
first-year undergraduate
Chemical Activities Involving Reversible Thermochromic Pigments
Dean Campbell | Wed, 08/16/2023 - 07:17
The color of a thermochromic system depends on its temperature. The colors of leuco dye-based systems can also be influenced by adding acids or bases to the thermochromic reactions. These can be used to create colorful demonstrations of acid-base chemistry. Thermochromism found in color changing cups can also be used to visualize heat flow, and therefore thermodynamic principles, associated with stretching and contracting elastomers.
Not Playing with a Full Deck: Ideas For Electron-Counting Chemical Card Games
Dean Campbell | Fri, 08/04/2023 - 14:00
Ordinary playing cards can be used in games where the cards model valence electrons in atoms. These games could provide players with a fun and active way to practice counting valence electrons in simple chemical structures.
How Do Color Changing Marshmallows Work?
Tom Kuntzleman | Wed, 07/19/2023 - 12:10
With a little chemical investigation, you can figure out how Jet-Puffed's new color changing marshmallows work!
Plastic Beverage Bottles and More as Orbital Models
Dean Campbell | Fri, 06/02/2023 - 07:58
The shapes of plastic bottles can be used to represent orbitals. Using various connectors, a bit of packing tape, and a few other more specialized touches can produce large scale molecular models that feature orbitals, sigma bonds, and pi bonds.
Seashell Chemistry
Tom Kuntzleman | Thu, 06/01/2023 - 14:15
Placing dry ice in limewater is a great demonstration to accompany discussions on a variety of chemical topics, including the impact of ocean acidification on marine organisms that depend upon the formation of CaCO3.
A Demo A Day III: Demonstrations and Props Used in My General Chemistry II Classes
Dean Campbell | Sun, 05/21/2023 - 10:50
Dean Campbell tries to use at least one demo for every class to illustrate concepts described in his chemistry courses. In this post, he includes short descriptions of the demonstrations and props he has used while teaching his collegiate General Chemistry II courses.
The Self-Carving Pumpkin: It's Not Just for Halloween!
Tom Kuntzleman | Tue, 05/02/2023 - 18:48
Learn the chemistry behind the reaction between calcium carbide and water...melon...?!
Algae Connections to Chemistry Classrooms
Dean Campbell | Fri, 03/31/2023 - 09:55
This timely post is a perfect fit for the theme of Chemists Celebrate Earth Week 2023! Algae is a rich topic with many possible connections to the chemistry classroom. Algae needs to take in light, carbon dioxide, and various simple nutrients and, though it can sometimes get out of control, can produce oxygen, diatomaceous earth, and other products. It can even fluoresce pink!
Laser-Cutting CDs into Snowflakes
Dean Campbell | Wed, 03/08/2023 - 15:57
Laser cutters can be used to cut and engrave a variety of thin materials. Compact discs, composed of layers of polycarbonate plastic and aluminum metal, were explored for their ability to be shaped with a laser cutter. The laser can successfully cut and engrave the compact discs into the shape of snowflake. However, each disc must first be coated with a material like glue in order to protect the plastic from discoloration and the byproducts from cutting the plastic that can accumulate on the disc surface.