first-year undergraduate

Demonstrating the Glass Transition of Polylactic Acid with a Rattle

Dean Campbell | Wed, 03/27/2024 - 20:42

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Polylactic acid (PLA) exhibits a glass transition from hard and brittle to soft and rubbery when immersed in boiling water. PLA-based structures containing a small metal object can be used as rattles when they are shaken. The sound of the rattles change when they are heated above or cooled below their glass transition, enabling them to be used as demonstrations.

The Chemistry of Pharaoh's Serpent with Calcium Gluconate

Tom Kuntzleman | Wed, 02/28/2024 - 13:59

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Pharaoh's serpent is the name of a very interesting chemical reaction that produces a snake-like foam. Unfortunately, it requires the use of a toxic mercury compound. Explore this very similar reaction that can be achieved quite simply by using fuel tablets and calcium gluconate tablets and learn a lot about the chemistry that is involved!

A Simple Demonstration of Basic Thermodynamic Principles

Albert Rives | Mon, 02/19/2024 - 23:17

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This post describes a simple device used to demonstrate and clarify some challenging concepts in thermodynamics at the General Chemistry level.

Introduction to the Metric System in Year 1 Chemistry

Kristen Drury | Thu, 02/15/2024 - 07:27

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Students may have been using the metric system as early as in elementary school, so why do they struggle to use it in first year chemistry class in high school? This is a quick idea to help you reintroduce the metric system in your class.

Demo A Day IV

Dean Campbell | Fri, 02/02/2024 - 15:14

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Dean Campbell uses demonstrations and props to illustrate concepts while teaching his collegiate Materials Chemistry course. Many of the examples described are also suitable for use in high school and collegiate General Chemistry courses.

Ice Clouds 2.0

Tom Kuntzleman | Tue, 01/16/2024 - 15:12

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What is some of the chemistry involved in the formation of ice clouds when boiling water is thrown into icy air?

A pH Sensitive Highlighter “Flame”

Dean Campbell | Mon, 12/11/2023 - 10:06

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Discover the secrets behind flame-shaped highlighter markings that not only disappear and reappear but also glow and flicker under the influence of acids, bases, and UV lights.

Drinking Dinosaur Pee?!

Tom Kuntzleman | Mon, 11/27/2023 - 10:41

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It has been claimed that because all water ultimately ends up in the water cycle, we drink water that the dinosaurs peed out. What does chemistry have to say about this assertion?

Tissue Paper Banners Connected to Chemistry

Dean Campbell | Sun, 11/05/2023 - 20:56

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Tissue paper can be folded and cut with chemistry-related patterns to make decorative paper banners that can be used as Mexican-themed decorations. Chemistry concept connections include lattice energy, bandgap energy, and ionic crystal fracture.

Unit Cells and Layer Sequences using Dimpled Packaging

Dean Campbell | Sun, 10/01/2023 - 09:07

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Regularly dimpled trays such as those used in food packaging can be used to represent layers of atoms in solid structures. For example, the square array of dimples in transparent plastic mini quiche trays can be used to depict layers within cubic or tetragonal unit cells. Multiple solid structures and ways to represent those structures are described.