first-year undergraduate

Over the past few years, consumers have been looking for products containing natural rather than synthetic food dyes.^1,2 In response to this trend McCormick & Company, Inc.

Chemical Connections to Climate Change

In Chemical Mystery #9, a 5-gallon bucket is launched into the air using the energy released during gas explosions. These explosions result from gas pressure buildup inside a sealed 2 L soda pop bottle. Two slightly different methods of launching the bucket are used, and one works better than the other. Why does one method work better than the other?

A favorite experiment of mine is the bucket launch. My students and I recently tried two variations on this experiment. Watch the video below and see if you can explain the differences we observed.

I recently posted a video on Twitter of an experiment my students were conducting in class. I thought I’d blog about the experiment, since it seemed to generate a lot of interest.

Last month, I shared about a new PD opportunity I had the privilege of participating in called Gizmos. You can read about it here. After Thanksgiving break, my Chemistry 1 and Honors Chemistry 1 classes began our Chemical Reactions unit.

Have you ever wondered where the cloud comes from when dry ice is placed in water? Consider the answer returned in my browser when I Googled the phrase “How does the dry ice cloud form”:

Preface: I am proposing a challenge based on this mystery. If you wish to know more about this challenge, please be sure to read the Challenge section found at the end of this blog post.