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JCE 97.12 December 2020 Issue Highlights

Mary Saecker | Sun, 12/27/2020 - 14:17

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The December 2020 issue of the Journal of Chemical Education is now available online to subscribers. Topics featured in this issue include: teaching during COVID-19; examining models used by students; chemical structure; game-based learning; interdisciplinary courses; teaching chemistry using plants; laboratory instruction with real-world context; fluorescence; exploring spectroscopy; thermodynamics; chemical education research; from the archives: photography.

What Is the Pressure Inside a Bottle of Soda?

Tom Kuntzleman | Tue, 12/08/2020 - 13:01

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What is the pressure inside a bottle of soda pop? Read this short article to find the surprising answer to this question, and also to learn how to do an experiment to answer this question for yourself!

Standards Based Grading and the "Redo"

Chad Husting | Tue, 10/20/2020 - 19:21

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Some teachers do not like the idea of letting students do a "redo" on an assignment. It can, if done carefully, have a positive impact on students learning and the culture of the classroom.

Heat, The Ocean, and Climate Change

Tom Kuntzleman | Fri, 10/16/2020 - 10:14

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Learn a simple way to relate the heat equation (Q = mc∆T ) to climate change.

Color Changing Coke and Mentos

Tom Kuntzleman | Wed, 09/02/2020 - 03:07

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What's a better way to start the new school year than with some new experiments? Learn how to use a variety of color changing experiments to teach students about the Diet Coke and Mentos experiment, acids, bases, chemical and physical changes, and climate change.

Colorful Copper Chemistry around the Campfire

Tom Kuntzleman | Tue, 07/28/2020 - 13:09

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Learn how to form a blue-green copper compound on a penny, and then use that compound to make green flames. This is a great summer time activity for your next campfire!

Demonstrating the Effectiveness of Mask-wearing with Liquid Nitrogen

Tom Kuntzleman | Sun, 06/28/2020 - 09:06

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Liquid nitrogen is used to visualize the aerosol particles emitted while speaking, coughing, breathing, and sneezing. The ability of various masks to block these droplets was also tested.

Chemistry Experiments with the Flame Tube

Tom Kuntzleman | Tue, 05/26/2020 - 12:37

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The Ruben's Tube (also known as a Flame Tube) is a classic experiment used in physics classes. There's also a bit of chemistry to be learned while experimenting with a Ruben's Tube...

JCE 97.05 May 2020 Issue Highlights

Mary Saecker | Wed, 05/13/2020 - 09:53

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The May 2020 issue of the Journal of Chemical Education is now available online to subscribers. Topics featured in this issue include: understanding structures; digital information and web-based learning; exploring everyday chemistry; curriculum innovations; games for teaching; NMR spectroscopy; examining properties of organic liquids; biochemistry laboratories; analytical and physical chemistry laboratories; computational chemistry; innovative low-cost instruments; research on knowledge and skills for teachers and chemists; from the archives: hands-on chemistry at home.

Solution to Chemical Mystery #17: Bubble Buster!

Tom Kuntzleman | Wed, 04/29/2020 - 16:45

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The solution to Chemical Mystery #17 is presented. Were you able to use your chemical knowledge to explain the results?