high school chemistry

Appropriate for grades 9-12, including first-year/introductory high school chemistry, but not second-year or advanced-placement (AP) high school chemistry (see first-year undergraduate).

Term source
jce
Zn and HNO3
The reaction of Zn with Nitric Acid
// Wednesday, May 13, 2026 • Michael Jansen
This is a thought-provoking teacher-demonstration from which you can get a lot of mileage: In Honors Chemistry the demonstration reveals the power of empirical observations; in AP Chemistry it demonstrates the value of cell potentials, and if you like: ΔG, and Equilibrium Constants.
Gummy Bear Demo
Get More Empirical Mileage from the Gummy Bear Demonstration
// Tuesday, April 7, 2026 • Michael Jansen
The “gummy bear” demonstration is a mainstay in 11 (Honors) Chemistry. It is visually stimulating, sure to excite the most jaded, social media-addicted teenager. This article provides a thorough, thought-provoking analysis of the products. It will deepen students’ understanding of the importance of empirical observations, and of good ol’ fashioned thinking.
Decoding a Molecular Message: A DNA Structure & Function Activity
// Wednesday, November 26, 2025 • Beth Haas
I teach an introductory college chemistry course for non-science majors called Chemistry of Everyday Things. Most of my students have little prior science experience, and they often begin the course intimidated by chemistry.
AP Teach September 2025
AP Teach - What’s the Attraction with Coulomb’s Law?
// Wednesday, November 12, 2025 • Shifra Yonis
Coulomb’s Law is used to explain several properties in the AP Chemistry CED, and we spent our September meeting examining the different situations where Coulomb’s Law is applicable and sharing strategies for helping students craft appropriate responses.
Videos as Formative
The Use of Chemistry Videos as Participation Grades and Formative Assessment
// Monday, September 29, 2025 • Sarah English
In 2015, I began making chemistry videos to reduce the amount of in-class lecturing during exam review. Some students needed a detailed reteach of specific content, others only needed a refresher, and still others grew frustrated when I retaught concepts they already understood well. Creating videos provided the flexibility to meet all of these needs.