environmental chemistry

Demonstrating the Glass Transition of Polylactic Acid with a Rattle

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

demonstrating-glass-transition-polylactic-acid-rattle.png

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.

Water You Thinking? Bringing the Chemistry and Biology of Water to Middle-Schoolers

Dean Campbell | Sun, 09/24/2023 - 10:18

water-you-thinking-bringing-chemistry-and-biology-water-middle-schoolers.png

Description of a Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP) course for middle-school students about the chemistry and biology of water.

Seashell Chemistry

Tom Kuntzleman | Thu, 06/01/2023 - 14:15

seashell-chemistry.jpg

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

demo-day-iii-demonstrations-and-props-used-my-general-chemistry-ii-classes.jpg

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.

Algae Connections to Chemistry Classrooms

Dean Campbell | Fri, 03/31/2023 - 09:55

algae-connections-chemistry-classrooms.jpg

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!

Some chemistry related to the Ohio Train Derailment

Tom Kuntzleman | Tue, 02/28/2023 - 12:49

some-chemistry-related-ohio-train-derailment.jpg

Diffusion of HCl(g) from concentrated solutions of HCl can be used to illustrate some chemistry related to the train accident in Ohio.

Colourful Chemistry of Canning – Part 2

Iain Smellie | Tue, 10/18/2022 - 17:06

colourful-chemistry-canning-–-part-2.png

Part 2 includes further anthocyanin experiments to make a connection between the food we eat and the chemical principles that are employed to ensure that canned foodstuffs can be preserved properly.

A Visit to Natural Fiber Welding: Demonstrating Green Chemistry in Action

Dean Campbell | Mon, 10/10/2022 - 09:00

visit-natural-fiber-welding-demonstrating-green-chemistry-action.jpg

The theme to the 2022 National Chemistry Week, observed October 16-22, is “Fabulous Fibers: The Chemistry of Fabrics”. A visit to Natural Fiber Welding, Inc. in Peoria, IL, revealed how that company is using ionic liquids to solvent weld cellulose fibers together to produce more durable yarn which can then be made into more durable fabric. The production method and “greenness” of the product is discussed, from the cellulose itself to the recycling of the solution used in the welding process. Macroscopic demonstrations of the fiber solvent welding process are also described.

The Chemistry of Lightning

Tom Kuntzleman | Tue, 09/20/2022 - 09:42

chemistry-lightning.jpg

Learn a bit about the chemical reactions that occur during a lightning strike, and how you can demonstrate these reactions in your classroom.

Flash Rocks from Green Chemistry and LEGO Brick Perspectives

Dean Campbell | Fri, 07/15/2022 - 23:56

flash-rocks-green-chemistry-and-lego-brick-perspectives.jpg

Flash rocks, typically pieces of quartz that produce light when struck together, are an example of the complex phenomenon of triboluminescence. The green chemistry aspects for the flash rock demonstration are considered, and LEGO models illustrating quartz crystals, piezoelectric materials, and nonpiezoelectric materials are presented.