calorimetry/thermochemistry

The chemistry demonstration called the self-carving pumpkin¹ is a blast (no pun intended) to conduct around Halloween. To prepare this experiment, a jack-o-lantern face is carved into a pumpkin, but the eye, nose, and mouth pieces are saved. These pieces are then gently placed back into the holes in the pumpkin.

by Dean J. Campbell* *Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois

Co-Authored by Dean J. Campbell,* Bozana Lojpur,* and Rebecca Liu* *Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois

I have always been fascinated by chemical reactions that form shiny, metallic mirrors.

For the past few years when I’ve been covering introductory concepts in thermodynamics, I’ve made a connection to climate change. My students and I calculate the energy that has been gained by Earth’s oceans as heat, using the following equation that is familiar to students of introductory and general chemistry:

A diamond is forever…at least that’s how the advertising slogan goes. Many chemists know this saying is not entirely true, because diamonds are converted to graphite under normal conditions:

  By Tom Kuntzleman and Randy Wildman

I am fascinated by the chemistry of pennies. Dissolving a penny in nitric acid is one of the most visually stimulating chemistry reactions I have ever seen.

Here is something to ponder as you think about your lab experiences this year:  I have been using an excellent inquiry lab for the past few years.  I think it does a fabulous job guiding the students through the amazing (yet often dull to students) world of specific heat equations and learning about calorimetry.  However, this semester, I returned to