Did you know there is a simple test you can do to see if an alkaline battery is fresh or dead? All you need to do is bounce the bottom of a battery onto a hard, flat surface. Guess what causes this difference in bouncing ability between fresh and dead batteries? Chemistry, of course!
A new event called "The Mole"was unveiled at BCCE 2018. I told the story of how one of my students discovered how to make marshmallows spark in the microwave oven.
Teaching Chemistry from Rich Contexts
The August 2017 issue of the Journal of Chemical Education is now available online to subscribers. Topics featured in this issue include: visualizing the chemistry of climate change; environmental chemistry; chemistry education for medical preprofessionals; tools for learning and student engagement; training laboratory teaching assistants; biochemistry; forensic chemistry; nanoparticle experiments; materials science; resources for teaching; from the archives: climate change.
Engaging Participation and Promoting Active Learning
The June 2017 issue of the Journal of Chemical Education is now available online to subscribers. Topics featured in this issue include: materials science and nanotechnology laboratories, promoting active learning, catalysis and kinetics, blue bottle reaction, cost-effective instrumentation, resources for teaching, from the archive: anchoring concept content maps.
Mercury(II) iodide is heated to convert it from its red low-temperature alpha form to its yellow high-temperature beta form.
When the beta form of mercury(II) iodide cools to below the transition temperature of 126°C, it returns to the red/orange alpha form.
When memory metal is bent, it deforms. When placed into hot water, the metal "remembers" its original shape.
An animation shows how memory metal can be deformed then go back to its original shape.
An animation illustrates how peeling occurs between layers where bonding is weak in molybdenum disulfide.
Lead is a relatively soft metal that can be flattened.
