In this Activity, students investigate properties of radiation using a handheld radio. Students compare the abilities of conductive and dielectric materials to attenuate or block, radio waves, and compare the attenuation of AM versus FM radio waves. The radio is placed inside different objects and students record which materials blocked or attenuated the waves.
In this Activity, students investigate the relationship between temperature and composition and the reflected and transmitted colors of a common nanoscale material, the cholesteric liquid crystal.
This Activity introduces students to the unique properties of nanoscale materials through exploration of size-dependent optical properties of gold nanoparticles. Students first prepare a solution of gold nanoparticles. They then investigate the solution’s use as an electrolyte sensor by adding a non-electrolyte and a strong electrolyte, and observing any resulting color changes.
Aluminum chloride imparts no color to a flame.
Boric acid imparts a pale green color to a flame.
Calcium chloride imparts a yellowish-red color to a flame.
Cobalt(II) chloride imparts no color to a flame.
Copper(II) chloride imparts a bright green color to a flame.
Lithium chloride imparts a red color to a flame.
Magnesium chloride imparts no color to a flame.
