The Chemistry of Lightning
Tom Kuntzleman | Tue, 09/20/2022 - 09:42
Learn a bit about the chemical reactions that occur during a lightning strike, and how you can demonstrate these reactions in your classroom.
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The Trials and Tribulations of a Teacher During COVID Times!
Yvonne Clifford | Thu, 08/18/2022 - 07:34
Yvonne Clifford shares tips and ideas for making your high school chemistry course both interesting and rigorous.
Chemical Mystery #19: Multi-colored Mixture
Tom Kuntzleman | Mon, 01/31/2022 - 16:06
Can you use your knowledge of chemistry to figure out what is going on in Chemical Mystery #19?
Simple Distillation
Chad Husting | Mon, 01/24/2022 - 19:07
This is a simple small-scale distillation that can be used several different ways.
Exploring Chemical Reactions with Sarah English
Deanna Cullen | Wed, 01/19/2022 - 10:55
Chemical Reactions is a topic that unites a number of skills from formula writing, balancing equations, predicting products and solubility to name a few. On January 13th, 2022, Sarah English shared her unit covering chemical reactions in this ChemBasics Talk. You can view a recording of her presentation and access materials she has suggested.
Generating explosive gases from sand
Tom Kuntzleman | Fri, 01/07/2022 - 12:16
Did you know that sand can be converted into a mixture of gases that spontaneously ignites in air? The procedures involved are relatively simple to perform, spectacular to observe, and relate to a rich assortment of chemical principles.
Lithium Battery Flame
Tom Kuntzleman | Mon, 09/27/2021 - 16:42
Inspired by a recent article in the Journal of Chemical Education, Tom Kuntzleman attempted to extract lithium from a coin battery, and to use the extracted lithium to produce a pink flame.
The Empirical Formula of Magnesium Oxide Lab: A Successful Failure, Next Steps—and an Important Lesson
Michael Jansen | Mon, 08/16/2021 - 16:01
Michael Jansen reflects on a very common empirical formula lab that asks students to determine the empirical formula of MgxOy. He then explains how he continues to use it as a "successful failure", how he demonstrates an alternate procedure and leads his students to an important lesson.
Lab Practicals, Final Exams and a Silver Lining to a Tough Year
Chad Husting | Wed, 06/16/2021 - 08:09
A lab practical with an escape room story turned out to be a great final exam.
Simple formation of metal mirrors
Tom Kuntzleman | Mon, 05/10/2021 - 09:57
Beautiful, metallic mirrors of copper or silver can easily be formed in test tubes. Simply add the appropriate metal salt to a test tube, and heat! These reactions should be performed in a fume hood.