The concept of density is investigated regularly- in lecture, lab, or both- in Introductory (non-science majors) or the majors General Chemistry 1 courses. This post describes a short activity involving ice core density.
Learn a simple way to relate the heat equation (Q = mc∆T ) to climate change.
What's a better way to start the new school year than with some new experiments? Learn how to use a variety of color changing experiments to teach students about the Diet Coke and Mentos experiment, acids, bases, chemical and physical changes, and climate change.
Two important types of information obtained from ice cores comes from the bubbles in the glacial ice and the stable oxygen and hydrogen isotopes within the frozen water molecules themselves. This post describes how the bubbles (air pocket 'fossils') and stable isotopes are used to determine the concentration of gases in the ancient atmosphere, particularly in relation to past temperatures.
Ice core science is truly cross-disciplinary as it draws extensively from chemistry, geophysics, geology, engineering, oceanography, microbiology, statistics, a deep understanding of historical events, atmospheric science, and climate science. And general chemistry topics include solubility, concentration, phase diagrams and changes, and stable isotopes in addition to many others. Let's take a first look at how ice core science can be used in teaching chemistry.
What do scientists have to say about the connection between climate change and the bush fires in Australia?
Reimagining Chemistry Education: Systems Thinking, and Green and Sustainable Chemistry
The December 2019 issue of the Journal of Chemical Education is now available online to subscribers. In response to a call for papers, chemistry educators from around the world have contributed articles to the Journal collected in the December edition as special issue on systems thinking, and green and sustainable chemistry.
Erica Jacobsen shares highlights from the August 2019 issue of the Journal of Chemical Education of special interest to our ChemEd X community.
The April 2019 issue of the Journal of Chemical Education is now available online to subscribers. Topics featured in this issue include: Machine Learning; Revised International System of Units; Examining Chemical Information Literacy; Flipped Teaching; Chemistry and Business; Learning about Safety; Researched-Based Courses; Effective Teaching Resources; Learning through Play; Exploring Water Treatment; Green Chemistry Laboratories; Experiments with NMR Spectroscopy; Investigating Kinetics; Computer-Based Experiences; From the Archive: Chemists Celebrate Earth Week 2019—Take Note: The Chemistry of Paper.
One of my goals for 2017 was to read more chemistry non-fiction. I accomplished that with three and a half books read. That doesn't seem like much, but given how busy I've been lately it was quite an accomplishment! I offer a brief review of my most recent book here, "The Alchemy of Air" by Thomas Hager.
