Intermolecular Forces and FLIR Cameras
Chad Husting | Mon, 03/15/2021 - 10:23
Infrared technology (FLIR Cameras) can be used to investigate intermolecular forces.
General
Hot Topic for Early Spring: Thermogenesis of Eastern Skunk Cabbage
Dean Campbell | Sat, 03/06/2021 - 22:07
The blossoms of eastern skunk cabbage produce heat for a couple of weeks in early spring. This heat, which can be detected using an infrared camera, results from oxidation of carbohydrates. The mechanisms behind this process can be used to introduce energy transduction during classroom discussions of thermochemistry.
Float or Sink? An at-home lab on density
Tom Kuntzleman | Wed, 03/03/2021 - 13:43
Observing the floating and sinking behavior of diet and sugared sodas is a classic chemistry demonstration. Learn how to perform this experiment as a quantitative lab that can be accomplished as an at-home activity!
Service Dogs in the Chemistry Lab
Melanie Harvey | Sun, 02/21/2021 - 20:20
Service animals will continue to become more common in chemical laboratories. It is important that chemistry faculty and departments are prepared to safely accomodate students with service dogs in laboratory courses.
Polypropylene and the Cold Snap
Dean Campbell | Sat, 02/20/2021 - 10:43
Cold weather brings about the opportunity to demonstrate glass transition temperatures of polypropylene containers.
The Disappearing Rainbow Demonstration - A colourful variant using red cabbage extracts
Iain Smellie | Mon, 02/08/2021 - 13:06
This demonstration offers an alternative to the disappearing rainbow demonstration using readily accessible materials.
Plating Pennies with Tin
Tom Kuntzleman | Tue, 02/02/2021 - 10:06
Learn how to give pennies a beautiful, silvery-colored plating.
Bubbly BBs and Vaccinated Mentos: Chemical Illustrations to Promote Public Health Measures
Dean Campbell | Mon, 02/01/2021 - 10:35
The authors revisit "flattening the curve" demonstrations published during 2020 to see how they could represent the impact of vaccinations on the COVID 19 battlefront. These demonstrations do not demonstrate the mechanisms of vaccines themselves, but are rather analogies to their potential effect on a population. In these analogies, gas production still represents illness, but this time people are represented by objects added to the solutions which either enable gas production (unvaccinated individuals) or do not enable gas production (vaccinated individuals). These simple experiments are best used as stand-alone demonstrations, and links to videos are included in this writeup.
Stoichiometry - A Free Virtual Chemistry Lab Activity
Josh Kenney | Tue, 12/15/2020 - 09:38
In this virtual activity, a video introduces stoichiometry and guides students to think conceptually using a simple baking analogy. Afterward, stoichiometry calculations connect to the analogy, that are then reinforced with a simple experiment. Finally, students explore a PhET simulation to deepen their knowledge.
Solubility and Concentration - A Free Virtual Chemistry Lab Activity
Josh Kenney | Fri, 11/13/2020 - 14:46
In this activity, students learn about solubility and concentration. They watch videos that explain the dissolving process, how to calculate the molarity, supersaturation and how to make rock candy. They also use a PhET simulation to explore factors that affect the concentration of a solution.