Chemical Mystery #18: Peek A Boo Blue!
Tom Kuntzleman | Thu, 08/12/2021 - 18:51
Can you use your knowledge of chemistry to figure out what is going on in this blue/green/yellow/blue color change?
General
Microplastics, Liquid Nitrogen, and Iodine: Polystyrene vs. Starch Foam Packing Peanuts
Dean Campbell | Wed, 07/28/2021 - 13:03
The differing electrostatic and solubility properties of starch and polystyrene foam packing peanuts are used in various demonstrations to describe aspects of microplastics and their interactions with the environment. Their differing responses to exposure to liquid nitrogen and iodine solutions are also described.
A Laboratory Experiment to Review Basic Chemistry Lab Techniques
Nick Thomas | Tue, 06/22/2021 - 08:13
After a year or more of virtual laboratory instruction due to pandemic restrictions in many colleges, a simple experiment has been designed to provide students returning to in-person lab instruction with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience reviewing basic chemistry laboratory apparatus and techniques.
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.
Surveying Litter as a Citizen Science Chemistry Activity
Dean Campbell | Sun, 05/30/2021 - 10:25
During the last few semesters, a small survey has been deployed at Bradley University where students were to describe and classify items of litter that they found. The purposes of the surveys were to get students thinking about some of the chemical implications of solid waste and give the students some experience with a citizen science project. The most recent iteration of the survey, and some of its results, are described.
Real vs Ideal - Do Students "Get It"?
Ben Meacham | Sat, 05/22/2021 - 23:49
Allowing students to confront the failure of a model and then helping them construct a new or slightly modified model to account for new observations is at the heart of the process of science. Ben Meacham shares one approach that can be deployed with a variation of depth, making it attainable for anyone learning about chemistry.
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.
Labs, Pandemics and the Future
Chad Husting | Wed, 04/21/2021 - 08:23
Chad Husting shares a microscale Reactions Lab and outlines his goals and plans for labs in his classroom as he prepares for next school year.
Stamp of the Week #3
Michael Morgan | Wed, 04/07/2021 - 14:56
A Soviet era stamp featuring a quadruple bond.
Effect of Temperature on Chemical Equilibrium using Copper Complexes
Tom Kuntzleman | Wed, 04/07/2021 - 11:00
This post describes a simple way to generate blue, green, orange, and yellow copper complexes, and to use these complexes to introduce students to the effect of temperature on chemical equilibria. The protcol avoids the use of caustic agents, allowing the experiments to be conducted by students as a laboratory-based investigation.