Blogs

ChemEd X contributors offer their ideas and opinions on a broad spectrum of topics pertaining to chemical education.

Blogs at ChemEd X reflect the opinions of the contributors and are open to comments. Only selected contributors blog at ChemEd X. If you would like to blog regularly at ChemEd X, please use our Contribution form to request an invitation to do so from one of our editors.

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Assassin's Bottle title card
Ramping Up the Disappearing Rainbow with the Assassin’s Water Bottle
// Tuesday, September 16, 2025 • Tom Kuntzleman
The disappearing rainbow1 is a wonderful chemistry demonstration previously featured here on ChemEdX.2-4 In this experiment, a colorless solution of NaOH is poured into a row of flasks, each containing a different acid–base indicator.
August 25 APTeach
AP Teach - Lessons Learned from the AP Chemistry Exam
// Saturday, September 13, 2025 • Shifra Yonis
The August AP Teach session focused on beginning a new school year with a review of student performance on the 2025 AP Chemistry exam. Jennifer Cambre shared ideas for how to interpret and analyze the data from the Instructional Planning Reports.
July 25 APTeach
AP Teach - Getting to Know the Desmos Graphing Calculator
// Saturday, September 13, 2025 • Shifra Yonis
The July 2025 APTeach session focused on familiarizing AP Chemistry teachers with the Desmos graphing calculator, which is embedded in Bluebook for student use during the AP Chemistry exam, as well as other standardized tests.
AP Teach Sessions Notes and Updates (2025-2026)
// Saturday, September 13, 2025 • E Posthuma
APTeach recently announced their collaboration with ChemEd X! Read the announcement.  Follow ChemEd X to keep up to date on what is happening with APTeach! If you aren't already receiving ChemEd X newsletters, create a 
Using My HELP System: A Grading Practice That Works
// Saturday, September 6, 2025 • Anthony Stetzenmeyer
As teachers, we’ve all faced the challenge of aligning our grading practices with school policies and our colleagues’ approaches. In my own school, for instance, we’ve settled on a grading system that is 80% summative (quizzes, tests, labs) and 20% formative (everyday classwork and homework).
Five for the First - Part II
// Tuesday, August 26, 2025 • Nora Walsh
Given the success of the first installment of Five for the First, I thought I would write a follow-up column highlighting five more activities I do during the first week of school! These are activities I have used to set up my classes for success.