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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.

by Scott Donnelly
Wed, 06/22/2022 - 14:32

Continuation of the practical application of chemistry to seemingly something unrelated- global maritime trade. In this classroom activity students predict the buoyancy (and hence stability) of a merchant cargo ship based on interpretation of seawater surface salinity values. Like in the first three posts, the question types are conceptual. 

Recent activity: 2 years 9 months ago
by Scott Donnelly
Sun, 06/12/2022 - 15:36

This is the third post in a series dealing with seawater chemistry and global maritime trade. This classroom activity introduces the concept of salinity and tasks students to predict the range of salinities in certain regions of the ocean (coastal and open water, all four hemispheres, high and lower latitudes). Enjoy...

Recent activity: 2 years 10 months ago
by Scott Donnelly
Mon, 06/06/2022 - 20:07

This is the second blog post describing a classroom activity relating seawater chemistry to oceanic shipping. Included are questions that challenge students to apply conclusions drawn from observations to making predictions.  

Recent activity: 2 years 9 months ago
by Thomas Cox
Thu, 06/02/2022 - 16:08

Student: "Why do I have to take this chemistry class?" Heard it before, perhaps numerous times right? Let's see what an astrophysicist has to say about this ubiquitous student question.

Recent activity: 2 years 10 months ago
by Scott Donnelly
Wed, 06/01/2022 - 11:20

Maritime shipping is the backbone of global commerce and trade. How is the chemistry of seawater involved in the complex, intertwined network of international trade? Let's find out.

Recent activity: 2 years 10 months ago
by Thomas Shiland
Fri, 05/27/2022 - 09:26

"Make it Stick" is filled with research-based recommendations to improve the effectiveness of learning.

Recent activity: 1 year 3 months ago
by Josh Kenney
Thu, 05/19/2022 - 12:13

Early Middle College High Schools are growing in popularity. They are an alternative public high school program where students earn up to 60 college credits while completing their high school diploma. Here, the author describes some lessons learned while teaching at an early college program that helps prepare students for college and careers.

Recent activity: 1 year 3 months ago
by Tom Kuntzleman
Mon, 05/09/2022 - 08:13

Can Alkaline Water Change the pH of your body? We use chemistry to put this claim to the test!

Comments: 5
Recent activity: 1 year 10 months ago
by Joseph Lomax
Sun, 05/01/2022 - 14:50

In this blog the author describes how three components of a water tower reservoir is analogous to an acid-base buffer system.

Recent activity: 1 year 3 months ago
by Dean Campbell
Thu, 04/28/2022 - 20:50

The reaction of hydrogen and oxygen gases to form water is well known to be an exothermic reaction. That reaction can occur by first absorbing the hydrogen into palladium metal, and then placing the resulting palladium hydride into contact with oxygen in the air. Infrared and visible light videos were recorded for this process involving palladium foil, and the Green Chemistry and safety aspects of these activities are considered.

Recent activity: 10 months 2 weeks ago