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Flash rocks, typically pieces of quartz that produce light when struck together, are an example of the complex phenomenon of triboluminescence. The green chemistry aspects for the flash rock demonstration are considered, and LEGO models illustrating quartz crystals, piezoelectric materials, and nonpiezoelectric materials are presented.
You can solve Chemical Mystery #20 if you know your chemistry...and your magic!
Why does the "Whoosh Bottle" experiment behave differently at different temperatures?
Here is a great way to use spreadsheets to both collect student data and provide instant feedback during labs with quantitative data.
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.
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...
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.
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.
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.
"Make it Stick" is filled with research-based recommendations to improve the effectiveness of learning.