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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What are Your Questions preview image with question marks and speech bubble around title
What are Your Questions?
// Monday, June 10, 2024 • Michael Jansen
My brothers and Sisters in Chemistry Education: We are teachers. We teach, we instruct, we mentor, we coach, we cajole. And we ask questions. Our most frequently asked question: “Any questions?” In my experience, this is, more often than not, met with the sound of pins-dropping.
Bronsted-Lowry Balloon Blast Brain Break preview image with two figures tossing a water balloon with a H+ along with a bucket of 3 water balloons
Bronsted-Lowry Balloon Blast Brain Break
// Monday, June 3, 2024 • Melissa Hemling
As educators, we are always looking for ways to make complex concepts more accessible and memorable. In the early 2000s, I attended the Biennial Conference on Chemical Education (BCCE), where I learned about a brilliant brain break activity from renowned chemistry teacher Lee Marek.
I Lava Particulate Models preview image with red blob dripping around title and a lava lamp
I Lava Particulate Models
// Tuesday, May 21, 2024 • Melissa Hemling
The Intermolecular Force Lava Lamp Lab is a beloved activity among our first-year chemistry students. By integrating particulate model scaffolds into the classic Lava Lamp Lab, we aim to make the concept of intermolecular forces more accessible, reducing cognitive load and improving overall comprehension.
The Importance of Words preview image with flasks, test tubes and a list of chemistry vocabulary
The Importance of Words
// Thursday, May 16, 2024 • Michael Jansen
As a discipline, Chemistry has lots of jargon, needed to describe Chemistry-type things. “Amphiprotic” comes to mind.1 We can help students understand the origin of this term, but that’s not the point I want to make.
Balancing Forces - A Magnetic Chess Brain Break preview image. Red background with gray magnets
Balancing Forces - A Magnetic Chess Brain Break
// Thursday, May 16, 2024 • Melissa Hemling
I enjoy incorporating quick brain break games into my chemistry classes to keep things exciting. Recently, while brainstorming ways to spice up a lecture on potential energy versus interparticle distance graphs, I stumbled upon a great idea for a brain break: magnetic chess!
Exploring Color Separation in Salting-Out Experiments preview image with image showing color changes from green to blue over yellow
Exploring Color Separation in Salting-Out Experiments
// Saturday, May 4, 2024 • Tom Kuntzleman
In “salting out” demonstrations, a mixture of water and an organic liquid separates into two layers upon addition of an inorganic salt.1-4 Typically, acetone or various alcohols are used for the organic liquid, while NaCl, Na2CO3, or K2CO3 are used as the salt.
preview image: "LEGO Stoichiometry - A POGIL-like Activity" with 4 square red LEGO blocks
LEGO Stoichiometry Activity
// Wednesday, May 1, 2024 • Josh Kenney
Stoichiometry often proves to be a challenging topic for high school chemistry students, primarily due to its abstract nature and the reliance on rote memorization for problem-solving techniques rather than a conceptual understanding.