This 11-minute video lesson looks at the relative Stability of amides, esters, anhydrides, and acyl chlorides. [Organic Chemistry playlist: Lesson 71 of 73].
Material Type: Lecture
This 7-minute video lesson shows how to represent the structures of organic molecules. [Organic Chemistry playlist: Lesson 1 of 73].
Material Type: Lecture
This 14-minute video lesson looks at stereoisomers, enantiomers, diastereomers, constitutional Isomers, and Meso Compounds. [Organic Chemistry playlist: Lesson 24 of 73].
Material Type: Lecture
This 13-minute video lesson looks at Zaitsev's Rule for E2 and E1 reactions. [Organic Chemistry playlist: Lesson 40 of 73].
Material Type: Lecture
This ChemMatters article provides a history of the study of ozone, a description of an experimental simulation called "The World Avoided," a brief introduction to the chemistry of ozone, an explanation of how ozone is measured, and the difference between "good" ozone in the stratosphere vs "bad" ozone in the troposhere. ChemMatters is an educational magazine published by the American Chemical Society.
Material Type: Lecture
This is an activity about detecting elements by using light. Learners will develop and apply methods to identify and interpret patterns to the identification of fingerprints. They look at fingerprints of their classmates, snowflakes, and finally “spectral fingerprints” of elements. They learn to identify each image as unique, yet part of a group containing recognizable similarities. The activity is part of Project Spectra, a science and engineering program for middle-high school students, focusing on how light is used to explore the Solar System.
Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson Plan, Student Guide
This module introduces D. Mendeleev's theories and the modern Periodic Table. Electron configuration as a function of table placement is discussed.
Material Type: Interactive, Unit of Study
Explore naturally occurring frozen methane deposits under the sea with renowned geochemist Miriam Kastner and discover whether or not they are a hazard to climate change. (53 minutes)
Material Type: Lecture
Investigations into the oceanŐs role in the global carbon cycle have taken on increasing importance as scientists strive to understand the potential impacts of global change. Join Scripps ocean chemist Lihini Aluwihare as she explains how her research is helping to understand the biology, Geology|Earth Science, and chemistry of the oceans, and ultimately the Planet. (57 minutes)
Material Type: Lecture
Test the pH of things like coffee, spit, and soap to determine whether each is acidic, basic, or neutral. Visualize the relative number of hydroxide ions and hydronium ions in solution. Switch between logarithmic and linear scales. Investigate whether changing the volume or diluting with water affects the pH. Or you can design your own liquid!
Material Type: Activity/Lab, Interactive, Simulation
In a class demonstration, the teacher places different pill types ("chalk" pill, gel pill, and gel tablet) into separate glass beakers of vinegar, representing human stomach acid. After 20-30 minutes, the pills dissolve. Students observe which dissolve the fastest, and discuss the remnants of the various pills. What they learn contributes to their ongoing objective to answer the challenge question presented in lesson 1 of this unit.
Material Type: Activity/Lab
This module offers an introduction to the concepts explored by Alfred Wegener, Harry Hess, and others. It is the first in a series on plate tectonics.
Material Type: Interactive, Unit of Study
In this interactive periodic table from the NOVA Web site, find out the role of various elements in making fireworks.
Material Type: Activity/Lab, Interactive
How does energy flow in and out of our atmosphere? Explore how solar and infrared radiation enters and exits the atmosphere with an interactive model. Control the amounts of carbon dioxide and clouds present in the model and learn how these factors can influence global temperature. Record results using snapshots of the model in the virtual lab notebook where you can annotate your observations.
Material Type: Activity/Lab, Data Set, Lecture Notes
Create your own sandwich and then see how many sandwiches you can make with different amounts of ingredients. Do the same with chemical reactions. See how many products you can make with different amounts of reactants. Play a game to test your understanding of reactants, products and leftovers. Can you get a perfect score on each level?
Material Type: Simulation
Students investigate the endothermic reaction involving citric acid, sodium bicarbonate and water to produce carbon dioxide, water and sodium citrate. In the presence of water [H2O], citric acid [C6H8O7] and sodium bicarbonate [NaHCO3] (also known as baking soda) react to form sodium citrate [Na3C6H5O7], water [H2O], and carbon dioxide [CO2]. Students test a stoichiometric version of the reaction followed by testing various perturbations on the stoichiometric version in which each reactant (citric acid, sodium bicarbonate, and water) is strategically doubled or halved to create a matrix of the effect on the reaction. By analyzing the test matrix data, they determine the optimum quantities to use in their own production companies to minimize material cost and maximize CO2 production. They use their test data to "scale-up" the system from a quart-sized ziplock bag to a reaction tank equal to the volume of their classroom. They collect data on reaction temperature and CO2 production.
Material Type: Activity/Lab
Explore what makes a reaction happen by colliding atoms and molecules. Design experiments with different reactions, concentrations, and temperatures. When are reactions reversible? What affects the rate of a reaction?
Material Type: Simulation
Students take advantage of the natural ability of red cabbage juice to perform as a pH indicator to test the pH of seven common household liquids. Then they evaluate the accuracy of the red cabbage indicator, by testing the pH of the liquids using an engineer-designed tool, pH indicator strips. Like environmental engineers working on water remediation or water treatment projects, understanding the chemical properties (including pH) of contaminants is important for safeguarding the health of environmental water sources and systems.
Material Type: Activity/Lab
Through this lab, students are introduced to energy sciences as they explore redox reactions and how hydrogen fuel cells turn the energy released when hydrogen and oxygen are combined into electrical energy that can be read on a standard multimeter. They learn about the energy stored in bonds and how, by controlling the reaction, this energy can be turned into more or less useful forms.
Material Type: Activity/Lab
Students write a short essay using relative age principles to describe a fictional set of geologic events and processes (specified in the exercise) that occur in a hypothetical area. The essay is used to develop a geologic profile, and then it is given to another student who is tasked with producing the correct geologic profile (as a quiz), based on the essay information. A teacher-designed rubric is used to score the quiz and to allow students to complete a self-evaluation of their learning.
Material Type: Activity/Lab, Interactive
