Elephant Toothpaste
A Carolina EssentialsTM Activity Total Time: 50 min Prep: 30 | Activity: 20 Physical Science | Chemistry 6-12 Middle | High School Total Time: 50 min [ Prep: 30 | Activity: 20 ] Subject: Physical Science | Chemistry Grade: Middle | High School Introduction This quick demonstration showing the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, catalyzed by […]
Solution Preparation Guide
Carolina offers many types of premade solutions, but some teachers prefer to make their own. If that is your interest, keep reading. This brief guide will provide you with the information you need to make a number of solutions commonly used in educational laboratories. Let’s review some safety considerations: To make a 1 M solution […]
Equilibrium Straw Activity
Chemistry students on all levels can have misconceptions about the definition of equilibrium. With the word sounding so much like “equal,” many students naturally assume that the concentrations or amounts of reactants and products, rather than rates, must be equal at equilibrium. This short lab activity helps to dispel that notion while reinforcing the idea […]
The Chemistry of Beer
Many science teachers take their love of chemistry and microbiology out of the classroom and move it to the garage for a home beer brewing adventure. Whether you enjoy brewing your own, or enjoying the fruits of others’ brewing efforts, the art of beer is in the science.
Chemistry Solutions Practice Problems
Naming the Elements
Over 100 named elements are listed on the periodic table. Some of these elements are common and very familiar, and others are so rare that they exist for just part of a second before they decay. Did you ever wonder how these elements get their names? Some of the names of elements we know today […]
The Science of Popcorn
Introduction Popcorn is one of the world’s favorite snack foods. In the US, Americans consume as much as 18 billion quarts of popcorn each year, which equates to 56 quarts per person. Some nutritionists call it a perfect snack food because it is a whole grain, a good source of fiber, and low in fat. […]
How to Make Luminol Glow: Glowing Reaction Activity
Luminol is a chemical that produces a beautiful blue fluorescence when oxidized by hydrogen peroxide. In addition to providing one of the best-known examples of chemiluminescence, it is also a valuable crime scene investigation tool whose blue glow reveals the presence of blood. For teachers, demonstrating the luminol reaction can add to discussions of oxidation-reduction […]
Keep Calm and Chemistry On: Tips for the New Chemistry Teacher
Looking for lab activities that work every time? Explore these easy, engaging, and safe chemistry activities that are sure to produce a reaction from your students. Whether you’re new to chemistry or feeling out of your element, you’ll learn fresh ways to create excitement in your lab.
A New Approach to Teaching Atomic Theory
For chemistry teacher Siobhan Julian, teaching the history of atomic theory by lecture “was dry and tedious and boring for everyone involved.†Then she took a fresh approach—one that focuses on doing science to learn science history.