Flame Tests and Spectroscopy: Get Excited About Color
Have you ever wondered what makes fireworks sparkle with color, why decorative fireplace logs burn green or blue, or how birthday cake candles burn with a flame that matches the candle? Students can investigate the phenomenon of colored flames using flame tests and spectroscopy. This visually impactful lab incorporates quantitative data to help explain abstract […]
pH Testing and Measurement Tools
Testing and measuring pH is an integral part of many science labs. By learning about the tools and techniques for measuring pH, students can more quickly and accurately complete their lab investigations. Our instructional handout, video demonstration, and poster for classroom support will help you get you started. Instructional Handout By using these resources, students […]
Which Chemistry Kit Is Right for You?
Whether you’re a new or experienced teacher, look to Carolina for your hands-on chemistry needs. Our kits are designed with your teaching goals in mind. Engage students with activities that allow them to explore science and engineering practices, master challenging concepts, think critically, and solve problems. You’ll spend less time preparing for labs—and have more […]
Stoichiometry and Limiting Reactant
Activity Objectives To develop a model for a limiting reactant in a chemical reaction To analyze the combining ratios for reactions of calcium chloride with sodium oxalate and sodium phosphate To write a balanced equation for each reaction Background A balanced chemical equation specifies the mole ratio in which the reactants in a chemical reaction […]
Atomic Theory
Candy models Many teachers relate the different historical understandings of atomic structure to different varieties of candy. At the beginning of a review of models, you might distribute class sets of different types of candy and have the class explain which candy best represents each model being discussed. Or, you might instead choose a single […]
Measuring Volume
Measuring the volume of a liquid or a solid is an integral part of many science labs. By learning the proper technique for measuring volume, students can more quickly and accurately complete their lab investigations. Our instructional handout, video demonstration, and poster for classroom support will help you get you started. Instructional Handout By using […]
The Lost Volume Demonstration
The Lost Volume Demonstration What happens when an equal volume of water and ethyl alcohol mix? Is the mass additive? Is the volume additive? The Law of Conservation of Mass dictates that the mass is conserved, but is there a Law of Conservation of Volume? No, if you mix 250 mL of water with 250 […]
Electron Configuration and Periodic Trends
A CAROLINA ESSENTIALS INVESTIGATION Total Time Prep: 15 mins Activity: 60 mins Physical Science, Chemistry Grade Level 9-12 High School Quick Links Close Quick Links Open Quick Links Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis Kit Resources Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis Kit Resources Introduction Students are often asked to memorize the periodic […]
Organizing Your Space for Safe, Efficient, and Engaging Lab Activities
Teachers always need more space! We need space for students to spread out for group work, space for storage, space for displaying student work, but never is space more of an important consideration than when planning for hands-on lab activities. There must be adequate room for students to move about safely, enough desk or counter […]
Modeling Alpha and Beta Decay
A CAROLINA ESSENTIALS INVESTIGATION Total Time Prep: 15 mins Activity: 45 mins Physical Science Grade Level 9-12 High School Quick Links Close Quick Links Open Quick Links Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis Kit Resources Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis Kit Resources Introduction Students often use balanced nuclear reactions to model changes […]