Classroom Resources: Chemistry Basics

26 – 50 of 70 Classroom Resources

• 

  Chemical Change, Activity Series, Redox Reaction, Chemical Change, Physical Change | High School

  Demonstration: Understanding the Discrepant Reactivity of Copper in the Presence of Strong Acids

  In this demonstration, students practice their observation skills during the additions of different acids to two test tubes containing copper. The activity is structured to allow students to make thoughtful remarks about what they observe, using rich indicators of both chemical and physical properties and changes. In subsequent lessons on new concepts, students can reflect back on their observations to rationalize the discrepant results of the reactions in the demonstration.

• 

  Measurements, Dimensional Analysis, Chemical Properties, Physical Properties, Chemical Change, Physical Change, Matter, Observations, Mixtures | Middle School, High School

  Activity: Cupcake Conversions, Bench to Bakery

  This activity will help to reinforce the importance of scientific measurement and apply it to the introduction of chemical reactions. Using an example of baking a single batch of cupcakes, students will plan for a larger production scale in a commercial bakery. This will help to introduce the idea of producing a reaction at the lab bench and converting it to mass production. In addition this activity investigates how chemistry is used in everyday life and challenges students to consider potentials errors that may occur when completing chemical reactions in the kitchen.

• 

  Introduction, Lab Safety, Chemical Properties, Physical Properties, Chemical Change, Physical Change, History, Separating Mixtures, Measurements, SI Units, Significant Figures | High School

  Lesson Plan: Chemistry Basics Unit Plan

  The AACT High School Classroom Resource library and multimedia collection has everything you need to put together a unit plan for your classroom: lessons, activities, labs, projects, videos, simulations, and animations. We searched through our resource library and constructed a unit plan for introducing the basic chemistry concepts to students: Laboratory Safety, Equipment, and Reports, Periodic Table Basics, Physical and Chemical Properties and Changes, Endothermic and Exothermic Changes, and Classification of Matter. These topics are very important for your students to master before they dig into other chemistry concepts. This unit is designed to be used at beginning of the school year.

• 

  Chemical Change, Conservation of Mass, Chemical Change, Physical Change | Middle School, High School

  Lab: Chemistry in a Bag

  In this lab, students will observe and identify chemical and physical changes contained inside a plastic bag. Students will also use this lab to understand the Law of Conservation of Mass.

• 

  Limiting Reactant, Chemical Change, Conservation of Mass, Stoichiometry, Chemical Change, Observations, Conservation of Mass | High School

  Demonstration: Understanding Limiting Reactants

  In this demonstration, the teacher will perform a series of reactions between acetic acid (vinegar) and varying amounts of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) in order to inflate several balloons. Students will observe the reactions and analyze the quantities of reactants used as well as the results in order to understand the concept of limiting reactants.

• 

  Chemical Change, Physical Change, Chemical Change | Middle School, High School, Elementary School

  Lab: Chemical and Physical Changes

  In this lab, students will observe and analyze a number of examples in order to determine if a chemical or physical change occurred.

• 

  Conservation of Mass, Chemical Change, Interdisciplinary, Culminating Project, Phase Changes, Chemical Change | Middle School, High School

  Project: Law of Conservation of Mass Comic Strip

  In this project, students will work in groups to create a comic strip that illustrates understanding of the law of conservation of mass.

• 

  Activity Series, Chemical Change, Oxidation, Reduction, Net Ionic Equation, Redox Reaction, Observations | High School

  Lab: Fine Art of Redox

  In this lab, students will practice writing and balancing redox reactions and use the activity series to verify the outcome of a chemical reaction.

• 

  Combustion, Chemical Change, Chemical Change, Density, Kinetic Molecular Theory, Density | High School

  Demonstration: Liquid and Gas Burning Comparison

  In this demo, students will witness the burning of a substance in its gas and in its liquid states. They will carry out the demonstrations themselves, and compare the results of the two reactions.

• 

  Conservation of Mass, Exothermic & Endothermic, Chemical Change, Heat, Temperature, Observations, Chemical Change | High School, Middle School

  Lab: Kitchen Reaction

  In this lab students will observe an endothermic chemical reaction involving baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and vinegar (acetic acid). Students will investigate the signs a chemical reaction has occurred (gas production, change in temperature). Students will perform the lab in an open system so they can see the change of mass due to gas production. This lab is a lead into the topic of conservation of mass. After the lab is completed, the teacher should do a demonstration of the exothermic reaction Hydrogen peroxide and potassium iodide.

• 

  Molecular Formula, Chemical Change | High School, Middle School

  Lesson Plan: Valentine's Day Chemistry

  In this lesson, students learn about the chemistry of love. They see chemical structures of compounds involved in the biological process of love and learn about some of the chemical changes associated with love.

• 

  Chemical Change, Classification of Reactions, Balancing Equations, Observations, Chemical Change | High School

  Lab: It's Time to React

  In this lab, students will conduct four chemical reactions and analyze each for indicators of a chemical reaction. Based on their observations students will write a balanced chemical equation for each reaction as well as identify the reaction type for each reaction.

• 

  Net Ionic Equation, Chemical Change, Solubility Rules, Solubility, Precipitate, Balancing Equations, Chemical Change | High School

  Lab: Ions in Aqueous Solution Presentation

  In this lab, students will mix ionic solutions to determine what combinations form precipitates.

• 

  History, Chemical Change, Interdisciplinary | High School, Middle School

  Activity: Tie Dye

  In this activity, students make tie-dye shirts and complete a worksheet about a reading from ChemMatters about how dyes work. It gives students the opportunity to apply chemistry to everyday life.

• 

  Limiting Reactant, Chemical Change, Conservation of Mass, Stoichiometry, Observations, Inferences, Chemical Change, Exothermic & Endothermic | High School

  Demonstration: Introducing Limiting Reactants

  In this demonstration, the teacher will perform a series of reactions between acetic acid--vinegar-- and varying amounts of sodium bicarbonate --baking soda--in order to inflate several Ziploc bags. Students will observe the reactions and analyze the quantities of reactants used as well as the results in order to understand the concept of limiting reactants. Students will also determine if the reaction is an endothermic or exothermic process based on their observations.

• 

  Density, Observations, Chemical Change, Physical Change, Balancing Equations, Chemical Change, Mixtures, Physical Change | High School

  Lab: The Lovely Lava Lamp

  In this lab, students add food coloring to a mixture of oil and water and record their observations. They then add an Alka-Seltzer tablet, record their observations and answer a series of questions about the chemical and physical changes that took place.

• 

  Gas Laws, Ideal Gas, Volume, Temperature, Pressure, Kinetic Molecular Theory, Density, Graphing, Density, Chemical Change, Stoichiometry, Balancing Equations, Chemical Change, Dimensional Analysis | High School

  Lesson Plan: The Gas Laws Unit Plan

  The AACT high school classroom resource library and multimedia collection has everything you need to put together a unit plan for your classroom: lessons, activities, labs, projects, videos, simulations, and animations. We constructed a unit plan using AACT resources that is designed to teach the Gas Laws to your students.

• 

  Chemical Change, Physical Change, Separating Mixtures, Observations, Mixtures, Chemical Properties, Physical Properties, Experimental Design, Scientific Method | High School, Middle School

  Lab: Test Tube Separation

  In this lab, students will mix four substances in a test tube and recreate the original four layers through chemical and physical means.

• 

  Redox Reaction, Electron Transfer, Chemical Change, Observations, Experimental Design, Scientific Method | High School, Middle School

  Lab: Test Tube Geology

  In this lab, students will observe a reaction between an iron nail and copper(II) sulfate in a test tube over the course of several days, modeling how a similar reaction occurs to form copper deposits in the earth. Students will also modify the procedures to evaluate how changing a factor of their choice affects the results of the test tube reaction, introducing them to concepts of experimental design. It also introduces students to my version of the Science Writing Heuristic (SWH).

• 

  Combustion, Chemical Change, Catalysts, Acid Base Reactions, Chemical Change, Balancing Equations, Classification of Reactions, Observations, Chemical Change | High School, Middle School

  Demonstration: Stop & Go Gases

  In this demonstration, students will witness the ability of carbon dioxide to extinguish a flame and oxygen to feed a flame. They will also be introduced to the concept of catalysts. This demonstration could also be used as an opportunity to practice writing and balancing equations and classifying chemical reactions.

• 

  Temperature, History, Interdisciplinary, Chemical Change, Temperature, Heat | Middle School, High School

  Lab: Greenhouse Gas Simulation

  In this lab, students will create two simulations of the Earth’s atmosphere. They will compare a control model with a one that has an increased presence of carbon dioxide gas in order to analyze how this effects temperature. They will also complete research in order to learn more about the makeup of the Earth’s atmosphere.

• 

  Density, Observations, Chemical Change, Combustion | High School

  Demonstration: Fish Tank Carbon Dioxide

  In this demonstration, students watch as a reaction between baking soda and vinegar produces carbon dioxide, which then causes lit candles to extinguish.

• 

  Chemical Change, Density, Chemical Change, Density | Elementary School, Middle School, High School

  Demonstration: Fire Extinguisher

  In this demonstration, students will observe a chemical reaction, and see how the product can be used to extinguish a fire.

• 

  Chemical Change, Classification of Reactions, Balancing Equations, Observations, Chemical Change | High School

  Lab: Recycling Copper: Understanding Chemical Reactions

  In this lab, students will demonstrate their understanding of writing, balancing, translating, and identifying types of chemical reactions. While doing so, they will learn about the process of recycling copper.

• 

  Conservation of Mass, Conservation of Matter, Chemical Change, Classification of Reactions, Percent Yield, Balancing Equations, Error Analysis, Accuracy, Chemical Change, Chemical Properties, Conservation of Mass, Conservation of Matter, Observations, Separating Mixtures | High School

  Lab: Reactions of Copper

  In this lab, students will convert copper metal into different copper compounds and then back to copper to illustrate conservation of matter.