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Activity
American Chemical Society

Electrolysis of Water

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Young scientists know that water is H2O, but can they prove it? Through a simple electrolysis of water demonstration, scholars see the two gases produced as a result of a chemical reaction. Because this reaction doesn't happen...
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Activity
American Chemical Society

Preparation and Combustion of Biodiesel

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The United States is the world's largest producer of biofuel. During an in-class investigation, young scientists produce their own biodiesel. They burn a sample of it to determine the heat of combustion. Then they discuss the results...
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Lesson Plan
2
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American Chemical Society

Can Gases Dissolve in Water?

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Why does soda fizz when opened? Learners discuss the appearance of bubbles in soda bottles when opened. In groups, they design and complete an experiment comparing the amount of carbon dioxide dissolving in cold versus hot liquids.  
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Lesson Plan
2
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American Chemical Society

Natural Resources and Synthetic Materials

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
All synthetic materials began as natural materials. An engaging lesson begins with a hands-on activity and an example of the type of research that scholars perform independently. Then pupils receive a topic and begin researching the...
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Lesson Plan
2
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American Chemical Society

Chemical Reactions and Engineering Design

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Construction leads to habitat loss and local wildlife suffers. Scholars must build a reptile egg incubation device that meets many constraints. Various experiments help them discover the chemical reaction needed to reach the proper...
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Lesson Plan
2
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American Chemical Society

Carbon Dioxide Can Make a Solution Acidic

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Can your breath change the acidity in a liquid? A lesson begins with a demonstration that proves it can. Then scholars perform an experiment to determine if other gases can change the pH of liquids. Finally, they research how this...
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Lesson Plan
2
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American Chemical Society

Neutralizing Acids and Bases

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Most things naturally strive for balance, and acids and bases are no exception. Neutralization of acids and bases allows scholars to explore the color changes associated with the pH scale. After this exploration, pupils neutralize two...
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Lesson Plan
2
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American Chemical Society

pH and Color Change

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Did you know strong bases can feel slippery and slimy? Lesson allows scholars to practice using the pH scale to identify acids and bases and their strengths. By changing the concentration of an acid and a base, they create the entire...
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Lesson Plan
2
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American Chemical Society

Using Chemical Change to Identify an Unknown

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
If you discover an unknown powder, how do you determine if it is safe? Lesson uses four different tests to identify the properties of various powders that appear the same. Then scholars get an unknown powder and have to determine which...
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Lesson Plan
2
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American Chemical Society

A Catalyst and the Rate of Reaction

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
More than 90 percent of chemical products are made using a catalyst. Lesson demonstrates the way a catalyst changes the rate of reaction without altering the chemical reaction. A catalyst doesn't appear as a reactant or a product, yet it...
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Lesson Plan
2
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American Chemical Society

Temperature and the Rate of a Chemical Reaction

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
Putting glow sticks in the freezer makes them last longer, but why is that? Lesson focuses on how temperature impacts the rate of a chemical reaction. It begins with a teacher demonstration, then scholars design their own experiments...
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Lesson Plan
2
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American Chemical Society

Forming a Precipitate

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
Can you mix two liquids to make a solid that is insoluble? Yes, you can, and pupils see this as the lesson uses more than one combination of liquids to form a solid. Through two teacher demonstrations and a hands-on activity, scholars...
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Lesson Plan
2
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American Chemical Society

Controlling the Amount of Products in a Chemical Reaction

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
Everyone enjoys combining baking soda and water. Here is a lesson that challenges scholars to analyze the reaction three different ways — the real substances, the chemical equation, and the molecular models. Class members experiment to...
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Lesson Plan
2
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American Chemical Society

Temperature Affects Density

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
Different substances can have different densities, but can the same substance have different densities? Lesson explores the effect of temperature on the density of water. Extension idea connects the concept of how melting ice in lakes...
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Lesson Plan
2
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American Chemical Society

Density: Sink and Float for Liquids

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
We don't think of liquids as floating typically, but a quick look at any oil spill tells a different story. Lesson explores various densities of liquids and why this fact is important. After observing the density variation, scholars...
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Lesson Plan
2
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American Chemical Society

Density: Sink and Float for Solids

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Steal cubes sink, but steal ships float. Lesson explores the density of solids as well as the density of water in determining what will sink and what will float. A hands-on group activity helps pupils see that weight and volume are two...
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Lesson Plan
2
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American Chemical Society

Density of Water

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
We know solids have a density we can measure, but what about liquids? Lesson explores this concept and allows scholars to explore the relationship between volume and density. Graphing and analysis questions round out the activity. 
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Lesson Plan
2
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American Chemical Society

Finding Volume: The Water Displacement Method

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
We have formulas for finding the volume of geometric shapes, but what if the shape is irregular? Lesson describes how to find volume through water displacement. After a demonstration, scholars practice in small groups. Then analysis...
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Lesson Plan
2
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American Chemical Society

What is Density?

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Density: the reason a giant pumpkin will float, but a tiny cranberry won't. Lesson begins with a demonstration of two of the same-sized cubes having different densities. Then pupils take eight cubes, each of the same size, and have to...
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Lesson Plan
2
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American Chemical Society

Changing State: Melting

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
Dry ice is extremely cold — it is -109.3°F or -78.5°C. Scholars observe and explain the molecular motion associated with melting. Then they design their own experiments to speed up the melting process. Finally, a teacher presents a...
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Lesson Plan
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American Chemical Society

Changing State: Freezing

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
There are five types of frost: ground frost, air frost, hoar frost, glaze, and rime. Scholars mix ice and salt in a metal container to observe frost forming on the outside of the can. Animations and videos enhance the learning. 
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Lesson Plan
2
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American Chemical Society

Changing State: Evaporation

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Why do experiments require a control? Guide scholars through designing an experiment to see what they can do to evaporate water faster with a lesson that stresses the importance of controlling all variables. The second activity allows...
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Lesson Plan
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American Chemical Society

Heat, Temperature, and Conduction

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
How does heat move from one item to another, even when the items are in different states of matter? Pupils experiment with adding washers to hot water and adding hot washers to room temperature water to observe the heat transfer. 
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Lesson Plan
2
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American Chemical Society

Energy Levels, Electrons, and Ionic Boding

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Learners see how electrons are transferred in the bonding of NaCl. They then create models of NaCl using styrofoam balls and toothpicks to assist them in explaining the formation of ions and ionic bonding.