Ever wonder why oil and water don't mix? Or why washing butter off of your hands is difficult? A video explores the different types of molecules, reviews charge and geometric asymmetry, and covers why water is one of the best molecular structures on Earth. 

Concepts

polar molecules, electronegativity, cohesion, hydrogen bonds

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Show water and oil mixed in a beaker; have pairs of learners explain why these two substances repel each other
• After the video, have learners tweak their explanations using knowledge of polar and non-polar molecules 

Classroom Considerations

• Requires access to the Internet, a projection system, and a computer to complete the activity

• This video is hosted on YouTube

Pros

• Includes simple, relatable examples of polar and non-polar interactions (oil and water and butter on your hands with water) to help the concept come alive for learners
• Video explores why water is so good at so many different things

Cons

• There is an inaccurate image at 3:37; you must turn on annotations to see the corrections