Chemistry

We study some chemistry each year, using books and fun hands-on science kits. I don’t always to remember to list what we do, but our favorite thing is kitchen experiments 🙂

AP Chemistry – Chemistry: The Central Science

Cool Chemistry links:

Antioxidant Effects of Vitamin C

Careers in Chemistry

Catalyst — resources

Chem4Kids

ChemBalancer — game to practice balancing equations with

Chemical Jigsaw Puzzle

Chemical of the Week

Chemicool — periodic table

Chemistry Comes Alive movies

Chemistry Teaching Resources

Chemistry Tutor

Chemist’s Art Gallery

ChemMatters Magazine

ChemTeam

Chemystery

ConcepTests in Chemistry

Delights of Chemistry

Global Instructional Chemistry

Hazardous Chemicals in Your Neighborhood

High School Hub – Chemistry

Learning Matters of Chemistry

Macrogalleria — polymers

Microworlds

Molecule of the Month

National Historic Chemical Landmarks

Nobel Prizes in Chemistry

On Fire!

Organic Antifreeze (activity #1)

Periodic Table — interactive

pH Factor

Polymers & Liquid Crystals lab

Polymers & Liquid Crystals textbook

Pyrotechnics: It’s Elemental

Tasty Models (Glucose & Glycine)

Testing for pH (activity #2)

This Week in Chemical History

T.W.I.N.K.I.E.S. Project

WebElements Periodic Table

We studied part of Chemistry Concepts & Problems. It is well-written, concise, and covers basic chemistry topics. Here are the chapter titles:

Atomic Structure, Periodic Table, Electronic Structure

Periodic Table Quiz (and other Chemistry quizzes)

Atomic Weights

Periodic Properties and Chemical Bonding

Molecular and Formula Weights

Nomenclature

Chemical Equations

Mole Concept

Gases

Solids

The Liquid State

Solutions and Their Properties

Chemical Equilibrium

Acids and Bases

Famous Scientists

We read these books:

Marie Curie

Antoine Lavoisier, Founder of Modern Chemistry

Matter

We discovered a fabulous series of books, including these:

The Story of Gold

The Story of Hydrogen

The Story of Iron

The Story of Oxygen

Kitchen Chemistry

The Magic School Bus Gets Baked in a Cake

Reactions

We watched the Moody Science Video, Mystery of the Three Clocks

Exploring the World of Chemistry (George Burns)

Chemistry for Children (Dover)

Chemistry (Anne Wright)

The Visual Dictionary of Chemistry

Chemicals and Change

Chemistry (Ann Newmark)

Fundamentals of Chemistry–taken from Castle Heights Press catalog.

Memorize the common chemical symbols and atomic weights. The easiest way to do this is oral drill.

Know your way around the periodic table. Why the table is designed the way it is, what it says about the elements, groups and periods, and the sequence of adding electrons.

Know the terms for the fundamental building blocks of matter. Parts of atoms, forces of matter and energy, ions, isotopes, etc. Be able to explain how they relate to each other.

The student should know the electron orbital concepts and be able to discuss the ideas of electron position, energy absorption, energy and light emission, bonding, valence, energy state, etc.

Know the characteristics for the three states of matter and how they relate to the kinetic theory. Know the energy requirements of changing states. Understand how this affects us and the world around us.

Memorize the types of reactions and be able to recognize them. Predict products given the reactants.

Know the basics of acid-base reactions, pH, ions, titration, indicators, etc. Know how to calculate pH and what pH indicates. Know how humans are affected by acid-base reactions. Acid rain, pH balanced cleaners and shampoos, base-acid balance within the human body are some topics to cover.

Know the physical and chemical characteristics of the most common elements and compounds. A few of these are carbon, oxygen, nitrogen chlorine, metals, hydrogen. Understand the cycles of these elements and how we control them in our environment.

Know something about the history of chemistry and how humans started discovering the concepts.

Know about the functions of metallurgy and how elements are purified and controlled so that the environment is not damaged. Know how we get the metals we get everyday. Understand why we protect from the environment, for example, with paint.

Know how to produce and catch certain gases, including water-soluble gases.

Know the gas laws and be able to apply them to everyday life, the atmosphere, and our weather.

Understand the concepts of Avogadro’s number and molarity.

Know the principles of heat transfer, measurement, calories, etc. Be able to work problems using these concepts. Understand why heat transfer takes place and how. Understand why we measure food in calories.

Be able to balance chemical equations: including arrows showing direction of reaction and precipitant or gas formation, heat or light radiation or requirements.

Understand the basics of nuclear chemistry and how energy is generated in a nuclear power plant.

Know techniques for filtration, distillation, evaporation, and condensation.

Be able to identify common laboratory equipment. Demonstrate its proper use, cleaning, and care.

Practice observation, record keeping and communication skills by writing a good laboratory notebook. Must be able to accurately follow the instructions in the writing of the laboratory report.

Know and use good safety practices.