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Your School library

3/25/2015

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The birds are chirping and the sun is shining – we’re going to see some flowers soon!    

There isn't much money left in most 2014-2015 science department budgets.  For inexpensive chemistry lab ideas, buy my lab book Chemistry on a Budget for $20.56 at amazon.com or $23 at lulu.com. It will take a few weeks to get to you, so order now! 

http://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Budget-Marjorie-R-Heesemann/dp/0578129159/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389410170&sr=1-1&keywords=chemistry+on+a+budget

http://www.lulu.com/shop/marjorie-r-heesemann/chemistry-on-a-budget/paperback/product-21217600.html

This book contains 13 labs using consumable materials purchased from local stores.  There are two versions of each lab, one with a ten-question conclusion and one with directions for a full lab report.  This way the teacher has the option!  Each lab is two pages to allow for one two-sided handout.
 

I realized this week that your school library can be a very useful resource.  I realize it’s late in the school year, but you can stop by and start checking out what’s available. 

Talk to your school’s librarian – they are very helpful and will suggest resources for you to investigate. 

Some school libraries have a room with a class set of computers that can be signed out.  If you have websites you want to students to visit, or a WebQuest (http://webquest.org/) that you want them to complete, this could be a great class session! 

You may be able to reserve books for your students to use – perhaps they are researching the discovery of elements or biographies of scientists. 

Investigate what’s available on the shelves – you might find a hidden treasure.  This includes videos!   

Also, the library might be able to record local public television shows (sometimes overnight).  Check it out!  And, go online to check out the local public television station's schedule.

And, of course, speak to your fellow science teachers to see if they utilize the library facilities or if they  have any recommendations.

I’d love to hear of your experiences and successes! 

Remember, you can check out the Topic List to help you to find past Blog entries.  

Have a good weekend!


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VSEPR theory labs and resources

3/19/2015

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I hope you're enjoying the sunshine and your snow keeps melting.  In my experience, this is the most productive teaching time of the year and you’re getting a lot done!  

There isn't much money left in most 2014-2015 science department budgets.  For inexpensive chemistry lab ideas, buy my lab book Chemistry on a Budget for $20.56 at amazon.com or $23 at lulu.com. It will take a few weeks to get to you, so order now! 

http://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Budget-Marjorie-R-Heesemann/dp/0578129159/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389410170&sr=1-1&keywords=chemistry+on+a+budget

http://www.lulu.com/shop/marjorie-r-heesemann/chemistry-on-a-budget/paperback/product-21217600.html

This book contains 13 labs using consumable materials purchased from local stores.  There are two versions of each lab, one with a ten-question conclusion and one with directions for a full lab report.  This way the teacher has the option!  Each lab is two pages to allow for a single two-sided handout.


My past blog entry on 3/12/15 was about the Electron Dot Diagram (or Lewis Dot Diagram).  The blog post titled Lewis Structures & VSEPR Theory on 03/09/14 focused on this concept and moved from the single bonds to a 3-dimensional structure of many bonds.

Today, I am focusing on lab activities and other resources related to VSEPR theory.  From the 3/9/14 post:

The lab possibilities are mainly building models of various molecules.  Check to see if your department has molecular model kits.  To ensure that the kits are returned without pieces missing, you might want to have students sign them out and back in so they take responsibility for the completeness of the kit.

I purchased a set of Styrofoam spheres at a local craft shop (sewing stores might have them as well) for demonstration with toothpicks. I was able to purchase the Styrofoam balls in both larger and smaller sizes, so I was able to use the larger sphere as a central atom and the smaller Styrofoam balls as the attachments.



I've also seen some labs using playdough to attach straws to Styrofoam spheres.   If you're so inclined, here's a recipe for homemade playdough:
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Playdough-Play-doh/


Here’s a lab based on use of a molecular model kit:


http://www.gcisd-k12.org/cms/lib/TX01000829/Centricity/Domain/745/VSEPR%20Lab.pdf


The link below contains 3 pages for a lab building molecular models.  It does not specify what is to be used to build the models, so you can use whatever’s available.

http://www.berenato.net/Labs/MolecularGeometryLab.pdf

The last two pages could be handed out and directions put on the board for students to copy.


There are a few computer-based labs on the Internet.  If you have a computer lab or classroom set of computers available, you could use this for a class lesson; or, this could be an Extra Credit opportunity for your students.


The following page could be projected for a class lecture as “real molecules” are shown:


https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/molecule-shapes

It requires the Java applet to run.

There are several teaching and lab ideas/worksheets lower down on the page. 


*This webpage is a favorite of mine because it contains several molecules that are animated and can be explored by students:


http://www.chemmybear.com/shapes.html

I do not use a handout, but simply require the students to neatly record the information from the site for the 12 molecules that are pictured including:

- a "ball & stick"  sketch of the molecule
- a statement of the shape
- the number of lone pairs of electrons
- the molecule's polarity
- orbital  hybridization
- example(s) 

All of this is listed when you click on the molecule.


Here are some other documents about VSEPR theory that you might find useful:

This document contains several pages about Molecular Polarity and Geometry, but you can choose any pages would be useful:

http://phet-downloads.colorado.edu/files/activities/3576/Molecular%20Geometry%20and%20Polarity.pdf


Here is a single sheet with a chart of structures for students to draw/build/practice:


http://fileserver.net-texts.com/asset.aspx?dl=no&id=6390


Remember, you can check out the Topic List to help you to find past Blog entries.


Have a good weekend!

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electron dot diagram

3/12/2015

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Welcome to the spring melt!  We need it!  

There isn't much money left in most 2014-2015 science department budgets.  For inexpensive chemistry lab ideas, buy my lab book Chemistry on a Budget for $20.56 at amazon.com or $23 at lulu.com. It will take a few weeks to get to you, so order now! 

http://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Budget-Marjorie-R-Heesemann/dp/0578129159/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389410170&sr=1-1&keywords=chemistry+on+a+budget

http://www.lulu.com/shop/marjorie-r-heesemann/chemistry-on-a-budget/paperback/product-21217600.html

This book contains 13 labs using consumable materials purchased from local stores.  There are two versions of each lab, one with a ten-question conclusion and one with directions for a full lab report.  This way the teacher has the option!  Each lab is two pages to allow for one two-sided handout.


My past blog entry, 03/04/2015, was about Calorimetry, the measurement of the transfer of heat energy.  I’m at a loss for new blog ideas – looking at the Topic List on this website, a full year of an Introductory Chemistry course is pretty much covered! – if you have topics you’d like to see more of, let me know!

The Electron Dot Diagram (or Lewis Dot Diagram) is a way to visualize bond combinations with paper and pencil, knowing that it is not a true representation of the complexities of chemical bonding and the electrons involved.

Here is one video:

Another way to approach drawing the diagram is the pair the first two dots  (electrons) to represent the s sublevel and then draw in the next three dots singly then pair them up to represent the p sublevels.  

Here is another video that shows a little more about the diagrams and gets into bonding:
Notice there’s a clip from a movie called The Periodic Table that I have on the blog post from 02/23/2014.   

Here is a basic electron (Lewis) dot worksheet that could be projected for a class with the examples used for a class lecture.

http://www.gpb.org/files/pdfs/gpbclassroom/chemistry/electronsDiagramsLewisStructuresWkst.pdf


This introductory electron (Lewis) dot worksheet (2 pages) has a review of atomic structure and the electron dot diagram work:


http://www.d70schools.org/teachersites/lib/redirect.php?res_id=12055


This electron (Lewis) dot worksheet contains a lot of information and provides a useful review for students:


http://www.csun.edu/~jte35633/worksheets/Chemistry/5-7LewisDotDiagrams.pdf


This electron (Lewis) dot worksheet contains many examples, including polyatomic ions:


http://images.pcmac.org/SiSFiles/Schools/TX/DesotoISD/DHS/Uploads/Forms/Zero%20Make%20Up%20Assignment%20Lewis%20Structures%2010-12.pdf

Check out the Topic List to help you to find past Blog entries.

Have a good weekend!

 

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Calorimetry

3/4/2015

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Welcome to March!  It has been cold where I am, so I hope that spring shows up soon!   

There isn't much money left in most 2014-2015 science department budgets.  For inexpensive chemistry lab ideas, buy my lab book Chemistry on a Budget for $19.82 at amazon.com (the price just got reduced!) or $23 at lulu.com. It will take a few weeks to get to you, so order now! 

http://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Budget-Marjorie-R-Heesemann/dp/0578129159/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389410170&sr=1-1&keywords=chemistry+on+a+budget

http://www.lulu.com/shop/marjorie-r-heesemann/chemistry-on-a-budget/paperback/product-21217600.html

This book contains 13 labs using consumable materials purchased from local stores.  There are two versions of each lab, one with a ten-question conclusion and one with directions for a full lab report.  This way the teacher has the option!  Each lab is two pages to allow for one two-sided handout.

My past blog entry, 02/25/2015, was about the NY Great Lakes freezing over, an unusual phenomenon b/c of water’s properties.  Today’s blog is about Calorimetry, the measurement of the transfer of heat energy.

I posted previously about Heat & Energy on 3/5/2014, and it refers to calorimetry as well.  My lab book, Chemistry on a Budget, has 2 labs using calorimetry.  Check it out!

For your information, I posted about Heating/Cooling Curves on 3/2/14 and Heating/Cooling Curves Revisited on 10/3/14.  A heating or cooling curve is a graph of temperature vs. time that could be used to determine information about the sample being observed.

Another energy related topic is the Potential Energy Diagram which was examined briefly in the 3/30/14 post called Reaction Rates.

Here is a 12 minute video gives an overview of energy changes and calorimetry:


He uses the term enthalpy and refers to Hess’ Law, so you might have to explain them.  Notice, he’s wearing goggles!  

The formula q = sm delta T is the same as q = mc delta T. 

Here’s another video discussing coffee cup calorimetry:

The narrator’s explanation is very good!

 Here are some worksheets focusing on Calorimetry:

http://www.d_smith.lhseducators.com/CHEM/ENERGY/009%20Calorimetry.pdf


http://misterguch.brinkster.net/PRA047.pdf


This has answers!

 
http://www.morstein.net/GHS/Chemistry/thermo/worksheets/calorimetry_wksht.pdf

 
http://www.kalixchemistry.com/IntroChemweb/Worksheets/Calorimetry_Worksheet.pdf

This has answers, too!

There are some virtual labs online that could be used to make up a lab missed due to absence, as a homework assignment, or for Extra Credit.  Here is one option:

http://www.wiley.com/college/trefil/0470118547/vdl/lab_calorimeter/

Finally, here’s a 1994 Bill Nye video about Heat – it’s a very simple (but entertaining) video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBeJPpeeYJQ

Years ago, my high school students would enjoy these videos – they are for a younger audience, and I saved them for a day before a vacation or the last few minutes of a Friday class.  It is 32 minutes, so decide if you just want to use a segment of the video. 

You’ll notice that many other videos show up in the margin, so check it out if there are others you can use!

Check out the Topic List to help you to find past Blog entries.  I hope it helps!

 Have a good weekend!

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    Marjorie R. Heesemann is a chemistry teacher with 15 years of experience who is now working to develop resources for the Chemistry classroom.

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