Students determine the best solvent system for separating a methylene blue/sodium fluorescein mixture by thin layer chromatography. They conduct an initial TLC separation using ethanol and a different solvent mixture and analyze the data...

What a great way to explore the scientific process! Learners conduct an experiment in which they use sugar and water to illustrate the concept of solutes and solvents. With this hands on approach, they are bound to remember what they...

Students are introduced to the analysis of health risks in the laboratory, particularly from vapors from organic solvents. They consider quantitative measure of risk such as threshold limit values (TLVs), the amount of the compound that...

This lab activity is geared toward experienced chemistry learners, in particular, those who are familiar with organic chemistry. They will create a synthetic elastomer  and then make observations and measurements of its different...

Fifth graders design an experiment in which they separate mixtures. In this mixtures lesson, 5th graders define mixtures, solutions, solutes, and solvents. They watch a video, complete worksheets, and perform an experiment to separate...

Beginning biologists place a drop of food coloring into water of differing temperatures to observe the effect on the diffusion rate. They remove the shells from raw eggs and then experiment with osmosis over the remaining membranes....

Students research the properties and health risks of organic chemical solvents. They create a Safety with Solvents newsletter to share with others in their school and community.

The first two pages of this resource may not be useful as they contain a narrative as to how someone can improve their grade on an organic chemistry exam. The final page, however, contains four sample MCAT exam questions. You could use...

Students are challenged to come up with a good estimate of the amount of air in foamed polystyrene products. They use this gas evolution experiment and as such have students measure the gas generated when foamed polystyrene is degassed...

Middle schoolers hypothesize about the amount of carbon dioxide in soda bottles. In this chemistry lesson, students design an experiment to solve the problem. They share findings in class.

This in-depth organic chemistry lab walks learners through an investigation of the effect of initiator concentration on the resulting molecular weight of polystyrene. It is important that you use this lesson with experienced chemistry...

Students participate in a three-part lab in which they investigate plant pigments. Part I is designed to teach basic laboratory techniques of column chromatography, in Part II students design an experiment to separate the components of a...

Students participate in an investigation in which they compare a polyethylene bag designed for recycling or disposal with a polyethylene food storage bag. Students use hexane to determine the differences between the low density...

Chemists consider a situation in which an ethanol producer needs to determine how much to add to t-butanol to prevent freezing during transport. They work in the laboratory to obtain the freezing point depression constant for the...

High schoolers in this inquiry-based experiment, put in the role of a method development chemist. The scenario they are given is that a train wreck has occurred resulting in a chemical spill. Students are told that the spill mixture...

Here is a nice, clean wrap-up lesson for your chemistry class when they are studying chemical reactions . They experiment with different oils to make soap. To make it more fun, they are to imagine that they are part of a soap testing...

How do you engage pupils in a discussion about osmosis without leaving them overwhelmed? By providing them with the tools to perform an exciting experiment, and they will see osmosis in action! Young chemists and biologists use...

Students examine solubility and the significance of water.  In this aqueous solution lesson students complete a lab activity on soil profiles.

Students examine and determine properties of polymers. They explore basic concepts of polymer chemistry and work in groups to produce a polymer, slime. In addition, they list examples of every day polymers and their benefits.

Identify the properties of fats and lipids. Compare the properties of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids Identify foods containing triglycerides and identify which foods contain saturated and unsaturated fat Discuss the function of...

Explain the properties of water. Identify the properties of water that make it a polar molecule Describe hydrogen bonds and how they differ from covalent bonds Discuss the differences between hard water and soft water Compare the heat of...

Students identify several properties of water as a universal substance, describe the composition of several complex color mixtures and separate the components of dye using chromatographic technique.

Students investigate water use and what happens at a water treatment plant. They define and discuss key vocabulary terms, view a diagram of a water treatment plant, and conduct an experiment that simulates the water filtration process.

Students explore chemical cahnges and the effect of temperature on chemical mixturees, They make observations of the behavior and appearance of certain chemical mixtures and reactions.