Countertop Chemistry

Table of Contents
(updated 8/4/03)

Introduction I. Properties of Matter A. Chemical Changes 1. Dancing Spaghetti 2. Combustion 3. Law of Conservation of Mass B. Physical Changes 4. Chromatography 5. Ziptop Bag Chemistry II. Properties of Gases 6. Floating Candles 7. Production of Oxygen 8. Production of Hydrogen 9. Production of CO2 III. Micro-Chemistry Reactions 10. Single Replacement Reactions 11. Double Replacement Reactions 12. Gas-Producing Reactions 13. Red, White, and Blue I - Demonstration

IV. Properties of Solutions, Suspensions, & Colloids A. Solutions 14. Rate of Solution - Demonstration 15. Ice Cream B. Suspensions & Density 16. Daffy Density 17. Red, White, and Blue II - Demonstration C. Colloids 18. Oobleck 19. Gluep 20. Clear Slime Polymer 21. Cat's Meow V. Acids, Bases, & Indicators 22. Cabbage Juice Indicator 23. Invisible Ink - Demonstration 24. The Witches' Potion - Demonstration 25. What's in a Penny? VI. Games 26. Formulas Poker 27. Radioactive Decay of Candium

Activities and Demonstrations Appendix A: Properties and Conversions Appendix B: Chemicals Used in the Manual Appendix C: Commercial Equivelants of Chemicals Appendix D: Sites for obtaining Material Safety Data Sheets Appendix E: Alignment to NC K-12 Standard Course of Study

Introduction

There is a lot of interesting science to investigate in this world. Not all of the science is done by men wearing white coats and working in laboratories. All of the world around us involves science. A child (or teacher) can investigate some pretty interesting stuff without requiring a laboratory or expensive laboratory equipment or dangerous chemicals.

These activities came from
teacher training workshops that have been offered by The Science House since the early nineties. Many teachers have taken the workshops and have applied the activities in their own classrooms – from first grade to high school.

We believe
that students should be involved in active learning in which the teacher acts as a guide, not an answer machine. However, to be a good guide, the teacher has to have the road map in her/his head. So, these activities include directions for doing the activities, suggestions on finding materials and a little background on the science involved.

We realize that there are no new science demonstrations
under the sun. Many of these are things that you may have seen before in another format. The point of this book is to assemble these in a rational format that encourages you, as a teacher or student, to try them out. A science demonstration in a book is useless until someone actually does it and uses the experience to help their understanding.

The Science House
is a science and mathematics learning outreach program of the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences at North Carolina State University. The mission of The Science House is to work in partnership with K-12 teachers to emphasize the use of hands-on learning activities in mathematics and science classes. The Science House provides a variety of in-service training and enrichment activities that reach teachers and students across North Carolina.

For hints and advice
on performing demonstrations and sharing activities, please read 'Activities and Demonstrations' before performing the activities.

 

Selected by the SciLinks program,
a service of National Science Teachers Association.
Copyright 2001.