Apologia Chemistry: Name Ionic Compounds

 Early during the Chemistry course, I teach kids how to name ionic compounds with Putting the Ions In Their Hands.  Here is the slideshow with ionic formula resources.  I had to dig to find a video demonstrating the ions.  I printed the cations on to red card stock and the anions on to blue card stock.  If you scroll though the slideshow, there is an example of the ions, aluminum chloride, and how to complete the data chart.  This ion activity has been very useful as a tool to teach kids how to name ionic compounds.  Really.

Mole Day!

 October 23rd is Mole Day! Mole Day celebrates moles.  Avogadro’s number is 6.02 x 10²³ atoms or molecules.  It’s like Pi Day.  Anyway, we make moles to celebrate Mole Day!  Felt works well to sew or hot glue a mole.  Here is a pattern and detailed instructions.  Below is a video I made during COVID Quarantine.  The kids picked up their lab kits and mole making supplies off my porch.  I made a video showing how to hot glue a mole.  Next Tuesday, I’m passing out the fabric, fiberfill, eyeballs, and patterns to give the kids a month to make their moles.  The prize for the best mole is a bag of Tootsie Mole Pops or syringe pens.  I can’t decide.

Chemistry on a Budget: Save your bottle caps!

Save your nuts, bolts, LEGOs, and bottle caps!  I use these items to Balance Equations.  Group I and II ions are larger and groups V—VII are smaller.  Save as many bottle caps as possible to model the periodic trend for atomic radius.  I save bottle tops from everything: water bottles, milk jugs, vitamin bottles, etc.  Some kids need manipulatives to understand a concept.  Bottle caps are free! 

Chemistry on a Budget

Families (and many professional teachers) often feel they cannot do lab experiments unless they have sophisticated equipment.  Not true!  My Chem class just finished The Specific Heat of Metal lab.  (Here is the Flinn lab we used, too.)  The materials were metal samples, styrofoam coffee cups, scales, and thermometers.  (We used a density set of metals to determine the specific heat of metals.  The set we used has hooks to make them easier to fish out.)   The metal samples can be steel washers and iron nails.  You can increase the rigor of the experiment without spending anymore money.  Repeat the experiment three times with both steel washers and iron nails.  Use the accepted values to calculate percent error.  Create a spreadsheet with the data.  The spreadsheets in the Google suite are free.  Just because your family does the lab in the kitchen and makes calculations at the dining room table, it doesn’t diminish the rigor of the lab exercise.

Things You Never Knew You Needed

 If you browse Good Will online, there is a listing for a Barbie Nurse in Training Collection.  I’ve never seen a similar set.  The set has dissection tools, a mortar and pestle, a thermometer, a few test tubes, and anatomy cards.  I’m not sure it’s the best value; but it’s an interesting listing.

Apologia Chemistry: Module 2: Experiment 2.2 Specific Heat Lab

 We spent class today doing the math for the Specific Heat Lab, Experiment 2.2, in Module 2.  Earlier, I posted a few tips with videos for the lab.  Here is a spreadsheet with sample data the kids collected and the formulas to make the calculations, including the formula for percent error.

We spent ninety minutes walking the kids through the math to calculate the specific heat of the six metals and reviewing how to create a data sheet in a spreadsheet.  Part of the reason it took so long is that we went over sources of error, and explained delta as change, etc.

The kids are creating the spreadsheets first.  If they put the formulas in correctly, they’ll have the answers to c, the specific heat for each metal and the answers to the percent error calculations.  The kids must write out the specific heat calculations manually, step by step, with the percent error.  I’ll spend time after class next week with kids who are struggling.  BTW four kids stayed after class the past two classes to make corrections and revisions.  While we meet in Co-op three hours weekly, the kids spend at least two hours outside class each week completing assignments, reading, or writing reports.

One note is that we used 1calorie/gram degree Celsius as the specific heat of water, not 4.184 Joules/gram degree Celcisus.  I took screenshots with the accepted values, shown below.  I hope this is helpful!

Pasco Learning System and Sensors

 My Co-op classes use quite a bit of tech.  One of my favorite tech tools is the PASCO SPARK Learning System.  Here is the manual for the device.  The learning system is an interface which connects to different sensors or probes. (See examples below.). The interfaces are rugged and come with 60 experiments for elementary, middle and high school level science, including Physics, Biology, and Chemistry.  You can use the SPARK interface with a sensor and just collect data.  The sensors and interface are available used on eBay.  I’ve purchased many used sensors and SPARK systems without any problems.  You can buy an interface, pH sensor, and temperature probe for round $100.  If you teach Co-op regularly, consider this investment.

Physical Science: Ruler Drop and Ball Drop

 I was watching my husband, Rob’s, Physics class today while he helped several of my Chem teens with spreadsheets.  Rob’s using Ruler Reflex and Dropping the Ball to derive the acceleration owing to gravity.

I’ve done both of these labs with younger students.  Both are fun!  Younger students could use Falling Objects  to determine free fall.  We use marbles, tennis balls, ping pong balls, etc.  Test reaction times with meter sticks and 30 cm rulers.  Rob is using the labs described in Take Home Physics.  

Measure a two meter height and mark the position with a bit of tape.  Stand on a sturdy chair or stool to drop the ball from the same spot.  Repeat the drop ten times.  You may want to drop the ball or marble into an aluminum pie plate in order to hear the ball land.  

Some eighth graders can derive acceleration algebraically and can calculate the percent error using the acceleration owing to gravity, 9.8 m/s2.  I’ve had other student invest an hour dropping and timing balls with different masses because they couldn’t accept the idea that the objects would accelerate at the same rate—gravity.  The kids still learn a great deal.  Home Science Tools has these Mass and Weight Science Projects, too.  Have fun!

Specific Heat Pix

 I like to be accountable.  We really do all of these labs at the Chemistry Co-op.  In the photos is a second type of digital thermometer.  The blue device is a Sparklab interface connected to a digital thermometer or temperature sensor.  Sparklab and SPARKvue are PASCO products.  Like the Vernier sensors, the interface recognizes the probe or sensor as soon as it is attached.  

Digital Thermometers

 I teach Co-op Chemistry on a regular basis.  I invested in digital thermometers.  There is one type of digital thermometer, Go!Temp, with a USB connector for a laptop or Chromebook.  You can take temperature readings and display them on the laptop.  The second type of digital thermometer is EasyTemp.  This sensor connects with a TI84 graphing calculator.  Most TI84 calculators have the software, EasyData, preloaded on to the TI84 calculators.  When you connect the temperature probe to the TI84 calculator, the calculator recognizes the probe and opens the software and immediately collects the data.  The data is stored in the STAT files on the calculator.  The calculators and digital thermometers are pricey.  The sensors are $45 each and the TI84 is $100.  Right now, there aren’t many sensors available on eBay at more reasonable prices.  I bought them because they are rugged; I like to introduce unfamiliar tech to the kids.  You won’t be depriving your teen if you don’t have a digital thermometer.  

Apologia Chemistry: Module 2 Experiment 2.2 Specific Heat of a Metal

 Update: The Flinn lab recommends using 60 g of different metals.  The metals we have weigh less. 

My Chem class is working on several trials of the Specific Heat lab.  The kids are using the same metal cubes we used for the density lab.  Below are a few tips.

1. Dr.Wile indicates students should boil their metals for five minutes.  Flinn suggests ten minutes.  You may boil the metals longer.  Once the metal has the same temperature as the boiling water, the temperature won’t change.  

2.  We boil all of the metals at once in an electric kettle.  Check the temperature!  Don’t assume the temperature will be 100 degrees Celsius.  Tap water can boil at slightly lower temperatures.  

3.  Use ice water in the styrofoam coffee cup calorimeter.  Check the temp right before adding the metals.  Be sure to change the ice water in the calorimeter with each trial.

4.  Do a minimum of three trials for each type of metal.  On Thursday, the kids spent time just practicing their measures.  Practice!  Heat is lost in the transfer to the calorimeter.

5.  If you are using a pan on a stove to boil metal, add the metal shot or pieces to individual test tubes.  It’s easier to dump the shot into the calorimeter.  Boil several metals in test tubes at the same time.  Let the metals continue to boil as you take temp data in the calorimeter.  Be sure to use Kimax, Pyrex, or borosilicate test tubes, which are heat-tempered.

6.  Be careful using the glass thermometer to measure temp.  Dr. Wile recommends stirring gently with the glass thermometer.  Be very gentle! It’s easy to break the thermometer.

7. You only need the mass of the ice cold water in the calorimeter.  If you use a digital scale, put the calorimeter on the scale and zero or tare the calorimeter before you add the cold water.  I instructed the kids to measure the same amount of water each time.  Dr. Wile suggests filling the coffee cup three-quarters full.  Water absorbs a lot of heat.  I recommend using about 50 mL.  Otherwise it’s hard to see a big temperature difference in the cold water.

8. Dr. Wile uses the specific heat of water in Joules, 4.184 J/g*degree Celsius.  The specific heat of water is also 1 calorie/g* degree Celsius.  Teens seem to understand calories better than Joules.  Recall the density of water is 1 g/mL.  The kids have an easier time remembering the specific heat in water in calories, too.

9.  I posted two videos in the last post.  I hope they help you, especially with the calculations.

10.  My Chem class is going to combine the class data into a spreadsheet with percent error calculations.  The Flinn Specific Heat lab has accepted values for several common metals in J/g*C.  This slideshow has the accepted specific heat values for several common metals in cal/g*C.

Below are images of the tools we use for this lab.  Hope this is useful!

(Source of calorimeter image)

Source for TI84 and EasyTemp)

Coffee Cup Calorimetry

 The Chem class is working on a Specific Heat of Metal lab.  This lab worksheet has a clear data table.  This lab has a clear formula.  During COVID lockdown, I taught Chem remotely and made the videos below for the kids.  I’ll post more pix this week.

Apologia Biology: Greek and Latin Prefixes

 This year, I’m teaching Chem instead of Bio.  My neighbor across the street comes by once a week for help.  She’s struggling with all of the terms in Bio.  Many vocabulary terms have Latin or Greek prefixes.  I printed off a list for her and we broke down a few terms, such as abiotic and endothermic.  I printed this list which was written for Honors Biology.  Here is another extensive list with many of the same prefixes. Take a few terms and test the list.  

Reaction in a Bag!

This is one of my favorite labs!  You need calcium chloride, baking soda, and phenol red.  Here are the instructions.  There are questions for the students; however, these questions are hard.  Do you like detailed instructions?  Look at Chemistry in a Ziploc Bag.  Be sure to invest in heavy duty, plastic bags to avoid messy leaks.  I took a photo. Exactly one.

Koolaid Conversions

 I do this lab every year with Chemistry classes.  Make one Dixie cup of Koolaid.  Here are the steps.

1.  What is the recipe for Koolaid?  We use one pack Koolaid, two quart of water, and one cup of sugar.

2.  My scale and graduated cylinder measure in grams and milliliters.  What do we need to do?  The kids must convert measure into grams and milliliters

3.  What is the mass of a pack of Koolaid?  Each flavor has a different mass.  I give each group a different flavor.  

4.  First convert two quarts into milliliters.  Next, measure the volume in the paper cup.  The volume in the Dixie cup is 90 mL.   One quart has two pints and each pint has 16 ounces.  20 ounces has 591 mL.  Each ounce has 29.55 mL.  Two quarts have 1891 mL.  

5.  How many grams are in one cup of sugar?  Ten pounds of sugar is 4.53 kilograms or 4530 grams.  There are 22.5 cups in 10 lbs of sugar.  Each cup has 201.33 grams.

6.  Now set up ratios to determine the mass of Koolaid and sugar to add to 90 mL of water in the Dixie cup to make exactly one cup of Koolaid.  

Below is a video I made introducing the Koolaid lab.  I made this Koolaid Conversion Jamboard.  This is a challenging lab activity.  Give it a shot!

3-D Periodic Table Blocks

 Here is a template to make 3D Periodic Table blocks.  Fun, right?  Print the template on to different colored card-stock.  Here are cubes that a teacher had her kids decorate, which might make the project more appealing to artsy kids.

Apologia Biology: Osmosis Lab Ideas

Apologia has a fine experiment for osmosis.  But osmosis is an opportunity to add a bit of fun to you curriculum without compromising on content.  First is an osmosis project from Home Science Tools with water beads.  This is a similar, osmosis lab using Orbeez (screenshot below).  You can make your own gel beads to test using sodium alginate and calcium chloride (screenshot below), too.  My favorite is the Gummy Bear Osmosis lab. Save yogurt containers to label and observe.  Be sure to use both spring water and tap water.  If you have access to well water, the results are quite dramatic.  There is nothing wrong with using a potato; but, gel beads and gummy bears are more fun.

Calculators

 I know!  I know!  This is a quick post!  Good Will online is a good source for scientific calculators—even TI 84 graphing calculators.  Right now, Good Will has caddies with basic calculators.  These type of calculators can be useful for Co-op groups.  Take a look!

Do Science in a Co-op!

 Consider doing your science classes in a Co-op setting.  Once your child starts General Science, the class and labs can look daunting.  Ideally, work with another mom to plan your class.  Labs are more fun in a group.  Is this your first time leading a Co-op class?  Don’t apologize; just follow the book and do the labs exactly as written.  There are many decisions to make.  Will the kids focus on labs at Co-op?  Is the Co-op session more of a traditional class?  Will the kids do the ‘On Your Own’ questions and tests?  Do you expect them to read at home?  

Our Co-op class meets twice a week for 90 minutes.  This year I teach Chemistry and my husband teaches Physics.  We expect the kids to read the modules and take their tests at home.  Both of us have weekly labs.  Rob and I have led a weekly Co-op class, which met for three hours.  That format can work, too.  This year, on Wednesdays, Rob teaches a Math class and I teach French.  The Wednesday class meets for one hour and 15 minutes.  The kids have homework, reading, and tests to complete outside class.  We charge a modest lab fee to defray costs.

Keep in mind, your Co-op must meet your needs.  Will things always go well?  Probably not.  Your first foray with a Co-op might be bumpy.  You’ll learn what works and what just doesn’t.  But the kids love to work together—especially for lab.  It’s worth the effort!

Lab Safety for Co-op Science Classes

 I taught in both private and public schools.  I took it for granted that I needed to do a bit about safety.  I use a safety video students made.  I show kids where the safety equipment is located by the utility sink: first aide kit, fire extinguisher, eye-wash bottle, and sharps’ container.  Additionally, the kids sign a safety agreement.  Texas Gateway has an excellent Safety in the Lab series and this lab safety video and worksheet.  Essentially, teach your kids to wear safety glasses and a lab apron, as well as to behave in lab!

Apologia Chemistry: Flame Tests

 I’m prepping labs and activities for labs this Fall.  (Yes, this type of behavior is highly unusual for me.)  I joined AACT and became more active on several chemistry groups on social media.  I just saw another tip for home-school families.  

Flame Test Labs are typically performed with Bunsen burners.  You can use colorful birthday candles with this Flame Test and Emission Spectra lab. (There is a photo below of the candles.  Walmart Carrie’s them in the Party section.) You can use tea or votive candles and q-tips.  One teacher suggests putting the candle on a piece of aluminum foil.  Dip the q-tip in the metal salts or a solution of metal salts.  I wet the q-tip, dunked it in the dry metal salt, (strontium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, etc.) and put the q-tip in the flame.  It worked well.  The Flame Test Analysis kit from Home Science Tools has a spectroscope for emission spectra.  I took a few pix.   Take a look.

MEL Chemistry kits

 Good Will online has several listings for MEL SCIENCE kits.  I have a few already, but oils like a few more kits to use as an incentive to work efficiently in class.  I try to give kids interesting projects and labs to do when they’re miles ahead of the rest of the class. Just search ‘chemistry kit’ to see the listings.  My target price is about $10 for a kit.  I am not interested in a subscription whenI can try the individual kits and find starter sets on Good Will or eBay for less.

Atomic Theory Timelines: Module 3

 Every year, my kids create a timeline outlining the development of the atomic theory and atomic models. There is a sample timeline below.  I got the idea for this timeline from the Prentice Hall textbook’s introduction to atoms.  Here is the list of scientists my kids must put on their timelines.  Here is a worksheet about the atomic theory the teens complete before constructing the timelines.  They also add birth and death dates, along with each scientist’s major contribution and the date the work was published or publicly introduced.  Yes, this is a bit of a project.  Mainly, I want them to be able to create a timeline on graph paper.  Here is a wikiHow with instructions to make a timeline.  Please note that I instruct the kids to color-code the different scientists.  In the end, even if they forget the scientist, the kids will know how to draft a timeline.

LEGO Education Sets

Good Will online has LEGO education sets.  Actually, Good Will is a good source for LEGOs in general.  Below is a screenshot from Good Will with examples and current bids.  Here are free LEGO education lessons.  If your child loves LEGOS, this might be useful.

Where do you buy science supplies?

 I was talking with a home-school mom at soccer practice, yesterday.  She mentioned needing to order a science kit.  Unless I can find a kit on Good Will online or eBay, I don’t buy kits.  Let me share several science resources.  First is Home Science Tools.  They sell individual pieces of equipment, such as a glass thermometer.  This is where I order dissection specimens for Biology.  Amazon, Walmart, eBay are good sources for chemicals, pH paper, and lab equipment.  

Whenever possible, look for household chemicals to use for experiments.  Okay, they aren’t as pure as reagents sold from chemical supply companies, such as Flinn Scientific.  Most of the time these chemicals work well enough for lab.  Here is a list of common household chemicals with their formulas and scientific names.  Below is an example, Driveway Heat, calcium chloride, CaCl2.  I use baking soda and CaCl2 with phenol red (pool indicator solution) for Reaction in a Bag.  

Dollar Tree, the grocery store, and Walmart are excellent sources for science equipment: funnels, plastic, paint palettes (for chemical reactions), Epsom salts, washing soda, borax, and baking soda.  Be sure to shop your house!  Set aside a medicine dropper, plastic plate or bowl, craft sticks (to stir), a funnel, etc in a bin dedicated to science experiments.  Add balloons, index cards, binder clamps, and empty yogurt containers to use for solutions.  

Five Below frequently has simple science kits.  Look at the contents before you buy the kit.  Some small towns still have old fashioned hardware stores and pharmacies.  I have bought bluestone, Copper II Sulfate, a root killer, from local hardware stores.  (Usually, I just order it from Amazon.)  I’ve found water absorbing crystals from plant nurseries.  If you are lucky enough to live near an Amish or Mennonite hardware or general store, they carry all sorts of materials useful for science experiments.  Hope this helps!

Glassware for Lab!

Do you need glassware for Chemistry lab?  It’s nice to have a few Pyrex, Kimax, or  borosilicate glassware.  Borosilicate lab glass is safer when heated.  Ideally, have a few test tubes, two or three glass beakers, and maybe a glass flask.  I have several 250 mL beakers and 250 mL side-arm flasks, to filter or use for gas law labs.  Instead, I use polypropylene, plastic beakers and graduated cylinders for lab.  Why?  They don’t break.  I teach teens.  The best price I’ve seen lately for a basic set of labware is $12.99.  Below are screenshots of labware offered at Good Will online and Amazon.  Home Science Tools sells single units of polypropylene cylinders and beakers at excellent prices.