Cisplatin and Anticancer Therapy: The Role of Chemical Equilibrium

Submitted by Jack Eichler / University of California, Riverside on Thu, 02/20/2020 - 16:18
Description

This is a flipped classroom module that covers the concept of dynamic equilibrium, and how dynamic equlibrium plays a role in the anticancer mechanism of the therapeutic cisplatin.This activity is designed to be done at the end of the typical second quarter/second semester general chemistry equilibrium unit. Students will be expected to have learned the following concepts prior to completing this activity:

Case Study: Animal Migration and Isotopes

Submitted by Lyndsay Munro / University of Nevada on Tue, 02/11/2020 - 15:11
Description

This is an in-class case study activity that introduces relevancy between atomic structure (specifically isotopes) and animal migration.  Students will apply their knowledge of isotopes, writing atomic symbols, and calculating average atomic mass while also connecting this information to another application (in this case animal migration).  

Time-Integrated Rate Laws and the Stability of Gold(III) Anticancer Compounds

Submitted by Jack Eichler / University of California, Riverside on Thu, 01/16/2020 - 14:55
Description

This is a flipped classroom module that covers the concepts of time-integrated rate laws. This activity is designed to be done at the end of the typical second quarter/second semester general chemistry kinetics unit. Students will be expected to have learned the following concepts prior to completing this activity:

Marvin suite from ChemAxon

Submitted by Anthony L. Fernandez / Merrimack College on Thu, 01/09/2020 - 12:10
Description

It is important for students to be able to effectively communicate the results of their scientific work. This does not only inlcude written and oral communication, but the creation of appropriate representations of the complexes they have investigated. It is crucial that students learn how to draw molecules using electronic structure drawing programs, but site licenses for structure drawing programs can be prohibitive for some institutions.

How to Read a Journal Article: Analyzing Author Roles and Article Components

Submitted by Catherine McCusker / East Tennessee State University on Wed, 01/08/2020 - 21:09
Description

This literature discussion uses a recently published article on solvatochromic Mo complexes to introduce students to the different components of a research article. The activity is divied into to two parts. Before class students read the paper and focus on defining terms, investigating the "meta" data of the paper, and the different sections iof the paper. In class the students work in groups to investigate the scientific content of the paper

Visualization of Solid State Structures using CrystalMaker and Physical Models

Submitted by Hilary Eppley / DePauw University on Wed, 01/08/2020 - 14:17
Description

This first-year laboratory is designed to give students an introduction to basic solid-state structures using both CrystalMaker files and physical models. I think this would work in a foundations level inorganic course as well. It could be used alternatively as an in-class activity or take-home problem set depending on the instructor. It was adapted by me and later, David Harvey, from an original activity that was posted as an educational resource on the CrystalMaker website in the mid 2000s.  

Reaction Mechanisms: Energy Profiles and Catalysts

Submitted by Wes Farrell / United States Naval Academy on Thu, 01/02/2020 - 13:44
Description

This in class activity consists of two demonstrations to be performed by the instructor, followed by a worksheet that students may work on independently or in groups.  The demonstrations allow the students to determine when a reaction has occured, when it has not occured, and generate qualitative reaction energy profiles to match these observations.  This activity is designed to take place during a description of kinetics in general chemistry. Detailed descriptions of the procedure and activity may be found in the "Overview for Instructor."

Thinking about Electron Configurations and Magnetism

Submitted by Jack Eichler / University of California, Riverside on Fri, 12/13/2019 - 15:30
Description

This activity is designed to be done in the middle of the typical first quarter/first semester general chemistry electronic structure unit. Students will be expected to have learned the following concepts prior to completing this activity:

a) how the four quantum numbers are determined (principal quantum number, angular momentum quantum number, magnetic quantum number, and electron spin quantum number);

b) the basic concept of electron spin, and how atomic orbitals that possess two electrons will result in the spin-paring of electrons;

2019 Nobel Prize - Li-ion battery LOs

Submitted by Barbara Reisner / James Madison University on Wed, 10/09/2019 - 20:28

Congratulations to the 2019 recipients of the Nobel Prize - John B. Goodenough, M. Stan Whittingham and Akira Yoshino. It's a well deserved honor!

There are several LOs on VIPEr that talk about lithium ion batteries and related systems. The 2019 Nobel is a great opportunity to include something about these batteries in your class.

I hope to see more LOs in the coming weeks so we can bring this chemistry into our classrooms!

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