Kinetics of electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide by Mn catalysts containing bulky bipyridine ligands

Submitted by Kathleen Field / WGU on Thu, 07/02/2015 - 17:23
Description

This question set has students examine the kinetics of the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CO described in Sampson, D.L.; Nguygen, D., Grice, K.A.; Moore, C.E.; Rheingold, A.L.; Kubiak, C.P. Manganese Catalysts with Bulky Bipyridine Ligands for the Electrocatalytic Reduction of Carbon Dioxide:  Eliminating Dimerization and Altering Catalysis.  J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 5460-5471. 

Analyzing a journal article for basic themes, roles of authors, and the scientific method

Submitted by Darren Achey / Kutztown University on Thu, 07/02/2015 - 15:03
Description

This literature discussion is meant to give students an understanding of both the key concept-driven and more “meta” information of a literature paper.  Students will use Jillian Dempsey’s paper, “Electrochemical hydrogenation of a homogeneous nickel complex to form a surface-adsorbed hydrogen-evolving species,” to investigate paper authorship, how the scientific method is used in research, and how to understand the important findings of a research article.

 

Reference: Chem. Commun., 2015, 51, 5290-5293

DOI:10.1039/C4CC08662G

 

The Nature of Science

Submitted by Lori Watson / Earlham College on Thu, 07/02/2015 - 12:00
Description

I do this activity as an introduction to the nature of science.  An object (not easily guessable) is put into a paper bag.  The job of the class is to figure out what is in the bag. At first, the students are simply shown the bag (sense of sight). Discussion (hypotheses) ensues on what could be in the bag.  I then walk around and shake the bag so students can hear what's in it (hearing). This results in more discussion, with some previous ideas being discarded. The bag is then passed around and students can feel (but not open!) the bag and also try to smell it.

Chemistry Infographics from Compound Interest

Submitted by Darren Achey / Kutztown University on Tue, 06/30/2015 - 14:48
Description

Compound Interest is a website that creates infographics for chemistry related events and items.  Specific examples of inorganic chemistry infographics include showing how the metal content in colored glass gives the glass its characteristic color, how the lighting of a match works with the conversion of red phosphorus to white phosphorus, and the various colors that transition metals can have in different oxidation states in water, among many other examples.

The Messy Chemist: Separating a Solid Mixture

Submitted by Mike Norris / University of Richmond on Tue, 06/30/2015 - 14:42
Description

This lab exercise gives students a problem scenario (a mixture of 4 solids) and asks them to determine a way to separate them from each other utilizing experimentation, previous knowledge, and discussion.  Students are expected to write a standard operating procedure detailing the method they determine for the separation at the end of the lab.  A modified version of this lab was originally performed in an accelerated summer class on chemistry given to 7th, 8th, and 9th graders that were on a track for early entrance into college.  The lab was done over the c

Synthesis of Aspirin- A Lewis Acid Approach

Submitted by Kathleen Field / WGU on Mon, 06/29/2015 - 21:29
Description

This is the procedure for a Fe(III) catalyzed synthesis of aspirin, an alternative to the traditionally sulfuric acid catalyzed synthesis of aspirin.  The prep compares and contrasts the Bronsted acid catalyzed esterification reaction with a Lewis acid iron (III) catalyzed pathway.  This can be used in different courses at different levels, but is it written for a general/intro level chemistry course.    

Teaching and Learning Package Library from University of Cambridge

Submitted by Vanessa / Albion College on Mon, 06/29/2015 - 15:56
Description

This is a resource that has short, animated tutorials on a variety of different topics. Most of the topics are materials science and/or engineering topics but there are several that would be of interest to chemistry students. (A full list of topics is given below.)

Vibrational Modes and IR Spectra for Intro Chem

Submitted by Karen McFarlane Holman / Willamette University on Mon, 06/29/2015 - 15:14
Description

In this activity, Introductory Chemistry students are given two possible structures of sulfur dioxide, and based on an assessment of given vibrational modes, they determine which of the modes are IR active (and thus, whether the molecule is a greenhouse gas).  They compare their assessment to experimental IR absorption peaks, and the students decide which structure is valid.

Lewis Structure Challenge

Submitted by David Laviska / Seton Hall University on Mon, 06/29/2015 - 14:24
Description

This in-class activity is designed to give general chemistry students practice with drawing Lewis structures. Small groups of 3-5 students compete for points by creating hypothetical molecules that meet criteria (numbers of elements and atoms) assigned by the professor. Beginning with simple molecules, the basic challenge format calls for increasingly complex criteria in successive rounds of competition. One optional variation also allows student groups to challenge each other for bonus points.

Beautiful Chemistry

Submitted by Adam Johnson / Harvey Mudd College on Wed, 06/10/2015 - 14:42
Description

This is just a cool little website I just happened to stumble upon today while looking for something else at the RSC site. It comes from China, and it is pretty!