Students will describe their observations of water on the molecular level using the idea that water is composed of tiny molecules that are attached to one another. Students will investigate a drop of water hanging from a dropper and drops of water beading up on wax paper.
This animation explains that molecules are always in motion and that the attractions they have for each other keep them close together.
This video is demonstrates water molecules and how they stick together by popping a water balloon and viewing the video in slow motion.
This is a drawing where the circles represent water molecules. This drawing shows that the water molecules are near each other because of their attraction. The motion lines near some of the circles show that the circles are in motion.
Students add food coloring to hot and cold water to see whether heating or cooling affects the speed of water molecules. Students watch molecular model animations to make further observations and then draw their own molecular model.
This animation goes with the "Molecules in Motion" lesson plan. Students will learn that molecules in cold water move slowly and are close together while molecules in hot water move fast and are a little further apart.
This resource is an image showing water molecules at different temperatures. It is part of the "Molecules in Motion" lesson plan.
Students will view a demonstration with a metal ball and ring showing that heat causes atoms to spread apart and cooling causes them to come closer together. Animations showing particles of solids and liquids are also provided.
This resource is a molecular model animation that accompanies the lesson plan, "Moving Molecules in a Solid."
This resource is a short video that accompanies the lesson plan, "Moving Molecules in a Solid."
This resource is an image that accompanies the lesson plan, "Moving Molecules in a Solid."
This resource is a molecular model animation that accompanies the lesson plan, "Moving Molecules in a Solid."
Students will focus on the first 20 elements. Students will first look at a diagram and animation to understand the basic pattern of the arrangement of electrons on energy levels around an atom. Students can be given cards with information about the electrons and energy levels for each of the first 20 atoms. They can try to correctly match the cards with the element. This lesson includes, with direct links to, a student activity sheet, an image of an energy level cross section, an image of an oxygen atom, an image of a periodic table of energy levels, videos on sodium in water, potassium in water and calcium in water as well as sodium, potassium and calcium in acid, an answer key for the student activity sheet and a teacher background section on energy level models.
This ChemMatters magazine article discusses the recent trend toward producing plant-based plastics, called bioplastics, from plants like sugar cane, potatoes and wheat as an alternative to using petroleum. It explains two types of bioplastics made from simple sugar molecules and discusses pros and cons of bioplastics for consumers and for the environment. It also includes an activity for students to make a compostable bioplastic.
This resource is an image showing the same temperature on different thermometers. This image accompanies the lesson plan, "The Ups and Downs of Thermometers."
This resource is an interactive demonstration of what happens to the molecules in a thermometer as it is heated and cooled. This accompanies the lesson plan, "The Ups and Downs of Thermometers."
Students use thermometers as a model to demonstrate the movement of molecules as they are heated and cooled.
This resource is an image showing molecules in a thermometer that accompanies the lesson plan, "The Ups and Downs of Thermometers."
Students will observe a solubility test between salt and sugar. They will then be presented with 4 known crystals and an unknown. Based on the solubility demonstration, the class will design a solubility test to discover the identity of the unknown.
This resource is an animation that summarizes the process for finding the density of a solid cube. It accompanies the lesson plan, "What is Density?"