This demonstration reinforces the concept that minerals can form even at low temperatures, meaning that these processes can occur at or near Earth's surface. Using 'water glass' (sodium silicate nanahydrate) and any of a variety of metal salts, the teacher can grow crystals of silicate at room temperature in a container as the students watch and record their observations. A student worksheet and discussion ... Full description.

Students investigate variables that may influence the growth of crystals which they have learned to make. There are two options for implementing this activity. The first is open-ended, with the students deciding what variables affect crystal growth and then deciding on the manipulating variables they would like to study. The second is prescriptive and explains to students how to test three variables ... Full description.

The Genesis Mission is NASA's mission to collect solar wind particles. These education modules connect the real-world science of the mission to classroom instruction. Aligned with the content, instruction, and assessment guidelines set forth by the National Research Council, they can be easily inserted in place of traditional units within a typical secondary school science curriculum. Each module ... Full description.

This online calculator computes radioactive decay, timed decay, and timed solid disposal for a databank containing 116 isotopes. It also features University of British Columbia disposal limits and a unit converter and date/time calculators. These tools calculate the half-life for selected isotopes; radioactive decay final activity, given the initial activity and decay time; the decay time, given the ... Full description.

This activity has students perform a simplified method of aqueous electrolysis to split water into its two chemical elements using electric current from a battery. Students also learn that in the proposed Mars chemical plant, the Sabatier reaction combines carbon dioxide with hydrogen to produce methane (which forms the basis for methanol rocket fuel) and water. After water (H2O) is obtained, it can ... Full description.

This page presents information about the causes of color in minerals and provides illustrations of many examples. The common causes are metal ions, intervalence charge transfer, ionizing radiation, physical effects, and band gaps. Full description.

This hands-on activity shows students what happens when the fresh water of a river meets the salt water of the ocean. They will make a saturated solution of colored salt water, pour it into fresh water, and observe what happens. There are also extensions to the activity in which they add a third layer of water of intermediate salinity, and test two solutions by floating a pencil in them. There is ... Full description.

This collection of animations, intended for a physical chemistry course, covers thermodynamics, the physical transformation of substances (such as dissolution), phase diagrams and the behaviour of matter in various states. Full description.

This experiment teaches students about the effects of acid rain on rock, buildings, and sculptures. They will use chalk and vinegar solution to demonstrate the chemical reaction of acid on limestone and explain what happens in this process. They will also identify the compounds used in the reaction, the gas which is given off, and learn about the sources of acid rain. Full description.

Helium is the second most abundant element in the universe. Yet it is running out on Earth. This radio broadcast explains that helium is an inert gas, useful in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning, nuclear fusion reactors, and airships using lighter than air travel. New technology is allowing us to recycle and conserve the gas for the future. The broadcast explains that helium is very rare in ... Full description.