Classroom Resources: Solutions

1 – 11 of 11 Classroom Resources

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  Solute & Solvent, Intermolecular Forces, Solubility | Middle School, High School

  Activity: Basic Modeling of the Dissolving Phenomenon

  In this activity, students explore the process of salt dissolving in water using cut-outs of ions and water molecules to model interactions between them. They then use their model to make a prediction about the relative solubility of salt in isopropyl alcohol compared to the solubility in water and design an experiment to test their prediction.

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  Solubility, Solute & Solvent, Intermolecular Forces | Middle School, High School

  Activity: Advanced Modeling of the Dissolving Phenomenon

  In this activity students build a model of sodium chloride based on their own knowledge of ionic compounds. Then they construct a model of the interactions between water and their salt model to develop an understanding of what caused the salt to dissolve. After refining their models based upon class discussions and critiques, students then construct a model of the interaction between salt and a different solvent, alcohol. Using their models, students make predictions as to which solvent (water or alcohol) would be better at dissolving the salt. Finally students design an experiment to test their prediction. As an extension, students are asked to use their solubility models to explain why calcium carbonate will not dissolve in water, even though it is also an ionic compound.

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  Density, Mixtures, Solubility | Middle School

  Lab: Investigating Density within Lava Lamps

  In this lab students will make a simple yet spectacular lava lamp while focusing on the density of the components.

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  Solubility, Solute & Solvent | Middle School, High School

  Lab: What's the Solution?

  In this lab students will choose one factor that can affect the rate at which a solute will dissolve into solution –amount of stirring, temperature, or particle size, and will design a procedure that can be used to determine how it will affect rate of solution. Students will identify one of the factors above as the independent variable and will determine how it affects the solubility rate as supported by time required to dissolve the solute.

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  Solubility, Solute & Solvent, Mixtures, Intermolecular Forces, Intermolecular Forces, Polarity, Molecular Geometry | Elementary School, Middle School, High School

  Animation: Solubility Animation

  In an animation, students will have an opportunity to visualize on the particulate level how solubility works. Examples of ionic compounds and a polar covalent compound show how when water is attracted to charged parts, they dissolve, and when they're not attracted to charged parts they stay solid. **This video has no audio**

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  Solubility, Solute & Solvent, Precipitate | High School, Elementary School, Middle School

  Lab: Winter Crystals

  In this lab, students will create a supersaturated solution by dissolving borax in boiling water. They will create a snowflake using pipe cleaner to suspend in the solution, which will serve as a nucleation site for crystallization as the solution cools and remains undistributed overnight. This lab gives students an opportunity to experience the exciting crystallization process and become more familiar with an engaging chemistry spectacle!

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  Concentration, Solute & Solvent, Mixtures, Solubility, Percent Composition | Middle School

  Lab: The Perfect Kool-Aid Concentration

  In this lab, the students will investigate how the concentration of a solution affects its properties such as color and taste.

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  Solute & Solvent, Chemical Change, Solubility, Chemical Bond | Middle School

  Lab: A Sticky Situation

  In this lab, students will try to separate plastic spoons that have been attached together with different adhesive materials using a variety of solvents.

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  Mixtures, Separating Mixtures, Solubility, Physical Change, Phase Changes | Middle School

  Lab: A Solution to Your Mix-up

  In this lab, students will perform a step by step process of mixing and separating substances based on their states and solubility in order to solve a problem.

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  Solute & Solvent, Physical Change, Solubility | Middle School, High School

  Lab: Chemistree

  In this lab, students will prepare a solution to observe a physical change.

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  Solubility | High School, Middle School

  Lab: Benzoic Acid Blizzard in a Bottle

  In this lab, students create a snow globe by taking advantage of benzoic acid’s solubility properties in hot water.