Chemistry

Sunburn! We have all experienced the pain and misery of overexposure to the Sun’s intense “heat.” Sunscreens applied to the skin shield us from the damaging ultraviolet rays. What do sunscreens contain and how do they block this harmful radiation? ...

Oh, my aching head! I need some pain reliever, but which brand of aspirin should I take? Students will:• Experimentally determine the aspirin content of three brands of over-the-counter pain relievers using acid-base neutralization titration techniqu...

Healthy body, good teeth, strong bones-the benefits of calcium in proper nutrition are well known. Why is milk promoted as an important source of calcium? Explore the chemistry behind the nutrition with this experiment that measures the amount of cal...

Titrate metal ions found in tap water using the reagent ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The end point is found using a dye called Eriochrome Black T (EBT), which also forms complexes with metal ions in solution.Students learn how to properly ...

Cheese making is a real art form. Get your students involved in their own cheese creations! Chymosin, a widely used, genetically-engineered curdling enzyme, is used to turn milk into curds and whey. Once separated, students use the curds to make chee...

Iron is an essential mineral for human health. When dietary supplements of iron are recommended, many people turn to over-the-counter pills. What is the form of iron in these pills, and do they actually contain the amount of iron they claim? Have stu...

Is artificial ever beneficial? Consumers often associate food additives as being unhealthy and strictly used for convenience foods. This four-part demonstration allows students to see the science behind some of the marketing.   • Extract iron ...

It’s not that hard! Use this water-softening inquiry lab to teach the concepts of water hardness, complex ions, ion exchange, and titration. Water samples with unknown hardness will be treated with ion-exchange resin and analyzed by EDTA titration. S...

So many antacid choices on the market-which one should I use? Students will test and compare three popular over-the-counter antacids. Students will watch an “antacid in action” as the antacid neutralizes simulated stomach acid in the presence of univ...

Identify “unknown” liquids that are commonly found in the kitchen. Challenge students to discover the identity of a “mystery” liquid, which may contain one, two, three, or four common household liquids, in any combination. Students use the scientific...

Identify “unknown” solids that are commonly found in the kitchen. This kitchen chemistry laboratory kit is an excellent way to introduce basic chemical concepts and to develop students' problem-solving skills. Challenge students to discover the ident...

Genetically engineered and mass produced, the enzyme chymosin is now the premiere enzyme for cheese manufacturing. It is also a perfect enzyme for classroom studies. It is inexpensive, fast-acting, safe and very consistent in controlled studies. Your...

Got milk? From glossy magazine ads to flashy billboards, the message to drink milk is all around us. Why is milk considered a nutritionally complete food source? In this real-world lab activity, students separate the protein and carbohydrate componen...

Concerns about global warming and the depletion of energy sources have generated widespread interest in alternative, renewable fuels. Take advantage of that interest by using this student lab kit to have students prepare and analyze biodiesel fuel. T...

Hair, hair, my beautiful hair! What makes your hair shine? Do some shampoos really clean better than others? Students gain a valuable learning experience as they test the five commercial shampoos provided in the kit. Students will determine the pH, f...

The process of making soap, or saponification, is an age-old process. How did our ancestors make soap years ago? In this activity, students will use old-time soap-making recipes and will hydrolyze several commonly used oils to obtain a “homemade” soa...

Anyone who has spent any time at the local pool has one “burning” question-“Just how much chlorine was added to this pool?” Swimming pool chemistry involves a rich variety of chemical concepts and practical applications. In this two-part experiment, ...

A kit that will put a toothy grin on your face! Let's talk toothpaste! Are they all the same? Or do some really clean your teeth better than others?Students will perform experiments to determine the abrasiveness, pH, fluoride content, and foaming abi...

Is grapefruit juice more acidic than orange juice? What about pineapple juice? Fruit juices get their sweet taste from natural sugars and their sour taste from acids, especially citric acid. The balance of sugar to acid content give fruit juices thei...

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is very important nutritionally. Students will perform tests to determine Vitamin C content in their favorite fruit juices. Using ascorbic acid to reduce an indicator, 2,6-dichloroindophenol, students will learn some valuabl...