Zones of Catalysis: Only the Metal? A literature Discussion of Outer-Sphere Hydroboration

Submitted by Santiago Toledo / St. Edward's University on Thu, 06/30/2016 - 14:51
Description

This literature activity is designed to introduce students to the concept of outer-sphere hydroboration catalytic reactions. It can be used after hydrogenation and hydroboration reactions have been introduced in class (typically covered in organic chemistry). Additionally, this activity allows students to apply their understanding of redox chemistry, acid base chemistry, and physical techniques to characterize products and elucidate reactions mechanisms.

Cyclic voltammetry animations

Submitted by George Lisensky / Beloit College on Thu, 06/30/2016 - 07:17
Description

This is a question based approach for a discovery activity about cyclic voltammetry. The slider bar on a movie can used to control a variable and the displayed graph is updated to show the results. (You could also just play the movie to get an idea of what changes.)

The questions to be answered are

What is the shape of a cyclic voltammogram?

How are cyclic voltammograms affected by E0?

How are cyclic voltammograms affected by concentration?

How are redox equilibria affected by scan rate?

What if there are two reductions?

"Flipped Laboratory": A Discussion-based Electrochemistry Experiment for General Chemistry

Submitted by Samuel Esarey / University of Michigan on Mon, 06/27/2016 - 16:43
Description

This learning object is aimed at getting students to think critically about the data they collect in lab as they collect the data similar to how chemists typically conduct research.  They will be given a pre-lab video and a procedure prior to lab, conduct the experiment, and then upload their data to an Excel spreadsheet.  Students will then stay in their group to discuss the questions given to them on the worksheet in class with the instructor, and are allowed to continue working on them as a group up until the due date.

Making Connections between Inorganic Course Content and the Primary Literature

Submitted by Santiago Toledo / St. Edward's University on Mon, 06/27/2016 - 16:43
Description

This assignment is intended to help students develop basic literature reading comprehension skills as well as connect the course content to relevant primary literature. Additionally the activity is coupled to short presentations that develop communication skills.

Coordination Compound Nomenclature Worksheet

Submitted by Elizabeth Jensen / Aquinas College on Mon, 06/27/2016 - 16:33
Description

This is a worksheet for students to complete in class to practice nomenclature of coordination compounds. It may alternatively be assigned as homework after a lesson on nomenclature. Includes examples of Ewing-Bassett system as well as Stock system.

Reaction Report

Submitted by RSwails / Lafayette College on Mon, 06/27/2016 - 15:24
Description

Students are asked to choose a type of reaction from a set list (included), determine appropriate starting materials and the resulting product and present the reaction as though they accomplished it in the laboratory setting (5 min oral presentation with a 1 page paper).  I asked the students to perform both a rough draft presentation (to me) and final draft presentation (to all students in laboratory).

Organic Nomenclature Active Learning Worksheet

Submitted by Shirley Lin / United States Naval Academy on Sun, 06/26/2016 - 15:22
Description

This worksheet was designed to give students an introduction to organic chemistry nomenclature with a more active experience than listening to a faculty member present all the rules for how to name alkanes and cycloalkanes. The pedagogical approach is one introduced to me by Dr. Melonie Teichert; we refer to it as ICC (Inventing through Contrasting Cases). The theoretical framework involves the premise that students will learn and retain more of the learning if they're not simply told the "answer" but if they attempt to generate an answer for themselves based upon a data set.

Visualizing solid state structures using CrystalMaker generated COLLADA files

Submitted by Barbara Reisner / James Madison University on Wed, 06/22/2016 - 16:59
Description

Although I’m a solid state chemist, I still find it difficult to teach the visualization of solid state structures. I’m interested in any tool that helps my students visualize solids. My experience is that the more representations students can master, the more likely they are to find one that helps them understand solid state structures.

I’ve used many tools. These include