Stoichiometric Calculations: A General Chemistry Flipped Classroom Module

Submitted by Jack Eichler / University of California, Riverside on Tue, 07/17/2018 - 12:00
Description

This is a flipped classroom activity intended for use in a first semester general chemistry course. Students are expected to have prior knowledge in determining the molar mass of compounds, how to carry out mole/gram conversions, and how to write balanced chemical reactions. The activity includes:

1) pre-lecture learning videos that guide students through carrying out basic stoichiometric calculations, determining the limiting reactant, and determining the percent yield of a reaction;

Orbital Overlap and Interactions

Submitted by Jocelyn Lanorio / Illinois College on Mon, 06/25/2018 - 16:28
Description

This is a simple in-class activity that asks students to utilize any of the given available online orbital viewers to help them identify atomic orbital overlap and interactions. 

Bonding and MO Theory in Flavodiiron Nitrosyl Model Complexes - Foundation Level

Submitted by James F. Dunne / Central College on Fri, 06/22/2018 - 22:31
Description

This acitivty is a foundation level discussion of the Nicolai Lehnert paper, "Mechanism of N-N Bond Formation by Transition Metal-Nitrosyl Complexes: Modeling Flavodiiron Nitric Oxide Reductases".  Its focus lies in discussing MO theory as it relates to Lewis structures, as well as an analysis of the strucutre of a literature paper.

The Preparation and Characterization of Nanoparticles

Submitted by Kyle Grice / DePaul University on Wed, 06/13/2018 - 23:23
Description

This is a nanochemistry lab I developed for my Junior and Senior level Inorganic Chemistry course. I am NOT a nano/matertials person, but I know how important nanochemistry is and I wanted to make something where students could get an interesting introduction to the area. The first time I ran this lab was also the first time I made gold nanoparticles ever! 

We do not have any surface/nano instrumentation here (AFM, SEM/TEM, DLS, etc... we can access them at other universities off-campus but that takes time and scheduling), so that was a key limitation in making this lab. 

Developing Effective Lab Report Abstracts based on Literature Examples

Submitted by Nicole Crowder / University of Mary Washington on Tue, 05/08/2018 - 11:38
Description

For inorganic lab, I have my students write their lab reports in the style of the journal Inorganic Chemistry. The first week of lab, we spend time in small groups looking at several examples of recent articles from Inorganic Chemistry, focusing mainly on the experimental section and the abstract (as these are included in every lab report). We then come back together as a class to have a discussion of each of the sections in the articles. We discuss what was included in each section, what wasn’t included, and the style, tone, tense, and voice of each section.

A use for organic textbooks

Submitted by Chip Nataro / Lafayette College on Wed, 04/18/2018 - 10:22
Description

This morning before class I was picking on one of my students for having her organic chemistry textbook out on her desk. I believe I said something along the lines of 'how dare you contaminate my classroom with that!' She explained how she had an exam today and I let it drop. That is until later in the class when I was teaching about chelates. I had a sudden inspiration. I asked the student to pick up her organic book with one hand. I then warned her that I was going to smack the book. I did and she dropped it.

Foundations of Inorganic Chemistry

Submitted by Sabrina Sobel / Hofstra University on Mon, 01/22/2018 - 14:58
Description

Fundamental principles of inorganic chemistry, including: states of matter; modern atomic and bonding theory; mass and energy relationships in chemical reactions; equilibria; acids and bases; descriptive inorganic chemistry; solid state structure; and electrochemistry. Periodic properties of the elements and their compounds are discussed (3 hours lecture, 1 hour recitation). 

Streamlining Lab Report Grading: Errors Checklists

Submitted by Sabrina Sobel / Hofstra University on Mon, 01/22/2018 - 11:26
Description

I present a format for more effective communiction of errors in lab reports to students that I term Errors Checklists. Grading lab reports are one of the banes of our existence as professors. They are endless, unremitting papers that need to be scrutinized for accuracy, precision and understanding.

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