Curated OER
Real-World Projects: Challenges from the Polymer Industry
Two scenarios are presented for chemistry detectives to decipher. Both require the use of an infrared spectrometer and focus on the examination of polymer materials. In the first, lumps in polyethylene bottles are analyzed. In the...
Curated OER
Infrared Spectroscopy in Forensic Chip Analysis
Students analyze spectrums as related to forensics. In this chemistry lesson, students define spectroscopy and discuss its use in chemistry. They discuss how the Forensic Paint Chip is used to help solve crimes.
Curated OER
Determination of Plasticizer in PVC
Students isolate and determine the amount of plasticizer in polyvinyl chloride. They use Infrared Spectroscopy (IR) or Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and gravimetric techniques in this experiment.
Curated OER
Activities for a High School Instrumentation Course
The intent of this series of activities is to introduce high schoolers to the field of chemical instrumentaiton. They perform a few basic chemistry lab techniques: pH titration, paper, gas, and liquid chromatography, ultraviolet and...
Curated OER
Fun Physics You Can See
Fascinating aspects of electromagnetic radiation and its use in obtaining and transferring information are described here. Learners will find the connections to current technology interesting. Although the slides are text-heavy, they do...
Curated OER
So You Want to Buy a Painting
Twelfth graders research physical and chemical methods used in authenticating paintings (e.g., ultraviolet fluorescence and spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy and reflectography, X-ray diffraction, microscopy, pigment analysis, and gas...
Santa Monica College
Flame Tests of Metal Cations
Scientists used flame tests to identify elements long before the invention of emission spectroscopy. Young chemists observe a flame test of five metal cations in the fourth lesson of an 11-part series. Individuals then work...
Curated OER
Planetary Diversity
Students explore the infrared radiation and the part of the spectrum that is not always visible. In this electromagnetic lesson students complete a lab activity on the different wavelengths.
Curated OER
Electromagnetic Spectrum/Spectroscopy
Students examine the electromagnetic spectrum and demonstrate the elements within. In this investigative lesson students complete a demonstration and calculate the energy of a photon.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
List of Chemicals in Space
What is space made of? It turns out that there are many compounds found in space! The 10th lesson of a science series provides a list of the compounds found in space and asks young scholars to research the characteristics of these...
Curated OER
Good Vibrations Remote Sensing data Collection: Thermal Emission Spectrometer
The Mars Global Surveyor spent two years creating a mineral map of the planet Mars using thermal emission spectrometry. To help young astronomers understand this remote sensing instrument, have them simulate how data is collected and...
Curated OER
# 15 A Search for Automated Plastics Recycling Separation
Young scholars are challenged to investigate the physical and chemical properties of plastics and use them to design a system that could be used to separate them. 1st year chemistry students use density for separation, young scholars...
Curated OER
Catch a Wave. . .
Part of a larger online space science website, this page has a brief explanation of electromagnetic radiation and a chart of wavelengths as compared to common objects. There are four questions to answer about the information. This can be...