RET 2009 Molecular Biology The Chemistry of It All… Kasi Bolden – Washington High School Mark Wilson - John Adams High School Joseph Peterka – Marian High School

2009 Chemistry Kit Draft Flinn Scientific Supply, Co. – Atomic and Electrons Structure Volume 3 – ChemTopic Labs Manual – The Gas Laws Volume 9 – ChemTopic Labs Manual Carolina Supply, Co – Reaction Types Kit – $28.75/class demonstrations – If It’s Sour, It’s Slippery - $61.25/24-30 students depending Lab-Aids, Inc. – #83 Identification of Substances Kit – $107.00/24 students in pairs NeoScience, Corp. – Flame Test of Chemicals - $127.95/40 Students

Atomic Target Practice (Discovery of Atoms) Purpose: To develop an understanding as to how interactions determine the existence of matter – Tied to Rutherford’s Experiment… Objective: By indirect means, determine the size, shape, and location of an unseen object using a rolling marble

Evaluation Exercise comes from a Lab Manual – Requires construction Proved very effective as an introduction or lesson follow-up Also incorporated “Whiteboards” (large dry-erase boards) Best done in pairs or groups of three Consider “skirting” covering to conceal Excellent for discussion purposes – Incorporates many variables

If it’s Slippery If it’s Sour Objective: This lab is intended to help students understand the properties of acids, bases and buffer solutions, while using the evidence isolated from a crime scene to identify various solids and liquids based on their pH and buffering capacity.

Evaluation Regular Biology lab Useful materials for reuse Can be used as crime scene investigation or a straight pH lab Good introduction to the concepts of pH and buffers Shows the characteristics of acids & bases Student’s directions need rewriting

Chemical Identification Flame Spectrometry When atoms get excited the electrons move to specific higher energy levels. As the electrons return to their ground state they give off electromagnetic energy. Some of this energy is in the visible spectra. My lab used simple spectroscopes to view the visible wavelengths. No…Not Pink Floyd

The Atoms LiClProduces an intense Crimson light NaClProduces a Yellow light KClProduces a Lilac light CaCl 2 Produces a Red-orange light SrCl 2 Produces a Crimson light Li Ca K Sr Na K

Spectra Lines Using a spectroscope we can see the specific wavelengths that make the color we see. When we look at Na and Ca the color of the light seems similar. But the spectra line show us a different reality! Na Ca

Simple Spectroscope Actual images – Far left incandescent light – left Florescent light – Right Florescent light with scale