Chemistry References

This section highlights resources that we consider essential—a fabulous periodic table, a database of chemical compounds, a set of demonstrations of chemical reactions that are just plain spectacular, and, don’t forget, laboratory safety. Articles from the web sites What’s That Stuff? and Science News for Kids can be used as supplemental reading all through the year.

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Chemistry & Engineering News: What’s That Stuff? http://pubs.acs.org/cen/whatstuff/stuff.html

The site explains the history and characteristics of over 20 substances, such as sunscreen, Cheese Whiz, baseballs, fluoride, new car smell, ink, lipstick, bug spray, and licorice. The individual articles are nontechnical for the most part and are presented in a fun way that readers will enjoy. Also, if a reader’s curiosity is sparked, many of the pages offer links to outside sources of additional information. MSP full record

Science News for Kids http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/

This online magazine has weekly articles that explain the science behind topics of interest to middle school students. In addition, there are brainteasers for those who enjoy solving and inventing puzzles, science-fiction composition exercises, and science fair profiles and tips. The GameZone contains a small selection of logic and memory games, implemented as Java applets. The TeacherZone offers materials that bring science topics in the news to the classroom, some of which are related to the feature article of the week. The LabZone features a hands-on activity. MSP full record

Periodic Table Live! http://genchem.chem.wisc.edu/lab/PTL/PTL.html

Periodic Table Live!, produced by the Division of Chemical Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, allows users to explore a broad range of information about the elements, their reactions, their properties, their structures, and their histories. After selecting an element from the periodic table, users can access a myriad of information divided into three sections: Description, Physical, and Atomic. Students can view short videos of many of the elements’ reactions with air, water, acids, and bases. The web site is equipped with a helpful glossary and images of the elements, scientists, and other related items. MSP full record

Common Compound Library http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/compounds/library.shtml

This site is a searchable database of 800 common compound names and provides information about molecular structure, chemical structure, synonyms, molecular weight, melting point, solubility, and uses, as well as links to related articles, This is a great reference for figuring out what all those crazy compounds in your shampoo are.

Delights of Chemistry—Chemistry Demonstrations Performed in Leeds http://www.chem.leeds.ac.uk/delights

Students are always impressed by spectacular chemical reactions—most of which can’t be done in the regular classroom. This site includes photos, movies, and explanations of some amazing chemistry demonstrations performed at the University of Leeds. Amazing! MSP full record

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Copyright June 2007 — The Ohio State University. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0424671. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.