Chemistry

What is the nitrogen cycle? How do human activities such as using fertilizer affect the nitrogen cycle? How can this cause greenhouse gases?

Learn about the organic compounds that make up lipstick as well as about some of the chemistry that goes into this popular cosmetic.

When you hurt your ankle, thermodynamics can help you heal! An endothermic reaction reduces the swelling by cooling your injury.

Radiocarbon dating is a method of radiometric dating. Learn how archaeologists use carbon isotopes to find the age of organic materials at archaeological sites.

Dmitri Mendeleev’s version of the periodic table was brilliant - find out why!

The life and death of stars form the chemical elements that make up Earth, making stars critical to life as we know it.

The periodic table was last updated in 2016 with four new chemical elements. What is a chemical element? What is the atomic structure of the newest chemical elements? How did they get their names?

Every time you wash your hands with soap, there are complex chemical reactions taking place.

Learn the organic chemistry behind this very useful plastic. Why is recycling polystyrene hard? Why does polystyrene often end up as solid waste?

Students develop and apply observing, comparing & contrasting and predicting skills as they explore the properties of common liquids and solids.

Learn about the biochemistry of cooking meringue.

In a few decades, some of the electricity you use might be generated by bacteria.

Students investigate the properties of a variety of everyday solids (powders) and liquids to determine the identity of an unknown solid (mystery powder).

Sodium is a useful chemical element. You consume it as table salt regularly. Learn about salt mining, sodium uses, and what problems too much sodium can cause.

Learn about the chemistry of ice skating rinks, and the technology & engineering that lets us enjoy them indoors as well as outside.