Presented by the contributors of the Chemical Educational Foundation,

dedicated to fostering a greater understanding of the science and value of chemistry.

The Chemical Educational Foundation would like to

acknowledge the following for their involvement in the
development of this You Be The Chemist Activity Guide.
Amy Berry
Coordinator for Student Services
Meade County Schools, Kentucky
Michael Davis
Associate Vice Chancellor for STEM
City Colleges of Chicago, Illinois
Barbara Ferri
Science Teacher
John Glenn Middle School, Bedford, Massachusetts
Steven Jacobs
Chief Scientist
Faraday Studios, Kansas
Robert Mendenhall
Director, Science, Health, PE, and Wellness
Toledo Public Schools, Ohio
Douglas Nafis
Senior Development Specialist
UOP, LLC/A Honeywell Company, Illinois
Brenda C. Nixon
Co-Director, Gordon A. Cain Center for Scientific,
Technological, Engineering, and Mathematical Literacy
Louisiana State University, Louisiana
Laura Tew
Science Consultant
Greensboro/Winston-Salem, North Carolina
The Chemical Heritage Foundation
Kelsey R. Beerman
Sondra Murphy
Sondra Murphy Creative
Alyssa King
Maureen Walsh McGrath
John M. Rice, Executive Director
Programs & Outreach
Corianne Pafford, Manager, Programs & Outreach
Suzette Bucher, Coordinator, Programs & Outreach
Marketing & Communications
Laurel Brent, Manager, Marketing & Communications
Brian Taylor, Assistant, Marketing & Communications

In addition to all of those named above, CEF would like to extend

a special thank-you to the Foundations corporate and individual
contributors, as well as to the countless volunteers who work
tirelessly to implement CEF programs in their communities.
Without your support, the Activity Guides would not be possible!
We would also like to thank the following groups for their insight,
direction, and support in the development of all CEF programs:

Dear Friend,
The Chemical Educational Foundation (CEF) welcomes you to the You Be
The Chemist Activity Guide: Lesson Plans for Making Chemistry Fun!
Whether you are an educator, an after-school instructor, a parent, or just a
fan of science, we hope that these activities will help you impart an
important message to young people everywherescience is fun, and
chemistry and chemicals play an important role in all of our lives!
The Activity Guide program was originally launched in 1997 and is now in its
fourth edition. With each revision, our goal has been to expand the educational
content, keep in step with changing educational trends and standards, and
provide meaningful connections to chemistry in our everyday lives. In this
edition, enhancements include modifications and extensions for performing the
experiments, more real-world applications that students can relate to their lives
and to industry, in-depth activity sheets for students with answer keys for
educators to test what students are learning, and tools for differentiation in the
classroom.
The information included in the Activity Guide supports the framework of the
National Science Education Standards (created by the National Science
Academies) and is intended to make teaching science, specifically chemistry,
more engaging for educators and students. Chemistry is the central science, and
its concepts often extend into many other subjects as welland not just within
the traditional sciences! This guide helps students make real-world connections
through hands-on activities and gives educators tools to create lifelong learners
who appreciate and understand the benefits of science.
CEF extends gratitude to the many people who have played a role in the
development of this Activity Guide. We acknowledge the major participants on
the left of this page; however, there are many more partners not named
individually. We simply dont have the space! Most notably, we would like to
recognize and thank our valuable contributors and program volunteers. All of
CEFs activities are only possible through their generous and loyal support.
We would also like to thank you; if youve taken the time to read this letter and
review our Activity Guide, you are no doubt a champion of science education.
You understand that knowledge and enjoyment are gained from the study of
science. Together, we can make sure the next generation does as well!
We hope you enjoy.
Sincerely,

CEFs Board of Trustees

CEFs Program, You Be The Chemist Development,
Communications, and Funding & Investment Committees
The Board of Directors and staff of the
National Association of Chemical Distributors

John M. Rice
Executive Director
Chemical Educational Foundation
You Be The Chemist Activity Guide | page

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Introduce students to measurement and the important role that it plays in chemistry and their everyday lives.
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Learn the basics of inquiry and its importance to the study of chemistry.
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Create a new goofy substance by mixing a borax solution with glue.
Content topics: Scientific inquiry; measurement; properties of matter; chemical reactions;
mixtures (solutions); polymers
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Place apple slices into solutions with different levels of acidity to slow the rate at which the apples
turn brown.
Content topics: Scientific inquiry; properties of matter; chemical reactions; acids and bases;
food chemistry; chemistry in the human body
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Place steel wool in a jar, and then invert the jar over water to observe an oxidation reaction.
Content topics: Scientific inquiry; properties of matter; elements and compounds; molecules;
chemical reactions (oxidation); metals
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Calculate the density of a stick of butter to determine if it will sink or float in water.
Content topics: Scientific inquiry; measurement; properties of matter (density)
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Combine two solutions to form a solid and demonstrate the process of precipitation.
Content topics: Scientific inquiry; measurement; mixtures (solutions);
separation processes (precipitation); chemical reactions
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Soak eggs in vinegar to initiate a chemical reaction and dissolve the eggshell.
Content topics: Scientific inquiry; elements and compounds; mixtures; chemical reactions;
food chemistry; chemistry in the human body; health; acids and bases
........................................................................................
Create swirls of color in milk and explore a property of liquids known as surface tension.
Content topics: Scientific inquiry; states of matter; properties of matter; attractive forces (surface tension);
mixtures

You Be The Chemist Activity Guide | page

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Use students as models to explore the differences between the motion of particles in solids,
liquids, and gases.
Content topics: Scientific inquiry; states of matter; properties of matter; physical changes; energy
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Use food dye and a variety of acids and bases to determine which solution works best for dyeing eggs.
Content topics: Scientific inquiry; mixtures (solutions); atomic structure; acids and bases; physical changes;
chemical reactions
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Use a magnet to remove particles of iron from a mixture containing iron-fortified breakfast cereal.
Content topics: Scientific inquiry; properties of matter; elements and compounds; mixtures;
attractive forces (magnetism); food chemistry; chemistry in the human body; health; metals
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Use crystals found in diapers to absorb water and illustrate the properties of super-absorbent polymers.
Content topics: Scientific inquiry; states of matter; properties of matter; diffusion; polymers
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Place soda pop bottles, with balloons over the openings, in separate bowls of water at different
temperatures to determine which setup releases the most gas.
Content topics: Scientific inquiry; states of matter; properties of matter; elements and compounds;
mixtures (solutions); measurement (temperature); energy
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Submerge Pyrex glass in vegetable oil and observe the effects of refraction.
Content topics: Scientific inquiry; measurement; states of matter; properties of matter;
energy (electromagnetic waves); light (refraction)
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Use white crayons and watercolor paints to make designs on paper and demonstrate the interaction of
water and wax.
Content topics: Scientific inquiry; properties of matter; mixtures (solutions); attractive forces (polarity)
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Utilize a careful technique to make a paper clip float on top of water.
Content topics: Scientific inquiry; measurement; states of matter; properties of matter;
attractive forces (surface tension)
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Add Mentos mints to a bottle of diet soda pop to initiate a forceful escape of carbon dioxide gas.
Content topics: Scientific inquiry; states of matter; properties of matter; chemical reactions;
mixtures (solutions); attractive forces (polarity)
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Apply the concepts of pressure and Newtons laws of motion to build simple rockets.
Content topics: Scientific inquiry; measurement; force (pressure)

You Be The Chemist Activity Guide | page