Chemistry Related Articles

A World of Chemistry Lesson Plan

Created by Steve Kaser

Barnstable High School

Barnstable, MA 

 December 12, 2003

 

Introduction

There are two sections to this page. Section One contains articles with specific article question forms for their corresponding articles. Section Two contains several different chemistry related articles categorized by their topic as related to a general chemistry curriculum. There is a generic article summary form that may be downloaded and used for these articles.

Section One Articles with Question Forms

In the table below are topic-related articles. Click onto the article link and print the article choosing the printer friendly option. You must also print out the corresponding question forms.

 

Article

Article Question Form

Can asthma be cured? What are the latest treatments?

Can Asthma Be Cured Question Form

Ecstasy's Legacy

Ecstasy Legacy Question Form

Experimental Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Targets T Cells

  Experimental Multiple Question Form

First-of-a-kind cancer drug

  First of a kind cancer drug Question Form

Gene Therapy

Gene Therapy for Cancer Question Form

How do air bags work?

How do air bags work Question Form

How does fluoride in toothpaste prevent cavities?

How does fluoride prevent cavities Question Form

Rat Studies Elucidate the Neurochemistry of Addiction

Rat studies Question Form

Why do some people get more cavities than others do?

Why do some people get more cavities than others do Question Form

How does fingerprint powder work?

Fingerprints powder Question Form

 

 

 

Section Two Topic Related Articles

 

Article Topics Listed Below Include:

 

Article Summary Form Link

Article Summary Form

 

Chemistry Topics

Chemistry and You

How far are we from realizing benefits from nanotechnology?

What is Chemistry?

 

States of Matter

What is Jell-O? How does it turn from a liquid into a solid?

How do water droplets in clouds cohere?

Is glass really a liquid?  

 

Atomic Structure, Electromagnetic Spectrum and Quantum Mechanics

What are the physical and chemical changes that occur in fireworks?

Is time quantized?

Why do certain elements change color over a flame?

If we cannot see electrons and protons--or smaller particles such as quarks--how can we be sure they exist?

How are elements broken down into protons, electrons and neutrons?

Why isn't the dual wave/particle nature of the quantum mechanical world present in the macroscopic world?

Why isn't the speed of light infinite?

 

Elements and The Periodic Table

Cryogenic Cutting

Is 24K gold pure?

How does chlorine added to drinking water kill bacteria and other harmful organisms?

Why doesn't stainless steel rust?

Do transuranic elements occur naturally?


Could silicon be the basis for alien life forms, just as carbon is on Earth?

 

Chemical Reactions and Processes

Why does bruised fruit turn brown?

What is the chemical process that causes my eyes to tear when I peel an onion?

How is caffeine removed from to produce decaffeinated coffee?

What is an exothermic reaction?

What is chemiluminescence?

What chemicals are found in a fire extinguisher?

How are polymers made?

 

Chemical Compounds and Molecular Shape

Why do snowflakes crystallize into such intricate structures?

What makes Kevlar so strong?

What is the difference between artificial and natural flavors?

How can graphite and carbon be so different if they are both composed of pure carbon?

How does sunscreen protect skin?

If nothing sticks to Teflon, how does it stick to pans?

What determines if a substance is transparent?


Have buckminsterfullerenes (buckyballs) been put to any practical uses?

What substances, such as cerium sulfate, have a lower solubility when they are heated?

Why do some chemicals have"left" and "right" forms?

Why is spider silk so strong?

What are the effects of alcohol on the brain?

What is the difference between good cholesterol and bad cholesterol?

Stoichiometry

 How was Avogadro's number determined?

 

Energy and Thermodynamics

Why do we put salt on icy sidewalks in the winter?

Is it true that hot water freezes faster than cold water or that cold water boils faster than hot water?

If heat rises, why does the temperature decrease at higher elevations?

How do food manufacturers calculate the calorie count of packaged foods?

How are temperatures close to absolute zero achieved and measured?

How can artificial sweetener contain no calories?

Why is the earth's core so hot? And how do scientists measure its temperature?

Electromagnetic Spectrum

How do neon lights work?

What is the current understanding regarding the health effects of low frequency electromagnetic radiation such as that from high-voltage power transmission lines?

Can a pocket laser damage the eye?

What is the cosmic microwave background radiation?

What is optical interference, such as the one being developed at Palomar Mountain?

Is there any evidence that microwaving food alters its composition or has any detrimental effects on humans or animals?

 

Physical Chemistry

How do deep see diving sea creatures withstand huge pressure changes?

What exactly happens, on a molecular basis or atomic level, when two objects touch?

What exactly is the physical or chemical process that makes adhesive tape sticky?

How is tempered glass made?

How do water drops in clouds cohere?

 

Acids and Bases

How does club soda remove red wine stains?

Why don't our digestive acids corrode our stomach linings?

 

Electrochemistry

How do water softeners work?

How do rechargeable (that is, zinc-alkaline or nickel-cadmium) batteries work and what makes the reactions reversible in some batteries, but not others?

 

Nuclear Chemistry

Astronomers have reported an apparent shortage of neutrinos coming from the sun. Does that mean that nuclear fusion is shutting down inside the sun? Are we headed for an ice age?

How does one arrive at the exact number of cycles of radiation a cesium-133 atom makes in order to define one second?

Considering the obvious benefits of fusion energy and the considerable efforts trying to attain them, why hasn't fusion research so far produced better results?

What is the current scientific thinking on cold fusion?

 

Environmental Chemistry

Why do ozone-depleting chemicals not diffuse evenly (and cause a general thinning of the ozone layer) but instead cause holes at the poles?

Defusing the Global Warming Time Bomb

 

Forensics

How Can Bullets be Traced to a Gun?

Why do people have different blood types?

Can you determine the time of death from bloodstains found at a crime scene?

What is 'gel electrophoresis,' and why is it so important for DNA testing in criminal cases?

Biochemistry

How does ultraviolet light kill cells?

The Addicted Brain

Do we really use only 10 percent of our brains?

Do genes influence whether someone has twins, either identical or fraternal?

How does caffeine affect the body?

How do scientists make artificial blood? How effective is it compared with the real thing?


Disease and the Immune System

I was vaccinated against smallpox 40 years ago. Am I still protected?

Why are blood transfusions from strangers not rejected, like transplanted organs can be?

How do white blood cells recognize invaders?

If a used needle can transmit HIV, why can't a mosquito?

Can you explain AIDS and how it effects the immune system?

What do we know about the nature of attention-deficit disorder (ADD)? And why does the drug Ritalin seem to reduce the symptoms of ADD?