Understanding+Properties+of+Matter



Understanding Properties of Matter

Louann: A very good introduction. Gets kids to think about more ways to describe something besides just color. It would be an excellent first lab of the year.

Keith Madden - I chose the copper shot as my sample for investigation in this kit, and performed the HCl test upon it. This was a good introductory lab for the students. It would be the lab to assign after giving them instruction on how to measure physical properties (mass, volume, density...) to get some practice, and to appreciate the usefulness of good measurements. The conductivity test on the copper worked really well, as would be expected. Make sure the students bite into the Cu pellet with the alligator clip, since superficial contact does not work as well. I liked the silver nitrate and copper experiment as well. One could explain that this is a useful plating reaction for the electronics industry (to improve circuit conductivity).

Mark - I enjoyed the lab. I agree that it would provide a lot of ways for students to explore the various substances, aside from color, shape, size, etc. I like that they are truly analyzing each substance and getting to check for certain levels of activity with them, i.e. conductivity, magnitism, reactivty, etc. Definitely an activity I would consider using/taking parts of to use in lab and introduce properties..

Susan Rathwick: Seems like a good lab to introduce some important concepts in chemistry. Simple enough for students to complete early in the course. Several techniques were encompassed in a single lab, making this helpful to the instructor.

Ken- Certainly a good intro lab for Physical Science, ICP or Chem I, especially if students have limited background in the basics of matter. There are a lot of properties that are illustrated. This could lead students to lots of inquiry-based extensions of the lab tests.

Alvin - I liked how this kit had the students set up their own system to sort matter before the traditional classification system was discussed. This is something that I am planning on having my students do next year.

Jim-I think this would be a good lab to do. Parts of it could also be used when different specific topics are discussed throughout the year.

Julie-This kit is great for the introductory lab class you are teaching next year. Lots of stuff.