AC_SE_FM:Active Chem SE FM pgs i-viii 5/23/07 9:49 PM Page xxiii
Chapter 2: Movie Special Effects
Chapter Challenge
A movie producer has asked your class to create a movie scene using special effects that involve chemical concepts.
You are asked to develop a script for the movie scene and to provide an explanation of the chemistry concepts you
used to produce your special effect.
Activity Summaries Chemistry Principles
Activity 1: Elements and Compounds Electrolysis
Chemical reaction
The activity discusses the basic concept of what is matter and how we can change compounds back Elements
to the elements. Also, students will conduct some simple tests to identify hydrogen and oxygen gas. Compounds
Chemical properties
Dissociation
Heating curves, Melting point
Activity 2: States of Matter: Solid, Liquid, and Gas Boiling point, Vaporization
Potential energy, Kinetic energy
This activity helps the students develop an understanding of molecular motion in the different Physical states of matter
physical states: solid, liquid, and gas. Sublimation
Activity 3: Solutions, Suspensions, and Colloids Tyndall Effect, Suspensions
Emulsions, Filtration
This activity shows the students how to differentiate between solutions, suspensions, and colloids. Homogeneous mixture
The mixtures are tested for the Tyndall Effect and if they can be separated by simple filtration. Heterogeneous mixture
Solutions, Solvent, Solute
Activity 4: Properties of Matter Composites
This activity helps the students understand how small models can be used to represent large Emulsions, Texture
structures. Models can be used to develop an understanding of the physical properties of a Elasticity, Malleability
substance.
Activity 5: Mass and Volume Density, Estimation
Displacement
The students will determine the density of liquids and solids. The solids will be irregularly shaped, Measurements
so that water displacement techniques need to be used to determine the densities. Uncertainty
Activity 6: Metals and Nonmetals Metallic properties
This activity will study the physical properties of metals and will show how they can be Nonmetals, Metalloids
differentiated from the nonmetals. They will also learn how the metals, metalloids, and nonmetals Oxidation
Alloys
are arranged on the periodic table.
Activity 7: Polymers Polymers, Proteins
Starch, Cellulose
This activity shows the students how to make the polymer “slime” and how to test this Cross-linked polymers
non-Newtonian liquid. They will find that it has both solid and liquid characteristics. Commercial uses
Activity 8: Identifying Matter Metal flame colors
This activity uses flame tests to help identify metal cations. The principles of electron excitation are Electron excitation
discussed and applied to fireworks and neon signs. Different metals can by used to produce the Ions, Flame tests
different colors.
Activity 9: Organic Substances Hydrocarbons
Organic/Inorganic compounds
The students will learn what the term organic means to scientists and how the layman uses it Carbon bonding
incorrectly. They will study how to write organic structures and apply the Law of Conservation of Alkanes, Alkenes
Mass to combustion reactions. Alkynes
Combustion
Law of Conservation of Mass
xxiii
Active Chemistry