Peggy Au Winston Churchill High School Lethbridge , Alberta, Canada Wednesday, August 1, 2012

1. Balloon and Bubble Chemistry…engaging students using the simple balloon and soap bubbles…Let’s…Blow Stuff Up…and Shrink Things Down! Peggy Au Winston Churchill High School Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada Wednesday, August 1, 2012 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm margaret.au@lethsd.ab.ca playeducateinspire.pbworks.com (wikispace to download materials)

2. Presentation Objectives… • Learn about the chemistry of gases using simple balloons and soap bubbles • Use multi-sensory methods to teach the properties of gases; the Kinetic Molecular Theory, combustion of gases, and calculations involving gases • Relate gases and bubbles with the real world of scuba diving, hiking and climbing, and flying.

3. Kinetic Molecular Theory Physical Demonstration of the Kinetic Molecular Theory: • Each participant blows up a balloon of any shape, size, or colour • The size of the container is determined by the class but it can be adjusted to become larger or smaller • Solid state-hold balloon and vibrate, Liquid state-hold, move balloon, rotate ballon, gas state-tap balloon upwards and keep balloon off the floor • When “Absolute Zero” is called, all balloons are in each participant’s hands. All molecular motion ceases. • When the container’s temperature is “heated”, participants must move faster around the room with their balloons • When the container’s temperature is “cooled”, participants move slower throughout the room • If a door is opened, some participants move out of the room with their balloon

4. Discussion • Variety of balloons represent a mixture of gases • All gases behave similarly regardless of shape or size… • Spacing between molecules at different temperature and pressures • Random molecular motion • How pressure is related to temperature and volume • Diffusion of gases • Demonstrate condensation, solidification, evaporation, fusion etc. using all balloons • Other considerations? Students will be able to use the Kinetic Molecular Theory/Particle Model of Matter to explain the behaviour of gases!

5. Kinetic Molecular Theory Main Points of the Theory: • Volume of gas is mostly empty space • Molecules collide • Molecules move randomly • Gas molecules move in straight lines (translational motion)

6. Properties of Gases • Introduce and discuss the properties of gases using soap “bubbles” • Temperature, pressure, volume, mass and moles (definitions, units, measuring equipment such as barometer, thermometer, graduated cylinder, gas collecting tube etc.) • Surface tension in bubbles, polymer chemistry with balloons

7. Recipe for Giant Bubbles: (modified David Stein) • 1 cup dish soap (Joy or Dawn) • 1 cup cornstarch • 2 tablespoons baking powder • ½ cup glycerol (optional but makes the bubbles bigger and longer-lasting) • 12 cups of water

8. GAS DEMONSTRATIONS-examples and discussion of gases in everyday life • Cartesian diver bottles • Shrinking cups • The crushing can • Alkaseltzer Rockets • Hydrogen “Pop” test

9. Gas Demonstrations Cartesian DiveR CRUSHING CANS Materials: Aluminium cans Hotplate Ice water Tongs • Materials: • Water bottle with lid filled with water • Eye dropper

10. gASDemonstrations Shrinking Styrocups Materials Needed: • styrocups • permanent markers • ½ cup water • pressure cooker • hotplate

11. Gas Demonstrations Alkaseltzer Rockets Hydrogen Pop Test Materials: Mossy zinc 6.0 mol/L HCl (aq) Gas collecting assembly Test tube Bbq lighter, match or wooden splint • Materials: • Plastic film canisters • Water • Alkaseltzer Indicate the balanced chemical equation for the reaction of zinc metal with hydrochloric acid

12. “Gases” in Everyday Life…! • The scuba diving experience and how the equipment works • The Cartesian Diver • The Science behind scuba diving • Gas Laws-Boyle’s Law

13. scuba diving experience: the equipment

14. The cathedral and swimming with the sea turtles

15. “Gases” in Everyday Life…! Flying Hiking Change in air pressure going up and coming down Extreme hiking situations like Everest Discuss people who live at high altitudes and how hemoglobin levels increase to make up for lower oxygen amounts at higher altitudes • Air pressure inside/outside cabin • Equalizing air pressure in sinus cavities • 30 000 ft above ground

16. Air pockets and air cavities in the body • Sinuses are air pockets located within the bones of the skull and face. • They are connected to your nasal passages by small tubes or channels. • The channels permit air to flow from the nose into the sinuses and allow drainage of mucous from sinus into the nose.

17. Higher Level Science and Chemistry • Gas Law Concept Review • Concept map, comparison scheme • Discussion and time to check each other’s gas concept review • Gas Term Cards • Gas Stoichiometry Cards • Use whiteboards and dry-erase markers

18. Gas Law Calculations • Boyle’s Law, Charles Law, Combined Gas Law, Ideal Gas Law • Gas Unit calculation cards

19. Gas Stoichiometry: question cards standard conditions CALCULATION

20. Gas Stoichiometry: question cards non-standard conditions Calculation

21. Let’s Blow Stuff Up! • Fossil Fuel Combustions Reactions-learning objectives • Gases required: fuel and oxygen gas • Gases produced: water vapour, carbon dioxide • Exothermic reactions, heat and/or light produced • Conversion of chemical energy into heat, mechanical, and light energy • A decrease in potential energy (reactants with higher energy than products)

22. Let’s Blow Stuff Up! • Discussion“Lighting up” methane bubbles in the science laboratory • Materials Needed: • Methane gas • Rubber tubing • Glass or plastic funnel • Bubble solution • Bbq lighter What is the complete balanced chemical equation for the combustion of methane gas? Use your boards.

23. Let’s Blow Stuff Up! “Blowing up” potato chip cans Balanced Chemical Equation for the combustion of methanol • Materials: • Chip cans • Methanol (2-3 mL) • Bbq lighter or matches

24. Let’s Blow Stuff Up! What is the Balanced chemical equation for the decomposition of H2O2(l)? Use your boards. Elephant toothpaste-decomposition of H2O2(l) Materials Needed: • 30% hydrogen peroxide • graduated cylinder • plastic pan/tub • potassium iodide • food colour • dishsoap (Dawn)

25. Let’s Blow Stuff Up! THE METHANOL CANNON ! Materials: ABS pipe Methanol (2-5 mL) T-shirt bbq lighter or matches • What is the balanced chemical equation for the combustion of methanol?

26. Thanks for your time and enthusiasm! I would appreciate your feedback to make things better and useful for you as practicing teachers! Peggy Au margaret.au@lethsd.ab.ca playeducateinspire.pbworks.com (site to download, discuss, and share educational material) (H)-403-329-8253 Contact me for supplies, electronic copies, hard copies, or to make a booking for me to come into your classroom with or without students…!