Lecture Enrichment Ideas - Chapter 2

2.1 - 2. Elements and Atoms, Molecules and Compounds

Since the majority of U.S. high school graduates have not had any substantial coursework in chemistry, any classroom demonstration of atomic and molecular properties will help students visualize these concepts. An instructor can also relate many of these chemistry principles to common everyday experiences most students have observed but not understood in the context of chemistry (i.e., food dried on a dirty dish that washes off after soaking in water, etc.).

2.3 - 4. Some Important Inorganic Molecules, Molecules of Life

After explicating molecular bonding and illustrating the various bonds in water or carbon dioxide molecules, offer additional simple molecular formulae and ask students in class to briefly establish correct or plausible structures to reinforce that carbon has four bonds, hydrogen has one, etc.

A glass pie plate can be placed on an overhead projector and students can witness the changes in salt as it dissolves and dissociates into ions, changes in acidity using indicator dyes, effects of buffers, etc.

2.5 - 8. Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and Nucleic Acids

Today, fewer students have peeled potatoes and gotten their hands starchy; bring the potato experience to class; compare with spray starch. How can cockroaches survive in a "clean" house by feeding on wallpaper paste (starch). Bring oils and lipids to class; note how droplets float on top of water; add emulsifiers. Use a chart of common foods broken down by carbohydrate, lipid, and protein content--ask students which foods smell worst when decayed; note correlation with high protein foods and resulting nitrogen compounds.

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