Highlights for High School
Highlights for High School features MIT OpenCourseWare materials that are most useful for high school students and teachers. Click here to check out some excellent chemistry-related videos.
The MIT Chemistry Outreach Program
The MIT Chemistry Outreach Program was developed in 1988 to bring the excitement of chemistry to middle school and high school students in the Greater Boston area. Each year MIT Chemistry graduate students visit science classes to present chemistry demonstrations designed to illustrate a broad range of chemical principles. Our goal is to stimulate students’ interest in chemistry, to demonstrate the relevance of chemistry in everyday life, and to encourage students to consider pursuing careers in science and medicine. We visit approximately 20-30 schools and present the program to more than 1,000 students every spring. An article on the MIT Outreach Program has been published in the Journal of Chemical Education, Vol. 66, p. 668, 1989.
The presentation includes sections relating to chemical reactions, acids and bases, polymers, naturally occurring compounds, light, and temperature. These demonstrations have been selected for both their visual appeal and their relevance to everyday life.
The standard program consists of a 40-50 minute presentation by two graduate students followed by a question and answer session. We are willing to perform 2-3 sets of demonstrations in order to accommodate 2-3 class periods. No special facilities are required, all supplies are provided by MIT, and there is no charge for the program! If needed, the length of the program can be adjusted for shorter or longer class periods.
Demonstrations
Oscillating Clock Reaction
In this experiment, a reaction occurs in which different states of iodine cause the reaction solution to “magically” oscillate between different colors.
See: Shakhashiri, B. Z. Chemical Demonstrations: A Handbook for Teachers of Chemistry; University of Wisconsin: Madison, 1983; vol. 2, pp 248-256.
Synthesis of Nylon
In this first of two polymer experiments, synthetic nylon (a polymer) is prepared by combining the two parent monomers, a bis-acid chloride and a bis-amine. Students are introduced to polymers and are able to witness polymer chemistry in action.
Collapsible Gel
In this experiment, students see another application of polymer chemistry. A cross-linked network polymer swells by absorbing 100 times its weight in water! Then, the polymer expels the water as the network collapses.
Acid/Base
Here, a naturally occurring acid/base indicator is extracted from purple cabbage and used to test the pH of a range of household items. This colorful experiment serves as a great review of acid and base chemistry, as well as an introduction to naturally occurring chemical compounds.
Chemistry of Light
The idea behind this demonstration is to show that light can be generated in at least three ways, all chemical in nature and different from the way that traditional lightbulbs work. Students learn about chemiluminescence, phosphorescence, and fluorescence using UV light, glow sticks, and more!
Temperature
The presentation ends with a discussion of temperature, and a chance to play with liquid nitrogen and dry ice! Common items are flash-frozen at low temperatures, making this demonstration a favorite of most students. Discussion includes gas laws, elasticity, sublimation, and extreme temperatures, among other topics.
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