Despite the popularity of the WebQuest format in education today, there is a
curious lack of such activities available for teaching chemistry. In response to this need,
The Chemical Heritage Foundation has produced a series of chemistry WebQuests. In keeping
with CHF's mission, many of these activities emphasize the history of chemistry and, at times,
the chemistry of history. The quests included here are designed for use in high school or
freshman level college courses. WebQuests for other levels are being planned for this site.
— This activity explores the scientific
process by taking a look at some of chemistry's abandoned theories, how they were formulated,
and how the process of observation and experimentation ulitmately supplanted them with newer
theories.
— Here students will examine the
basic premises of modern chemistry, as well as the scientific process, by investigating how
observation and experiment led to Dalton's atomic theory.
— The world depends on energy, and all
energy is supplied through chemistry of some sort, which the students will learn as they explore
the chemistry of current and future energy sources in this WebQuest.
— This investigation explores the chemistry
of lighter-than-air flight, from the basics of hot-air balloon buoyancy to the surprising
chemistry of the Hindenburg disaster.
— Students examine both the gifts and the costs of
technology in this activity. PVC is a very useful plastic, but not without its
risks. Students will explore the benefits and risks of PVC and wrestle with how to balance
the need for useful materials with the need to minimize the risks involved.
— Environmental concerns are not
always black-and-white issues. The needs for clean air and clean water collide as students
explore the chemistry of the recently-banned gasoline additive MTBE and its ecological impact.
If you
are unfamiliar with the WebQuest format, a WebQuest is simply a research activity in which most
of the resources used by the students are web-based. These WebQuests follow the standard format
developed by educators at San Diego State University. For more information on this format and
on WebQuests in general, please visit The WebQuest Page produced by that university.
Most of these activities are open-ended by nature, and the students will find
their own answers. Occasionally we will provide student answers in the teacher's guide when the
nature of the activity calls for it. To
prevent students from cheating, these answer pages have been password protected. We make the
password available to all teachers at no cost. If you are a teacher, you may obtain a password
by e-mailing us at webmaster@chemheritage.org
from an e-mail account on a school server. You can also obtain the password by writing to us
on your school's letterhead stationery at:
Education Services
Chemical Heritage Foundation
315 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
