Periodic table of Rice Krispies squares

I made a couple of pans of Rice Krispies treats, cut them up into squares and created a tasty Mole Day treat for the University of Waterloo Chemistry Department — even Mole Day grinches loved these goodies. Professors, students and staff all carefully selected an element to eat.

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Category: Activities Themed and special days

Sublimation of iodine: Rise and fall of a misconception

For years I believed that solid iodine, I2, only underwent sublimation when heated at atmospheric pressure. I was so wedded to this idea that I performed the demonstration for years.

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Category: Feature Chemistry

First year chemistry: Multiple choice madness

As a first year university chemistry instructor, I find it unfortunate when I see some of my good students perform poorly on midterms or final exams because of their inexperience in multiple-choice based test-taking. I want to clarify explicitly that this has nothing to do with the students’ lack of knowledge or understanding in the topic; nor is it because the students have failed to prepare well.

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Category: Feature Pedagogy, opinion and advice First Year Trenches

Not just red eyes and it’s not just the pee

In June 2015 to start the school summer vacation, the Globe and Mail published an article called “Pee, not chlorine, causes red eyes from swimming pools: CDC.” This article may have “grossed out” some, but I looked at it as an opportunity to engage in some real-life practical chemistry.

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Category: Chemistry