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Experiences in Chemistry, second edition

Experiences in Chemistry

"This uncomplicated chemistry laboratory manual was written for the small school with modest resources," according to the author. The experiments described in this book have been tested in both regular and home schools. Experiments cover a breadth of topics comparable to the basic content of high school chemistry courses. Although experiments are not written to correlate with any particular textbook, the topics are common enough that we should be able to correlate them with any text we choose. Experiments are arranged under the general topic headings of density, kinetic energy and molecular motion, chemical reactions, and types of reactions.

Introductory information about basic goals for high school chemistry knowledge, safety rules, and chart making are found in the front of the book, while in the back are lists of supplies and sources plus a description of scientific method.

Experiments are well organized. Materials needed are listed in a box at the top of the page. Background information and the purpose is explained. Step-by-step procedure is followed by questions about the experiment itself and about related topics. Some questions direct students to do outside research that will expand their understanding. The author has frequently inserted information about "real life" situations where the chemistry knowledge can be observed or applied, which makes learning far more interesting to many students. Observation charts for recording data are also included with most experiments. Families are free to copy all necessary pages from the book for their students, but there is also a Student Notebook in which students can record their work. An answer key is included in Experiments in Chemistry.

Parents who have had chemistry before should not find this book too difficult, but parents without any background knowledge might have some trouble. (Familiarity with lab procedures is helpful especially when we have to make substitutions or figure out alternative methods to use.) Overall, I think that most parents will find this book a very practical tool for helping them create chemistry lab courses. Most will also want to get a Student Notebook for each student because it keeps all their questions and answers, data recording, observations, etc. in one place.

Home Training Tools sells a Chemistry Materials Kit for Experiences in Chemistry that provides everything you need to complete 35 of the 41 labs—plenty for a high school lab course.