Author Archives: Dr. O'Connor

Check out the Latest Release of the Periodic Table

The latest release of the Periodic Table, November 28, 2016 includes the recently added elements 113, 115, 117, and 118 with their names and symbols. You can view the periodic table on the IUPAC website (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry). Browse the site to find out the process of naming new elements and the criteria for new element discovery.

Chemistry Study Guides For General Chemistry 1

We are now creating study guides for General Chemistry 1. These guides are meant to be a supplement to your textbook. The study guide topics are presented in the same order as in most general chemistry text books. The study guides include exercises with both answers and worked out solutions. Some of the guides include interactive quizzes. Links to videos will be posted to each corresponding guide. We hope to finish the general chemistry 1 study guides by mid August. We will then start on General Chemistry 2 study guides. After that we will create Organic Chemistry Study guides.

Check out the General Chemistry 1 Study Guide List

Please let us know if you have suggestions or questions. Just fill in the comment box below.

Chemistry Lab Page Created

We have created a chemistry lab page. The activities on this page can be used in the classroom or even at home. Most of the activities include everyday household chemicals. If you cannot obtain enough materials for your students you can always use these activities as demonstrations. These activities are also great for homeschooled students. Each lab activity will include a list of materials needed, a procedure, safety tips, and the chemistry involved. The activities are meant to reinforce chemistry concepts taught in the classroom or at home. The activities range from elementary school level up to basic high school level.

Videos on Buffers have been Posted

Please check out our new videos on buffers. Here we cover how to calculate the pH of a buffer solutions using and ICE table. Next we calculate the pH of a buffer using the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation. We then move on to the calculation of the pH when sodium hydroxide has been added to a buffered solution.

Determine the pH of a Buffer: Part 1
Determine the pH of a Buffer using the Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation: Part 2
Determine the pH After the Addition of NaOH to a Buffer: Part 3

Equilibrium Videos are Posted

Below are the links to our videos on equilibrium. First we start with manipulating equations to determine an overall equation and equilibrium constant. We then move on to converting between Kc and Kp. Next we work with equilibrium constants and balanced equations. The last 6 videos cover many types of equilibrium problems that you will encounter in a General Chemistry Course. Please click a title to watch.

Calculate an Equilibrium Constant
Determine Kc for an Overall Reaction
Equilibrium Constants and Balanced Equations
Convert Between Kc and Kp
Solving Equilibrium Problems Part 1
Solving Equilibrium Problems Part 2
Solving Equilibrium Problems Part 3
Solving Equilibrium Problems Part 4
Solving Equilibrium Problems Part 5
Solving Equilibrium Problems Part 6

Our New Courses to Prepare Students for University/College

We are excited to announce that we will be offering courses in the physical sciences and in math for students that need to prepare for university/college level courses. As we all know, many of our students are not prepared for college courses. Many of them end up paying out their hard earned money on courses that they fail due to not being properly prepared. In January 2024, we will offer courses that will prepare students for university/college level academics including beginning math, beginner algebra, intermediate algebra, trigonometry, pre-calculus, basic chemistry, basic physics, basic biology, etc. Our goal is to offer these remedial courses so that potential college students can acquire the knowledge they need to succeed in a university/college environment. These courses will be geared towards the home schooled student, high school students, international students, and non-traditional students. One example of a non-traditional student is someone that is pursuing an education after working in a particular field for many years and desires to pursue the education required to work in another field. We find that math and basic science is where many students are lacking the necessary background to succeed in university studies. Our courses will focus on basic math and science. Courses will include video lectures and interactive recitation sections as well as assessments via quizzes and exams. Yes, you can find free online videos that will explain many topics. But, they do not include assessments and customized lesson plans, and most importantly they are not structured like a high school or university/college course. We believe that students need structure and feedback in order to be successful. This is not possible by only viewing online videos. We will let you know when the courses become available. We can’t wait to see what you think about them!!

Chemistry Olympiad 2014 Registration is Open

Registration for the 2014 Chemistry Olympiad is now open. Teachers please register your students by February 28, 2014. The local exam will be administered at Cleveland State University on March 15, 2014. For more information on the 2014 Chemistry Olympiad, please click here. Parents that home school their children, please contact Dr. Anne O’Connor for details. If your school does not participate in the chemistry Olympiad, please contact us so we can get you registered.

New Interactive Chemistry Quizzes

We have added a self-quiz feature to our website. The quizzes are on many different topics and are interactive. The quiz problems are in different formats: matching, multiple choice, fill in the blanks, drag and drop, etc. We believe the quizzes will help students prepare better for lectures, quizzes, and exams. The quizzes will cover very simple topics to the more difficult topics in chemistry. The quizzes are not meant to be a substitute for homework, but will complement homework problems. Most of the quizzes will cover the very basic concepts in chemistry. Please let us know what you think of the quizzes by commenting below, and we will continue to add more daily.