Chemistry and the Environment
Chemistry and the Environment covers a lot of ground, from climate science to water to recycling. Learn more with these links, including the Earth's ozone layer, greenhouse gases, forming a stream team, making a mini ocean model, recycling your old phone, and more.
- Young Scientists Combat Climate Change with Chemistry
Support for the climate is coming from many different scientists and their ideas. - Bush Fires in Australia and Climate Change
How do widespread fires in Australia potentially relate to climate change? This scientist takes a look. - Climate Science: More Than Just a Weather Report
Collect particles from air, test sunscreen, plus learn what a cat knows about greenhouse gases. - UV Bead Bracelet
Science meets fashion with this ultraviolet bead jewelry. Wear it, then use it for an experiment! - Meet Me in the Mesosphere
Where do you want to meet? How about the mesosphere? It’s a great place for atmospheric investigations. - DIY Weather Vane
- Tools for observing the weather go “old school.” Show wind direction with simple supplies.
- Cool It!
Can this homemade refrigerator keep your soda cool? Find out as you explore evaporative cooling.
- Climate Kids
Take a tour through the big questions of climate science, then try out games and activities. - A Student's Guide to Global Climate Change
If you’re ready to learn about climate, these hands-on, interactive lesson plans are ready and waiting for you. - ACS Climate Science Toolkit
You won’t find a hammer in this toolkit, but you’ll definitely find everything you need to prepare to discuss global climate change. - In the Fog About Smog
This ChemMatters article can clear up any lingering brain fog you might have about this climate phenomenon. - The Ozone Layer: Our Global Sunscreen
Imagine running an experiment as large as the Earth. Now, stop imagining and read about one.
- The Science Behind a Climate Headline
In 4 minutes, atmospheric chemist Rachel Pike provides a glimpse of the massive scientific effort behind the bold headlines on climate change. - AirNow
Is your room clean? What about your air? Check out the air quality forecast for your area and see how it might affect your health. - Hope for the Future
Can students make a difference? Yes, they can! Read about how these two shared climate science. - Climate Literacy & Energy Awareness Network
Teachers take note! Huge collection of reviewed climate resources for all levels here!
- All the Water in the World
This demo packs a visual punch to show the breakdown of water in the world. More activities take the study of water further. - Ocean Acidification in a Cup
It’s an ocean mini-model. What will happen to the water when the air above it changes? - Shell Shifts
If seashells are under the water, how can changes in the air affect them? Learn how! - Convection Detection
It rises, then falls. And rises, then falls. And… these swirls and currents of color are hypnotizing. - Dive into Marine Chemistry (in English)
Bucea en la Química Marina (en Español)
Dive into marine chemistry with hands-on activities related to calcium carbonate in seashells, seawater density, and oil spills. - The Wonders of Water (in English)
Las Maravillas del Agua (en Español)
You’ll be well schooled in “The Wonders of Water” after trying out these activities. - Ocean Acidification
Go in depth with this lab to study the pH of water and its effect on creatures that make their home in it. - Ocean Chemistry
Pick and choose—what will it be today? Finding out stories a satellite tells about the ocean? How to better respond to oil spills? Or...
- Seawater Acid-Base Chemistry
Teachers take note! This marine unit was designed with high school chemistry classes in mind. - Environmental Resources for Educators
No need to thirst for more water resources. Take a look at this collection—click on the Water topic. Or, explore more! - Water Diary
Did you take a short or long shower today? Did you wash your clothes? Keep track of how much water you use in a week. - Stream Team
Put together your dream stream team to monitor the health of local waterways with this guide. - Great Pacific Garbage Patch
It’s not just trash talk—it’s really out there in the North Pacific. And it’s even bigger than they thought. - The Flint Water Crisis
What would you do if foul-smelling, odd-tasting, orange-colored water was all that you could get from your tap? - Water Chemistry Careers
What does a water chemist do? Where do they spend their days? How much school do they need? Find out here. - Salt Harvesting
Seawater can make your food taste better. Learn how the water gets removed and leaves behind gourmet-style salt. - More on Dehydrated Water
For a little chemistry humor, take a look at this discussion of dehydrated water—available in pill form and in cans. Just add water…
- It's Not Easy Being Green
Disposable or reusable mug? Paper or plastic bag? An item's Life Cycle Analysis can help you decide. - Our Earth: Handle with Care!
Be a super sorter with a recycling challenge, plus other activities. - A Green Opportunity: Recycling Agar
A science teacher and one of her students took the idea “Reduce, reuse, recycle” to heart in the classroom. - U.S. Recycling Industry
Where does your recycling go? The answer used to be, "China." No more. Learn why and see what the options are. - What Happens To Your Food Packaging?
Sometimes your food seems to be more package than food. Where do the wrappers go after you take the last bite? - Sonoma's "I Choose" Banners Upcycled
This high school science class came up with an idea for upcycling items that would go to waste. - Recycling Aluminum: A Way of Life or a Lifestyle?
For this teenager, recycling is a way of life. - Compost: Your Trash, Nature's Treasure
Ah, rotting food. Turn your unwanted leftovers into a gold mine for your garden.
- Do the Rot Thing
Learn how the composting goodness happens, then get your own started—with or without worms. - Waste-Less Lunch
What's left over from your lunch box? Could your waste and leftovers actually go to zero? - More Recycling Won't Solve Plastic Pollution
Why won't it solve the problem? What actually will? - National Facts and Figures About Recycling
How much heads to the trash per person? What gets recycled? Check out your numbers. - Recycle That Old Cell Phone
Recycling isn't just about throwing a plastic bottle in the bin. Your unwanted electronics need a place too. - Environmental Chemistry Careers
These chemists are helping to protect the environment. Learn what it takes to get there.
- The Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry
It's not easy being green. This summary of the twelve principles of green chemistry at least gives us a start. - Growing Green Death Trend
One state is about to offer a new choice of how you can deal with deceased human remains. Composting will soon be on the list. - Plastic Bags
How do you take your food home—paper, plastic, or reusable bags? Work with data and see how you measure up. - The Chemistry of Biodegradable Plastics
PLA. TPS. PHA. These letters can ease your impact on the environment. See how with this infographic. - Product Development and the Environment
What’s the life cycle of a product you buy? What thought went into it, before it was made? - Chemical Recycling: The Future Is Here
What happens when clothing reaches the end of its useful life?
(all sites accessed February 2022)
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