1528
A .-o IJ
ooa CHEMICAL EDUCATION
SEPTEMBER. 1929
A PRESCRIPTION FOR AROUSING ENTHUSIASM IN CHEMISTRY ALYENEWESTALL,NEWTONCOMMUNITY HIGH SCAOOL,NEWTON,ILLINOIS
The purpose of this paper is t o describe a plan that was followed in the Newton Community High School, Newton, Illinois, in dealing with the topic "Nitrogen." The results, as evidenced by the quantity and quality of work done by the pupils as well as by their interest and enthusiasm during the study of the topic, were so satisfactory that i t was felt that a description of the plan would prove suggestive to other chemistry teachers who may never have tried a similar procedure. This scheme revolutionized the chemistry class from an ordinary one t o one that fairly bristled with excitement. Each student seemed fired with enthusiasm and worked harder than "A" students had formerly. This lesson plan proved a tonic, for it toned up the class and gave it increased vitality. It is a sure antidote for class sluggishness. A similar procedure could he outlined for any subject from grade school work t o college work. This kind of a lesson plan appeals to every type of mind. Many teachers fail because they do not appeal to every type of mind. Their assignments are inadequate in that they do not reach the level of inferior students as well as the medium and superior ones. The actual assignment as given t o the chemistry class a t Newton, Illinois, is given below. Nitrogen
February 25-March 7 60 Points
TEXT~OOK ASSIGNMENT Chapter XIX-"Nitrogen and the Atmosphere." Brownlee and others, "Elementary Principles of Chemistry," Allyn and Bacon. Boston, 1926, pp. 237-51. Chapter XX-"Nitrogen Compounds," Ibid., pp. 251-74. Study the above assignment and be able t o answer the questions a t the end of each chapter in the text. Answers to questions 1-13 a t the end of chapter X I X are to be written out in ink and handed in on February 28th. Questions 1-13 a t the end of chapter XX arc to be treated similarly and handed in on March 6th. Two examinations required of every one will be given. I n order t o qualify for the 60 points, one must make an average grade of 70. The first examination on chapter XIX will be given on March 1st; the second on chapter XX on March 7th.
Bruce, G. H., "High-School Chemistry," World Book Co., Yonkers-on-Hudson, New York, 1928, pp. 263-98. Vivian, A,, "Everyday Chemistry." pp. 161-84. "The Chemistry Leaflet," Oct. 29, 1928, 2, No. 8. "The Chemistry Leaflet," Nov. 5, 1928, 2, No. 9.
25 Points 1. Make a scrap book of not less than 10 pages. Newspaper cIippings--cartoons nersond anecdote~magazinearticles-new experiments with n i t r o g e n a n y phase of nitrogen or its compounds. Additional points will be given for clever color schemes, good printing, clever arrangement of material. Due March 1st. 2. Every nitrogen-containing compound in the following list derived its nitrogen from the air. Choose one of the following and, by use of diagrams, chart the route it took in securing its nitrogen. Choice of: (a) silk, (b) wwlen coat, (c) colors in clothing, (d) leather shoes, (e) beads, Cf) umbrella handle, (g) fur, (h) velvet. Due March 4th. 3. Make a poster illustrating some phase of nitrogen or its compounds. Due March 5th. 4. "Fixed Nitrogen Price Policy in Germany." Article 6W750 words. Due March 5th. Reference: "The Chemistry Leaflet," 2, 3 (Nov. 5, 1928). 5. "The Use of Nitric Acid in the Manufacture of Dyes." 600-750 words. Due March 6th. Additional points will he given for diagrams, samples of dyed cloth, etc. CONTRACTS 5 points &less otherwise specified, due March 4th. 1. 5 slogans which emphasize importance of nitrogen or its compounds. nenonal iokes from lab. or 2. Preoare a "Nitrous Oxide Column." (Tokes: i. e.,~. classroom or old jokes doctored up-jokes pertaining t o nitrogen). 3. "A Nitropenous Maid." Type short article for bulletin board. Due Feb. 26th. . May be found in "Chemistry Leaflet;' page 10. 4. " h n g Live Air." Type paem for bulletin board. May be found on page 15 in "Chemistry Leaflet." Due Feb. 26th. 5. Make an illustrated placard with these words. "Nitrogen" "There's vitamins in peas and banns And there are proteins too; It's Nitrogen, say thoughtful men, From which the proteins grew.'' Anonymous The best will be selected for the bulletin hoard. Due Feb. 26th. ~
~
10 Points 6. Articles. Not less than 3W words. (a) Medicinal Uses of Nitrogen. List the medicines containing nitrogen compounds. (b) Nitrogen in Agriculture. (6) Laughing Gas. Page 16 in "Chemistry Leaflet." (d) Leaking Ammonia Perils 200 in House. Page 8, "Chemistry Leaflet." (e) A Breath of Air. Reference article "Another Bunch of Cycles." "Chemistry Leaflet," page 9. (j)Ammonia as a Refrigerating Agent. (g) Nitrogen as an Explosive. (h) Picric Acid. Give its formula and uses. May quote the following: "We can imagine a soldier marching to battle beneath a flag dyed with picric acid, t o fall wounded by a fragment of a shell exploded with picric acid, and having his wounds dressed with pinic acid a t the field hospital." 7. Bring in a display of nitrogenous products carefully labeled.
1530
JOURNAL OP CHEMICAL EDUCATION
SEPTEMBER, 1929
ADVERTISEMENTS Due March 4th 10 Points Write an advertisement for one of the following: Chile saltpeter, saltpeter, household ammonia, picric acid, Butesin picrate (salve). If advertisement carries a picture or illustration 5 additional points will he given.
LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS *Exp. 40, Preparation of Nitrogen. *Exp. 41, Preparation and Properties of Ammonia. Enp. 42, Ammonium Compounds. Exp. 43, Preparation and Properties of Nitric Acid. Exp. 44, Preparation and Properties of Nitric Oxide. 'Exp 45, Preparation and Properties of Nitrous Oxide. Must perform 5 experiments. The ones with a star before them are required to gain the 15 points toward an A .
The minimum number of points necessary for the final grades were: A-135 points; B-115 points; C-95 points; 0-85 points. Any one earning less than 85 points received 0. To receive an A one must have earned the 60 points (for required fundamental work), a t least 1 of the 25 points, and have performed the laboratory experiments. The regular class discussions and laboratory work were carried out as before. During the course of study a trip was made t o the ice plant, so the stndents could see how ammonia was used as a refrigerating agent. The different parts of the project lent outside interest t o the regular class work. Points were awarded as t h g outside material was banded in, and a chart was kept of it. It came in with such rapidity that it was possible to have a complete change for the bulletin board every day for two weeks. The board proved so attractive that students flocked to the room and stated a desire for next year t o come so they could take part in so interesting a course. Even other teachers marveled a t the interest displayed by the class. Enough material was turned in t o fill a t least four or five good-sized notebooks. The students were learning about nitrogen while they were doing something they liked t o do. The advertisements, slogans, charts, nitrogen cycles, posters, scrap books, and articles on nitrogen were exceedingly clever. Here are a few of the slogans. "Diamond Dyes-a nitrogenous produd-to make that old dress like new." "Nitrogen-Enricher of the soil." "Nitrogen is in the air. Nitrogen is in our hair. Nitrogen is everywhere." "Proteins make germs go wrong, and men grow strong." "Nitrogen is as necessary to plant life as gasoline is t o a Ford."
One girl brought in a "Nitrogen Tree," which was the outline of a tree
VOL.6, No. 9
ENTHUSIASM IN CHEMISTRY
1531
drawn on poster paper showing numerous articles, all containing either nitrogen or a nitrogen compound, hanging on the branches. An excellent nitrogen wheel with the articles placed on the spokes, was brought in by a heretofore poor student. Summary of Material Turned in on Nitrogen
Fundamental Work 28 out of 29 students turned in answers to the 2 lists of questions assigned. 28 out of 29 passed 2 difficult examinations on "Nitrogen and the Atmosphere" and "Nitrogen Compounds.'' Each examination consisted of 50 questions (see the end of this article). Each student earned 60 points for doing the fundamental work. Scrapbooks, Posters, Articles
7 turned in scrap hooks. 22 turned in charts and posters. 16 turned in articles on "Fixed Nitrogen Price Policy in Germany." 1 turned in an article on "Opium." 4 turned in articles on "The Use of Picric Acid in Manufacture of Dyes." Each student earned 25 points for doing the above work. CONTRACTS 16 turned in articles on "Picric Acid." 9 turned in "Placards on Nitrogen," in'cluding the assigned poem and pictures to illustrate it. .i' 5 turned in slogans (5) about nitrogen. G turned in Nitrous Oxide Columns. 3 turned in articles on "Nitrogen in Agriculture." 2 turned in articles on "Nitrogen." 2 turned in typed articles "Nitrogenous Maid" (this was limited to two). 2 turned in typed poem "Long Live Air" (this was limited t o two). 1 turned in an article on "Ammonia as a Refrigerating Agent." 1 turned in an article on "Laughing Gas." 5 turned in articles on "Breath of Air." O turned in articles on "Leaking Ammonia Imperils 200 in Apartment." 3 turned in articles on "Medicinal Uses of Nitrogen." Each student earned 10 points for doing the above work. ADVERTISEMENTS 16 turned in advertisements. They advertised "Household Ammonia," "Butesin Picrate," "Saltpeter," and "Chile Saltpeter." As was stated in the assignment, if the advertisement was accompanied by an illustration it received 15 points, otherwise it received 10 points. 13 out of the 16 submitted were accompanied by illustrations.
29 c o m p l e t e d
Laboratory Experiments the assigned laboratory work. 15 p o i n t s
w e r e earned f o r
this.
Examination Questions and Results At ths end of the first week the following examination was gisen. Mimeographed ~opjeieswere g i u a to each student. Place e if statement i s Lrue and e - if statement i s false, i n the space provided bqfore the statement. Fill i n the blanks-complete equalions-or list answers as asked by coch pucslion. Work carefully! Remember you must pass this i n order to qualify for the 60 points.
+
Nitrogen is found mostly in a combined state in nature. Nitrogen constitutes nearly of the atmosphere. Life without nitrogen would he impossible. Write formula for oxide formed when phosphorus is burned in presence of water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5. When air is passed over heated copper what happens to oxygen of the air, 6. Can nitrogen he obtained from the above process?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7. N H L I NaN02 -+ - 8. Ammonium nitrite is a very stable compound. - 9. Nitrogen is slightly lighter than air. N1 has a very disagreeable odor. -10. N9 has a lower boiling point than 0 % . -11. The large amount of N1 in the air is due to its inertness. -12. 13. Name 2 names that were first given to the gas that constitutes '/a af the air. 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T 14. Who was the first man to prepare Ns? 15. Who was the first man to coin the name "Nitrogen?" 16. What does the word "Nitrogen" mean? 17. Who was the first man to study the properties of N2? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18. What is the formula for niter? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19. What is farmed during an electrical storm? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ozone is an allotropic form af oxygen. -20. 21. The formula for ozone is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ozone has a peculiar odor. -22. 23. , Ns Ha +24, 25, and 26. List 3 reasons why air is a mixture. 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :. . . . . . 3. When air in a room is moist, evaporation, as from the skin and lungs, is retarded -27. and we feel oppressed and uncomfortable. 28, 29, and 30. Draw a nitrogen cycle showing how plants and animals obtain NI. 31. Name 5 other gases in air besides nitrogen and oxygen. 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32. What 2 men discovered argon? 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . 33. Theword"argonMmeans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Helium is the lightest substance known. -34. 1. - 2. - 3. 4. -
+
+
Recent researches have proved that helium results from the decomposition of radium. Nitrogen is a constituent of protoplasm and other proteins. -36. The chief use of picric a c ~ dis that of making explosives. -37. -38. Picric acid is antiseptic. Silk, woolen garments, beads, and shoes are substances which contain Ns. -39. 40. Write formula for laughing gas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41. Are NH8 fumes poisonous? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2 . The oxygen in the air is removed by animals and replaced by plant life. 43. Name 3 medicines that contain N2. 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .: . . . . . 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . s air rests on each square inch of the earth. -4.25 ~ o u n d of 4 5 . Water vapor is always present in the air. 4 6 . NBunites with practically all elements. 4 7 . N, supports combustion. 4 8 . Cooled to a very low temperature under pressure N? becomes a colorless liquid. 49. Name 3 substances that will take up water vapor if left exposed to the air. 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. . . . . . . . . . . Nitrogen is one of the most interesting elements we have studied so far -50. -35.
At the end of the second week, the following examination was given. Mimeographed copies were given each student.
+
Place e sign before statements that ere true and place a - sign before statements that are false. Finish equations, fill i n blanks, or answer as indicaled by questions. - 1. No life without nitrogen. - 2. The characteristic odor of NHs can often be n@d in the vicinity of heaps of decomposing animal or vegetable refuse. 3. The equation for preparation of NHs by the Haber Process is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . is used as a catalytic agent in the Haber Process. 5. The equation for preparation of NHs in the laboratory is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - 6. Ammonia is a colorless gas passesing a characteristic, pungent, overpowering odor. - 7. NHs is exceedingly soluble in water. - 8. NHs is lighter than air. - 9. The great solubility of NH8 is shown by the ammonia fountain. -10. Pure, dry ammonia is a very active substance. -11. I t is readily combustible in air. -12. The most important chemical property of NH* is the basic quality of its water solution, NH,OH is commonly known as "sal ammoniac." -13. -14. NaNOa is saltpeter. 15. NH40H Hi304 + 16. What substance other than ammonia, and ammonium hydroxide, does household ammonia contain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17. Why is household ammonia valuable as a cleansing agent? 18. The cloudy appearance of ammonia is due to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -19. The most important uses of ammonia are as a refrigerating agent and for the preparation of ammonia water. Is there ammonia in the ice we buy a t ice plants? -20.
+
NIO is called 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NO is a heavy red-brown gas of disagreeable odor. N.0 is used as an . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . How would yon test for a nitrate? Name 4 oxides of nitrogen. 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Whatisaquafortis? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . What is a p e regia? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Why is HNOa a better solvent for Ag, Hg, and Pb than HCI? What voh~meof air would convert 500 cc. of nitric oxide intonitrogen peroxide? . .. . . . . . . Name 3 chemical propertiesof HNOZ. 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Write equation for reaction between copper and cold dilute HNOX. . . . . . . . . . What does aqua regio dissolve! 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . One of the chief uses of potassium nitrate is for the manufacture of gunpowder. Writrite f m n l a for unslaked lime. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Write formula for slaked lime. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . All nitrates are decomposed by heat. N ~ N O and J KNOJ when heated give up oxygen and are converted into nitrites. Give a definition of "the fixation of nitrogen." NO 01 ----t NO* H,O + Many nitrogen compounds are used in explosives. A g u e reg& furnishes nascent chlorine. How many oxides does nitrogen have? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nitric acid reacts with few metals. HNOJ has a characteristic color a t qrdinary temperatures. What kind of apparatus is used in laboratory in preparation of HNOI? . . . . . . What color is NO? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .+. . . . . . . . . . . . What happens t o NO when exposed to air.? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Who discovered nitrous oxide? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Explain what is meant by the ammonium theory. How is nitric acid formed naturally? Write the equation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nitric acid does not attack fabric of cotton or woolen goods.
+
+
The results of these examinations were as follows: 26 out of 29 students made A , 2 out of 29 students made B, 1 out of 29 students made C. There were no D's, no F's. 22 out of 26 who made A earned more than the minimum required 135 points. The number of points above 135 ranged from 140 t o 195. The following numbers represent the grades made while the figures in parenthesis give the number of students making that grade: 140 (2), 142 (I), 145 ((i), 150 (2), 155 ( G ) , 175 (I), 180 (I), 185 (2), 190 (I), 195 (1). There were many more A's than most pedagogical books insist one should have and there were no D's or failures. However, ample opportunity was given each student to do excellent work if he wished. The grade received is really a measure of the students interest and willingness to work.
