Cornell University
What Is Rust?
Why do metals rust differently? Scholars experiment with metal combinations in a hands-on activity. They create unique environments with different metals and compare the rate and amount of rust for each.
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Nailing Rust
When your upper elementary or middle school class is learning about chemical changes, these activities help demonstrate the concepts. In Part A, they submerge and place a nail partially underwater, then after a week they make...
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Metals in Industry, Working with Metals
How is iron is extracted from it ore and then combined with other materials to produce steel? That question is answered in the presentation. Also covered is how titanium and aluminum are used in manufacturing. This is a compact lesson...
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Other Metals
Middle schoolers identify the properties of transition metals. In this chemistry lesson, students research facts and uses of one aluminum product they choose. They create an advertisement highlighting aluminum's useful properties.
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Transition Metals (II)
Students discuss transition metals, their properties, and where they are located on the periodic table as well as why transition metals are ideal for coins. After discussion, they conduct an experiment using copper in the form of old...
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Rusting-A Form of Oxidation
Young scholars conduct an experiment to observe oxidation. In this chemistry lesson, students explain how rusting happens. They rank metals according to their conductivity.
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Transition Metal Ions and Colour
In this transition metal worksheet, students are given equations of transition metals and their ions. Each equation shows the changes in colors of the ions when heat, salt or other substances are added to the metals.
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Name that metal!
Learners have to have had some experience with metals prior to using this worksheet. They are given five properties common to five different metals. They create or use a dichotomous key to identify the five mystery metals. Tip: This...
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Module 5 Revision Guide - Chemistry
If you use this as an outline for your chemistry lecture on metals, your young chemists will absorb a well-rounded overview. This is not a learning exercise per se, but a useful summary of the behavior of metals. Save yourself some...
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The Transfer of Energy 3: Rust and Corrosion
Middle schoolers research the type of chemical reaction that occurs when metal rusts. They conduct an experiment looking at the rate of corrosion in steel wool. This is lesson three in a three lesson unit on the transfer of energy.
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Rusting-A Form of Oxidation
Students observe the rusting process in the lab. In this chemistry lesson, students rank metals according to their conductivity. They give real world applications of this activity.
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Reactivity Series of Metals
In this reactivity series worksheet, 10th graders complete 10 short answer questions on metals. They identify and balance chemical reactions.
It's About Time
Color Reactions that Involve the Transfer of Electrons
Demonstrate the aging of materials as you assist the class in creating rust. Individuals demonstrate oxidation-reduction reactions that result in the rusting of materials, differentiate between materials that will and will not rust, and...
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Oxidation: Does Iron Burn?
Searching for a fairly easy demonstration of how oxidation triggers rust formation? The demonstration allows high school chemists to witness the rusting of metals, as large and small objects are held into a flame while triggering the...
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Corrosion & Rust
Students examine how and when rust and corrosion occur. In this corrosion lesson students complete an experiment to see why metals rust.
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What Will Rust?
Students discuss if they have ever seen anything that has rusted. They place metal objects into the cup and then add just enough water to cover the bottom of the container. They complete information on their data sheets and record as...
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Rusting and Metal Corrosion Part 1
In this chemistry worksheet, students answer 18 multiple choice questions on rusting and metal corrosion. They select the answers from the drop down box.
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Rusting: A Form of Oxidation
Students observe and record the corrosive nature of oxidation-reduction reactions, and determine the electro-chemical series of selected metals.
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Rusting of Metals: Brown Village Roofs
Learners define iron rust and its formation. They demonstrate how iron rusting can be prevented.
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Oxidation And Corrosion
Students investigate the concepts of oxidation and corrosion. They identify different metals and forms of corrosion.
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Use of Common Metals
In this metals activity, students read about the different properties of aluminum, copper, and iron and determine why these metals are used they way they are used. This activity has 5 short answer questions.
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Edward Burtynsky's Ship Breaking
Seventh graders view Edward Burtynsky's artwork that represents ship breaking. They view images of recycling, the water cycle, rusted metal, and ships to determine factors that threaten the existence of a particular habitat of an...
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Oxidation And Corrosion
Students sort tarnished metals by type and experiment with different cleaning solutions and techniques to restore them to their natural color and shine.
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Chemical Changes to Matter
Students analyze the causes of corrosion. In this chemistry lesson, students investigate what is necessary to cause chemical changes in matter. Students discover the causes of rust and tooth decay.