Education Standards
Key_ IR and molecule quiz
Key_ Molecules And Light Guided Inquiry
key_ Pattern Identification IR Activity comp
LP 2_ IR Spectroscopy
Molecules And Light Guided Inquiry_ Student Handout
No computer Key_ Pattern Identification IR Activity
No Computer Pattern Identification IR Activity
Pattern Identification IR Activity (no computer)
Pattern Identifiction IR Activity Comp
Printable cards for Pattern Identification IR
Student copy_ IR and molecule quiz
Light and Matter: Atomic and Molecular Interactions
Overview
In this unit students investigate the cause of sunburns, the function of sunscreen, and the ways in which chemists determine the molecular structure of matter by applying relationships about how light interacts with matter on an atomic or molecular level.
Overview of Unit and Materials
In this unit plan, students describe the various ways in which light interacts with matter on a molecular and atomic level to explain many macroscopic level observations.
Absorption of lower energy light (such as radio, micro-, and IR waves) typically results in increased motion of molecules and the bonds between atoms in molecules. The absorption of this low energy light can be used to determine the bonding within molecules or to heat food in a microwave oven.
The absorption and reflection of visible light results in the visible color observed by molecules. Emission of visible light by electrons in atoms produces atomic spectrum, which can be used to determine the composition of stars and salts.
Higher energy EMR, such as UV or gamma rays, can break chemical bonds or ionize atoms. This can result in damage to DNA and tissue. Compounds in sunscreen are designed to absorb this light, frequently by breaking the chemical bonds in the sunscreen, to prevent damage to living tissue.
This unit contains the following resources:
- Word: How Light Interacts with Matter Student inquiry Activity
- Word: Key for How Light Interacts with Matter
- Powerpoint: How light interacts with matter (discussion guide for after the task cards)
- Word: Patterns in IR spectroscopy with computers student handout (Patterns in Identification IR Activity (comp))
- Word: Key for Patterns in Identification IR activity comp
- Powerpoint: Patterns in IR sectroscopy printable cards (Printable cards for pattern identification)
- Word: Student handout to accompany IR spectroscopy without computers (Pattern identification IR activity (no computer))
- Word: Formative assessment on identifying molecules through IR (Student copy_IR and molecule quiz)
- Word: Key for IR and molecule quiz
Intro to Light and Matter
Students use a Phet simulation to identify general patterns in the ways light interacts with matter. Using these general principles, students then work through six stations focusing on different types of light interacting with matter, relating molecular and atomic level interactions to common real-life applications and observations.
Using light to investigate molecular structure
By identifying patterns in how infrared light is absorbed by different classes of molecules, students describe how to distinguish between the molecular bonding structure of molecules with similar or identical chemical formulas.
Also provided is a formative assessment in which students apply these concepts to identify compounds in different household substances by how they intearct with infrared radiation.