Source Institutions
Source Institutions
Add to list Go to activity
Activity link broken? See if it's at the internet archive

In "Chemistry Makes Scents," participants use their noses to distinguish between chemicals with very similar structures. While these chemicals can behave similarly, they often have very different properties (including the way they smell). The activity also uses large molecule models, so participants can handle and visualize their structural differences. Activity includes a facilitation guide with potential misconceptions, relevant science infosheets with real-world connections, table sign, and activity training video. All public-facing materials also available in Spanish.
- Under 5 minutes
- 5 to 10 minutes
- $10 - $20 per group of students
- Ages 6 - adult
- Activity, Model
- English, Spanish
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- Spearmint scent bottle: squeeze bottle and cotton ball with spearmint essential oil
- Caraway scent bottle: squeeze bottle and cotton ball with caraway essential oil
- Coffee bean scent bottle: squeeze bottle half filled with coffee grounds
- Extra cotton balls (for reset)
- Spearmint and caraway essential oils (for reset)
- Small hand-held mirror
- Mini Magic Nuudles
- Tray
- Black chenille stems (pre-cut into sixths)
- Step-by-step instructions for making mirror-image molecules
- Spearmint and caraway graphic
- Marker and labels
- Gloves (optional)
Subjects
-
Life Sciences
-
Human Senses and Perception
- Smell
-
Human Senses and Perception
-
Physical Sciences
-
Chemistry
- Chemical Bonding
-
Chemistry
Audience
Learning styles supported:
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
Foreign language versions of this resource:
- Spanish: Activity Guide (Spanish)
- Spanish: Mirror Molecule Instructions (Spanish)
- Spanish: Mirror Molecules Sheet (Spanish)
- Spanish: Activity Sign (Spanish)
- Spanish: Mirror Molecules Infosheet (Spanish)
Components that are part of this resource:
- Activity Sign
- Activity Guide
- Mirror Molecule Instructions
- Facilitator Guide
- Caraway Oil Safety Sheet
- Peppermint Oil Safety Sheet
- Mirror Molecules Information Sheet
- Training Video
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Rights:
- Creative Commons: Non-commercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa), Sciencenter, 2018
Funding Source:
- National Science Foundation, DRL 1612482