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Chemistry Extra
10.30.06
What's an "Extra"? Every month NASA compiles a list of educational resources related to a NASA theme. Visit each month to find new educational materials, classroom activities, games, pictures, NASA TV broadcasts and Web sites.

Chemistry is the scientific study of matter, its properties, and its interactions with other matter and with energy. Chemists examine the properties and composition of matter and the interactions between substances. Explore NASA's role with this month's Chemistry Extra.

A molecule created from connecting yellow and blue spheres representing carbon and hydrogen atoms, with a single nitrogen atom shown in red
NASA TV Education Schedule
During the week of Nov. 13-19, 2006, NASA TV showcases videos that highlight chemistry. Check the schedule for titles and descriptions of the broadcasts.
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Image to right: A polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with nitrogen. Credit: NASA

NASA Educational Products

The front cover of the Microgravity Educator Guide with the words Microgravity above an image of the ISS, the space shuttle and a math equation Microgravity Educator Guide
The activities enable students to experiment with the forces and processes of microgravity.
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The front cover of the Mars Exploration Is There Water on Mars Educator Guide with an image of the surface of Mars Mars Exploration: Is There Water on Mars? Educator Guide
Investigations in the guide explore the question of whether or not there is water on Mars.
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The front cover of The Air We Breathe Picture Book with an illustration of an astronaut with the words The Air We Breathe above him The Air We Breathe Picture Book
The colorful picture book for K-4 is about Earth's atmosphere and its importance to life on the planet.
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NASA Educational Multimedia Materials

Picture of CD, tape, slides and guides
The Central Operation of Resources for Educators, or CORE, is the worldwide distribution center for NASA-produced multimedia materials. Education Modules for themes are bundled by topic and may include DVDs, CD-ROMs, videotapes, educator guides, posters, lithographs, books, lesson plans, bookmarks, fact sheets, slide sets and activity kits.

Image to right: NASA develops multimedia resources for educators.

Search words for CORE materials: chemistry

CORE
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Follow the Theme -- Activities, Adventures and Web Sites of Interest

Genetically engineered plants Prozac for Plants
How does a person grow plants on Mars? Step one is to relieve their anxiety.
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A satellite image of three typhoons in the Pacific Ocean Visible Earth
The Web site provides a searchable directory of images, visualizations and animations of Earth.
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A photograph of a sunrise Chemistry in the Sunlight
Ozone forms through a highly complex series of reactions that take place over several hours.
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An image of the night sky with people looking up and the words Imagine the Universe across the sky Imagine the Universe! Lesson Plans
The site includes chemistry lesson plans about gamma-ray bursts and identification of the elements.
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Bright lights shoot out from a dark background Genesis Education: Cosmic Chemistry
High school and middle school chemistry units are available at the Genesis Education: Cosmic Chemistry page. The modules are written to capture student interest by using the Genesis mission as a real-world link.
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A global tropospheric map showing streams of tropospheric ozone crossing the oceans

Earth-Observing System: Aura
Aura is a NASA mission to study Earth's ozone, air quality and climate. The mission conducts research on the composition, chemistry and dynamics of Earth's atmosphere.
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+ Aura: Atmospheric Chemistry


Critical Chemistry
Ozone concentrations in the atmosphere are difficult for atmospheric chemists to determine. Read how one scientist has compiled data to map out ozone global distribution and concentrations.
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Timeline of the Universe: Chemistry of Life
This tutorial follows the 15-billion-year-long history of the universe.
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Chemistry and Thermodynamics of Ice Cream
Learn more about the chemistry of ice cream and how it freezes.
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Fossil Chemistry
Fossils contain information about ocean temperature, chemistry, currents and surface winds.
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Supernova Chemistry Lesson Plan
Students will observe visible spectra of known elements and identify an unknown element or combination of elements by visible spectra.
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World Book @ NASA for Students: Chemistry Topics
Use the following World Book @ NASA for Students entries to supplement your chemistry lessons.
      + Air
      + Combustion
      + Elements
      + Evaporation
      + Fuel
      + Greenhouse Effect
      + Hydrogen
      + Oxygen
      + Ozone


Videos showcased in the November 2006 Education File Schedule to support "Chemistry" are listed below.
BioBLAST (9-12)
Infrared: More Than Your Eyes Can See (5-8)
Liftoff to Learning: Plants in Space (5-12)
NASA CONNECT™: Who Added the Micro to Gravity? (6-8)
NASA SCIence Files™: The Case of the Biological Biosphere (3-5)
NASA SCIence Files™: The Case of the Unknown Stink (3-5)
NASA SCIence Files™: The Case of the Wacky Water Cycle (3-5)
Passport to Knowledge: Auroras - Living With a Star (6-8)
Passport to Knowledge: Looking for Life (6-10)
Starfinder Program 11: Evolution of a Star (6-10)
Starfinder Program 18: Density of Matter (6-10)
Starfinder Program 27 Conservation: Energy and Matter (6-10)
What's in the News: Space Episode 7: Living in Space (4-12)
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