Chemistry: Video Links

Chemistry-Based QuickTime, Shockwave Flash, GIF Animations, and Streaming Audio: This site, maintained by Dr. Thomas Chasteen of the Sam Houston State University Department of Chemistry, has a table of downloadable animations to show different concepts of chemistry with links to the proper plug-ins.

"Distillations is a weekly science podcast that brings you extracts from the past, present, and future of chemistry. Join host Robert D. Hicks for a new episode every Friday with interviews, monologues, reviews, features, and more, to gain historical perspective on current scientific issues. On our Web site you can find additional information about each show as well as our archived podcasts."

"This collection of videos from the University of Alberta is intended to demonstrate laboratory techniques that students will use in an introductory organic chemistry laboratory. The experimental techniques are covered comprehensively in a user-friendly, engaging style. In some instances, the inclusion of other instruments not specific to the authors' institution would help. For example, the use of heating mantles instead of Bunsen burners would be more appropriate as most schools have moved away from open flame. For the extraction experiment (under Using a Separatory Funnel), if the student has not done the venting properly, placing the stopper on the funnel might lead to pressure build-up and release of the stopper. The authors/creators might want to draw attention to this fact. Additionally, in the recrystallization videos, checking the temperature of the water bath to ensure that it is on or below the boiling point of the solvent is necessary to avoid accidents. When using small amounts, specifying the amount (e.g., 2-3 mg) rather than saying "a small amount" might be more helpful to students.

The demonstrator is not wearing gloves in most videos; this is a major safety issue. In the distillation video, distillation was stopped, and the hot mantle was removed with bare hands. At the end of each experiment, a summary of the techniques used is a plus. Some videos contained questions and answers related to specific techniques. The Interactive Tutorials at the bottom of the page are also helpful. Videos can be viewed using QuickTime, Movie Player, or Windows Media. A minor technical glitch is that the forwarding and rewinding did not work well for most videos. The site would benefit by explicit safety and technical updates, but overall the videos provide good demonstrations that will capture students' interest." Choice February 2010.

"Sponsored by the journal Nature (CH, Apr'09, 46-4191), the Nature Online Video Streaming Archive is a treasure trove of well-made, informative, and educational videos that feature summaries of research as detailed by the scientists who conducted the work. At the time of this review, only 27 productions (based on articles featured in Nature) were available. Videos cover such topics as the biodiversity of deep-sea organisms, ancient tsunamis and their relevance to the 2004 event, and the DNA of Neanderthals and what it reveals about human ancestry. All videos are free and can be played at low or high resolution, depending on one's Internet connection. They do, however, require the Macromedia Flash plug-in. Videos can also be viewed on Nature's YouTube channel.

As one would expect from Nature, all productions are of excellent quality. They include interviews with research scientists, fabulous photography, and explanatory graphics that detail various scientific processes. Each presentation provides links to more information about the research, including access to the original work as published in the journal (subscription required or articles can be purchased). In addition to offering an interesting way to learn about ongoing research, the videos can provide an excellent way to introduce students to the work of field biologists. This reviewer can easily envision the videos being incorporated into class as part of a discussion on careers in science--a great way to bring the scientist into the high school or undergraduate classroom. The site's only disadvantage is the lack of a search engine. This is not a problem as there are only about two dozen titles to browse, but it could be problematic with the addition of more titles to the archives." Choice, August 2009.

"Martyn Poliakoff and his colleagues (all, Univ. of Nottingham, UK) have produced a fascinating collection of video clips covering the 118 elements in the periodic table. From hydrogen to ununoctium, each element has its own short video, all recorded and assembled for the site by science journalist Brady Haran. Naturally, the site is designed as periodic table, where each square is identified by the element's symbol. After clicking on the square, the viewer can see the element's name, symbol, and atomic number, launch a video, and navigate between two surrounding elements in the periodic row. Each video weaves together portions from an introduction by Poliakoff in his office, where he describes the element, its properties, and usage, and live demonstrations by other chemists in the laboratory, where they show the appearance and chemistry of the element (if possible). While discussing the chemistry, Poliakoff adds many peculiar facts, such as the use of lead compounds in submarine camouflage or Mendeleev's vodka. Demonstrations of several elements, e.g., hydrogen, potassium, and cesium, involve explosives that could rarely be conducted in schools due to safety concerns." from Choice, Feb. 2009.

Links to movies and interactive tutorials in a variety of sciences.

YouTube + Science = ScienceHack. A database of scientist approved videos.

As the title of our web site implies, we believe that the world of electronic media and resources has much to offer the student of chemistry. We hope that you will enjoy our various features such as pedagogical animations, an introduction to chemistry, modules on important topics in chemistry, demonstrations of laboratory techniques, NMR spectral data and problems, and so on. All of these are designed to help students learn chemistry and to provide professionals with information of value.

Interactive periodic table that includes chemical properties as well as health and environmental effects of each element.

"broad range of information about the elements, their reactions, their properties, their structures, and their histories"