CHEMISTRY

STEM-Based
 BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
MERIT BADGE SERIES

CHEMISTRY

“Enhancing our youths’ competitive edge through merit badges”

 Chemistry

1. Do EACH of the following:

(a) Describe three examples of safety equipment used in a chemistry
laboratory and the reason each one is used.
(b) Describe what a safety data sheet (SDS) is and tell why it is used.
(c) Obtain an SDS for both a paint and an insecticide. Compare and discuss
the toxicity, disposal, and safe-handling sections for these two common house-
hold products.
(d) Discuss the safe storage of chemicals. How does the safe storage of chemi-
cals apply to your home, your school, your community, and the environment?
2. Do EACH of the following:
(a) Predict what would happen if you placed an iron nail in a copper sulfate
solution. Then, put an iron nail in a copper sulfate solution. Describe your
observations and make a conclusion based on your observations. Compare
your prediction and original conclusion with what actually happened. Write
the formula for the reaction that you described.
(b) Demonstrate how you would separate sand (or gravel) from water.
Describe how you would separate table salt from water, oil from water, and
gasoline from motor oil. Name the practical processes that require these kinds
of separations and how the processes may differ.
(c) Describe the difference between a chemical reaction and a physical change.
3. Construct a Cartesian diver. Describe its function in terms of how gases in
general behave under different pressures and different temperatures. Describe
how the behavior of gases affects a backpacker at high altitudes and a scuba
diver underwater.
4. Do EACH of the following:
(a) Cut a round onion into small chunks. Separate the onion chunks into
three equal portions. Leave the first portion raw. Cook the second portion of
onion chunks until the pieces are translucent. Cook the third portion until the
onions are caramelized, or brown in color. Taste each type of onion. Describe
the taste of raw onion versus partially cooked onion versus caramelized onion.
Explain what happens to molecules in the onion during the cooking process.
(b) Describe the chemical similarities and differences between toothpaste and
an abrasive household cleanser. Explain how the end use or purpose of a
product affects its chemical formulation.
(c) In a clear container, mix a half-cup of water with a tablespoon of oil.
Explain why the oil and water do not mix. Find a substance that will help the
two combine, and add it to the mixture. Describe what happened, and explain
how that substance worked to combine the oil and water.
5. List the five classical divisions of chemistry. Briefly describe each one, and tell
how it applies to your everyday life.
6. Do EACH of the following:
(a) Name two government agencies that are responsible for tracking the use
of chemicals for commercial or industrial use. Pick one agency and briefly
describe its responsibilities.
(b) Define pollution. Explain the chemical impacts on the ozone layer and
global climate change.
(c) Using reasons from chemistry, describe the effect on the environment of
ONE of the following:
(1) The production of aluminum cans
(2) Burning fossil fuels
(3) Single-use items, such as water bottles, bags, straws, or paper
(d) Briefly describe the purpose of phosphates in fertilizer and in laundry
detergent. Explain how the use of phosphates in fertilizers affects the
environment. Explain why phosphates have been removed from
laundry detergents.
7. Do ONE of the following activities:
(a) Visit a laboratory and talk to a chemist. Ask what that chemist does and
what training and education are needed to work as a chemist.
(b) Using resources found at the library and in periodicals, books, and the
internet (with your parent’s permission), learn about two different kinds
of work done by chemists, chemical engineers, chemical technicians, or
industrial chemists. For each of the four positions, find out the education and
training requirements.
(c) Visit an industrial plant that makes chemical products or uses chemical
processes and describe the processes used. What, if any, by-products are
produced and how are they handled?
(d) Visit a county farm agency or similar governmental agency and learn
how chemistry is used to meet the needs of agriculture in your county.
Chemistry Resources.

Chemistry Resources
Scouting Literature Churchill, E. Richard, et al. 365 Simple
Astronomy, Cooking, Electricity, Science Experiments With Everyday
Energy, Engineering, Environmental Materials. Black Dog & Leventhal
Science, Fingerprinting, Fire Safety, Publishers, 2013.
Forestry, Gardening, Geology, Inventing, ———. 365 More Simple Science
Medicine, Metalwork, Nuclear Science, Experiments With Everyday
Oceanography, Painting, Plant Science, Materials. Black Dog & Leventhal
Pottery, Public Health, Pulp and Paper, Publishers, 2014.
Soil and Water Conservation, Space
Editors of TIME. Big Book of Science
Exploration, Textile, and Veterinary
Experiments: A Step-by-Step Guide.
Medicine merit badge pamphlets
Time for Kids, 2011.
Visit the Boy Scouts of America’s Evernden, Margery. The Experimenters:
official retail website at Twelve Great Chemists. Avisson
http://www.scoutstuff.org for a Press, 2001.
complete listing of all merit badge Franceschetti, Donald R., ed. Careers in
pamphlets and other helpful Chemistry. Salem Press, 2013.
Scouting materials and supplies. Gardner, Robert. Science Projects About
Kitchen Chemistry. Enslow, 1999.
Books
Kramer, Alan. How to Make a Chemical
Balbes, Lisa M. Nontraditional Careers Volcano and Other Mysterious
for Chemists: New Formulas in Experiments. Scholastic, 1991.
Chemistry. Oxford University Press, Newmark, Ann. Chemistry. Dorling
2006. Kindersley, 2005.
Bonnet, Bob. Science Fair Projects: Potter, Jean. Science in Seconds for
Chemistry. Sterling, 2001. Kids: Over 100 Experiments You
Brown, Cynthia Light. Amazing Kitchen Can Do in Ten Seconds or Less.
Chemistry Projects You Can Build Wiley, 1995.
Yourself. Nomad Press, 2008.

94 CHEMISTRY
 .Chemistry Resources

Snyder, Carl H. The Extraordinary Telephone: 202-272-0167

Chemistry of Ordinary Things. Website: http://www.epa.gov
Wiley, 1995. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
VanCleave, Janice Pratt. Janice 10903 New Hampshire Ave.
VanCleave’s A+ Projects in Silver Spring, MD 20993
Chemistry. Wiley, 1993. Toll-free telephone: 888-463-6332
———. Janice VanCleave’s Chemistry Website: http://www.fda.gov
for Every Kid: 101 Easy Experiments WebElements™ Periodic table is
That Really Work. Wiley, 1989. available at http://www. webelements.
Wolke, Robert L. What Einstein com. A periodic table with models
Didn’t Know: Scientific Answers to can be found at http://www.pittsford-
Everyday Questions. Dell, 1999. schools.org/webpages/jmellon/
general.cfm.
Woodburn, John H. Opportunities in
Chemistry Careers. VGM Career
Books, 2002. Acknowledgments
The Boy Scouts of America thanks
Organizations and Websites Scouter Gene Youngerman, Austin,
American Chemical Society Tex., for his assistance with revising
1155 16th St. NW the requirements and text for this new
Washington, DC 20036 edition of the Chemistry merit badge
Toll-free telephone: 800-227-5558 pamphlet. Thanks also to reviewer
Website: http://www.acs.org Pat Hallquist, Oshkosh, Wis. The BSA
Occupational Safety and is grateful to the following members
Health Administration of Alpha Chi Sigma Fraternity, profes-
U.S. Department of Labor sionals in chemistry, for their contri-
200 Constitution Ave. NW butions to the previous edition of the
Washington, DC 20210 Chemistry merit badge pamphlet and
Website: http://www.osha.gov for their continued interest in this
new edition: Albert C. Holler, Maurice
The Science Page M. Bursey, Timothy Bushnell, James P.
Website: http://sciencepage.org Deavor, Jeffrey H. Glans, and Howard
U.S. Department of Agriculture L. McLean.
1400 Independence Ave. SW We appreciate the expertise of
Washington, DC 20250 Dr. Erwin Goldman, National Onion
Website: http://www.usda.gov Association, for technical assistance
with the onion experiment. Thanks
U.S. Environmental
to the Sherwin-Williams Company,
Protection Agency
Cleveland, Ohio, for use of the safety
Ariel Rios Building
data sheet on pages 23–24.
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20460

CHEMISTRY 95