Chemistry Research Paper

CHM 111.0A1W • Fall 2020 • Chemistry Research Project

E. Chesky, Instructor - R. Grooms, Librarian

November 9 – Topic Selection Due

November 30 – Final Research Project Due

T

he purpose of this project is to research a chemistry topic and write a four-page minimum, college-level paper.

The research paper must be four (4) pages minimum and no more than six (6) pages. The requirements are as follows:

· The paper must be formatted in APA style and include the following:

· Cover page (Not included in the page count, APA style)

· Pagination (page numbering, APA style)

· Running header (APA style)

· 12-Point Times Roman, double spaced

· Introduction with at least 4 main discussion points

· At least 2 solid paragraphs for each discussion point noted in the introduction

· Conclusion and summary of what you learned

· Reference section

· References must be cited in-text and in the reference section, per APA.

· No more than one quotation per reference allowed. This should be your thoughts and words, not another person’s.

· Pictures, diagrams, or charts cannot take up more than 2 pages. Full-page pictures, diagrams, charts, tables, or other visuals are not considered part of the page count.

· Pictures and diagrams must be labeled (Table 1, Graph 1, etc., per APA style)

· Articles must be PEER REVIEWED and properly cited. Nothing “Wiki-“ is acceptable!

· Use a minimum of three (3) peer-reviewed sources.

· This project will count as a 200-point double lab.

You are encouraged to come up with your own topic…something involving chemistry that you would be interested in knowing more about. ALL topics must be approved by your instructor before you begin writing. You need to be able to discuss the CHEMISTRY of your subject based on your knowledge and understanding of the subject.

NO TWO PEOPLE MAY RESEARCH THE SAME TOPIC. Topics will be approved and registered on a first-come, first serve basis. Date and time stamps on emails and messages will determine you claimed a topic first.

Topics must be approved by the class meeting scheduled for Library Research (November 9). Mr. Russell Grooms, Woodbridge Librarian, will be our guest speaker on November 9. He will guide you through the expectations for writing a college-level science paper and teach you how to use our wonderful library resources at NOVA Woodbridge.

If you are having trouble finding a suitable topic, suggestions can be found on page two of this document. Some of these topics may be difficult to come up with four pages of discussion. Choose wisely if you use this list.

Since many areas of chemistry spill over into the other sciences, it is acceptable that your topic may include concepts from biochemistry, physical chemistry, nuclear chemistry, etc. Remember: the key word is CHEMISTRY.

How do you get started? It’s as easy as 1-2-3-4-5!

1. Chose a topic and get it approved by November 9

2. Find and read articles written by experts in the field on your chosen subject.

3. Take notes about the facts and interesting concepts that you discover. Be sure to cite where you find these for your references and in-text citations. (Index cards work great for this.)

4. Create an outline to get your thoughts collected and organized.

5. Use the outline to create your research paper.

Possible General Research Topics

Many of these are very general and would need to be more specific; e.g., instead of Chemistry of Pollution, pick a specific pollutant or type of pollutant.

1.      Chemical Pollution

2.      Chemicals on the Surface of the land

3.      Chemistry of Acid Rain (Deposition)

4.      Chemistry of Acids in the Environment

5.      Chemistry of Air pollution

6.      Chemistry of Alternative Energy Sources

7.      Chemistry of Antacids

8.      Chemistry of Antiperspirants

9.      Chemistry of Aquariums with Fish

10.    Chemistry of Aquariums with Plants

11.    Chemistry of Automobile Emissions

12.    Chemistry of Batteries

13.    Chemistry of Beach Sand

14.    Chemistry of Bioluminescence

15.    Chemistry of Blood

16.    Chemistry of Carbohydrates

17.    Chemistry of Catalysts

18.    Chemistry of Climate Change

19.    Chemistry of Concrete

20.    Chemistry of Cooking Food

21.    Chemistry of Cosmetics (Make up)

22.    Chemistry of Decaying Food

23.    Chemistry of Deodorants

24.    Chemistry of Distillation

25.    Chemistry of DNA Fingerprinting

26.    Chemistry of Drinking Water (Bottled or Faucet)

27.    Chemistry of Enzymes

28.    Chemistry of Fireworks

29.    Chemistry of Food Additives

30.    Chemistry of Foods

31.    Chemistry of Forensic Science

32.    Chemistry of Forest Fires

33.    Chemistry of Fruit Juices

34.    Chemistry of Hair Cleaning or Coloring or Curling

35.    Chemistry of Hormones

36.    Chemistry of Hydrothermal Vents

37.    Chemistry of Igneous Rocks

38.    Chemistry of Insect Ecology

39.    Chemistry of Light Bulbs

40.    Chemistry of Lipids (Fats)

41.    Chemistry of Liquid Chromatography

42.    Chemistry of Magma or Lava

43.    Chemistry of Medicines

44.    Chemistry of Metal Alloys

45.    Chemistry of Metamorphic Rocks

46.    Chemistry of Minerals

47.    Chemistry of Mitosis or Meiosis

48.    Chemistry of Molds

49.    Chemistry of Mouth Wash

50.    Chemistry of Muscle Fatigue

51.    Chemistry of Nucleic Acids

52.    Chemistry of Ocean Carbon Sequestration

53.    Chemistry of Oil

54.    Chemistry of Oxidation (Rusting)

55.    Chemistry of Ozone

56.    Chemistry of Pain Medicine

57.    Chemistry of Pesticides or Herbicides

58.    Chemistry of Petroleum

59.    Chemistry of Photography

60.    Chemistry of Photosynthesis

61.    Chemistry of Plants

62.    Chemistry of Plastics

63.    Chemistry of Polymerase Chain Reaction

64.    Chemistry of Pond/Lakes/Rivers

65.    Chemistry of Proteins (Macromolecules)

66.    Chemistry of Respiration or Breathing

67.    Chemistry of Rocks

68.    Chemistry of Salt H2O Marsh Sediments

69.    Chemistry of Sedimentary Rocks

70.    Chemistry of Sewage Treatment

71.    Chemistry of Smog

72.    Chemistry of Soaps or Detergents

73.    Chemistry of Soda or Spray Cans

74.    Chemistry of Soil Carbon Sequestration

75.    Chemistry of Soils

76.    Chemistry of Storms

77.    Chemistry of Substances Used to Measure Temperature

78.    Chemistry of Sunglasses

79.    Chemistry of Sunscreens

80.    Chemistry of Tans or Sunburn

81.    Chemistry of Teas or Coffees

82.    Chemistry of the Atmosphere

83.    Chemistry of the Carbon Cycle

84.    Chemistry of the Cell

85.    Chemistry of the Greenhouse Effect

86.    Chemistry of the Sun or Solar Wind

87.    Chemistry of the Sun or Stars

88.    Chemistry of Tobacco Smoke

89.    Chemistry of Toothpaste

90.    Chemistry of Vitamins

91.    Chemistry of Volcanoes or Eruptions

92.    Chemistry of Water or Air Filters

93.    Chemistry of Weathering

94.    Chemo metrics

95.    Comparison of Fats & Oils in Plants & Animals

96.    Effect of Sound on Fish Aquarium Chemistry

97.    Electrochemistry

98.    Electrolysis

99.    Measuring the Energy Potential of Foods

100.  Pressure and Deep-sea Diving