cKit™ Teacher Resources
New! cKit™ Teacher’s Guide,
2nd Edition Available!
We are proud to announce the release of the cKit™ Teacher’s Guide, 2nd Edition! Check out updated content and procedures from the classic cKit™ experiments, including a brand new experiment called Silver Pennies!
Supplemental materials to the cKit™ Teacher’s Guide, including information on the standards and how they apply to the cKit™ experiments, can be accessed for free in the downloadable, .zip file (9 MB).
Other Resources from the cKit™ Teacher’s Guide
▪ Website: The Corrosion Doctors – Corrosion of the Sunken Titanic
A description of the corrosion caused by bacteria in the ocean depths.
The Corrosion Doctors website is extensive with many pages of information related to corrosion.
▪ Website: Corrosion Technology Laboratory – NASA: Kennedy Space Center
Fundamentals of Corrosion and Corrosion Control. Lots of information and pictures. Includes the main topics: Why Metals Corrode; Electrochemistry; Forms of Corrosion; and Corrosion Control
▪ Article: “Corrosion of Embedded Metals” – Portland Cement Association
Excellent explanation of the factors affecting the corrosion of metal rebar in concrete. Includes a description of the components of “ACME.”
▪ Video: Modern Marvels – Corrosion and Decomposition
44 minute video available through the History Channel or the GeoChannel
▪ Video: Alkali Metals in Water, Accurate! (Periodicity of Alkali Metals)
Small pieces of the first five alkali metals dropped into water. Approximately two and a half minutes.
▪ Video: How to Change a Water Heater Anode – from This Old House
Excellent everyday practical example of a sacrificial anode. Approximately four and a half minutes.
▪ Article: Pressure-Treated Wood: The Next Generation from Fine Homebuilding
Practical example of corrosion caused by dissimilar metals in new decking and the remedies. CCA treated wood was banned from residential use in 2004. The new preserved wood has a much higher copper content which required the use of different hangers and fasteners. Excellent graphics.
▪ Article: Montana Resources Mines the Water
Recovering copper from mine wastewater. Showcases a practical use of the activity series.
▪ Website: The Corrosion Doctors – Why Metals Corrode
A description of the true driving force (energy) of various common metals in their quest to become more stable. The Corrosion Doctors website is extensive with many pages of information related to corrosion.
▪ Website: Battery University
Information about different types of batteries with a great article about the history of batteries (Article).
▪ Article: Corrosion Failure: LCS 2 USS Independence Naval Ship Engine Corrosion
Article about a major corrosion problem caused by the use of dissimilar metals.
▪ Book: Rust: The Longest War by Jonathan Waldman, Chapter 1: “A High-Maintenance Lady”
© 2015 ISBN: 978-1-4516-9159-7
Excellent narrative of the corrosion problems and restoration of The Statue of Liberty in the 1980s. The entire book is an excellent resource about corrosion – entertaining and informative for everyone.
▪ Website: Explain That Stuff!
Basics of a how a battery works.
▪ Video: Mocomi Kids – How do Batteries Work?
Simple but good explanation of how batteries work.
▪ Video: TED-Ed: Adam Jacobson – How Batteries Work
Covers the basics of how a battery works and the different types of batteries (approximately 4 minutes). Companion lesson to go along with the video can be accessed here.
▪ Website: Flinn Scientific – The Can Ripper
A lab write-up available from Flinn Scientific. The lab involves scoring the inside of a soda can to cut through the polymer liner and expose aluminum to a reactive solution. A free PDF of the lab can be downloaded from this site.
▪ Website: Corrosion Technology Laboratory – NASA: Kennedy Space Center
Corrosion Fundamental – Protective Coatings.
▪ Book: Rust: The Longest War by Jonathan Waldman, Chapter 4: “Coating the Can”
© 2015 ISBN: 978-1-4516-9159-7
Excellent narrative of the history of beverage and food cans, and the coatings they require.
The entire book is an excellent resource about corrosion – entertaining and informative for everyone.
▪ Article: The Secret Life of the Aluminum Can, A Feat of Engineering
Excerpt from Rust: The Longest War – Chapter 4 -on the website “Wired”.
▪ Video: YouTube – How It’s Made: Aluminum Cans
The video shows the steps in making an aluminum beverage can including the polymer coating and its purposes. Video length is 4:45.
A web search for silver cleaning products will reveal several websites and YouTube videos that promote kits for cleaning silver. Many of these contain an aluminum plate and a packet of baking soda or washing soda though they are often not identified as such. The sites often use the terms “metallic plate” or “cleaning plate” for the aluminum and “activator” for the baking soda or washing soda. For a lesson in consumer science, have students read a promotional website or view a video and have them critique it in terms of scientific accuracy and evaluate the costs of the materials provided in the kit. Some suggested sites include:
▪ Website: Hammacher Schlemmer – The Museum Precious Metals Cleaning Plate
▪ Website: International Jewelry Marketing – The Speedy Plate
▪ Website: Metal Brite Products – Metal Brite Super Power Plate
▪ Video: Metal Brite Demo – “Chemically Free Cleaning Process”
▪ Website: Flinn Scientific – Tin Man Electrolysis
Additional experiment demonstrating electrolysis of tin (II) chloride that reinforces additional concepts of electrolysis, oxidation-reduction, anode, and cathode. (Video Demo)
▪ Website: Sciencing – The Uses for Electroplating
The website contains many articles on corrosion, electroplating, metals, etc.
▪ Website: The Corrosion Doctors – Stray Current in Transit Systems
A example of how stray current can cause major corrosion problems. The Corrosion Doctors website is extensive with many pages of information related to corrosion.
▪ Video: Electroplating – How It’s Done
A great explanation of the electroplating process. The video describes the plating of chrome, copper, nickel and gold, as well as plating over both metal and plastic bases. materials.
Spotlight On: Corrosion Video