Home Sweet Home?
The Mysterious Death of Janette Williams
Tracy Suggs
Chemistry
Vestal High School
Vestal, New York
www.bloggingbaby.com
Home Sweet Home?
The Mysterious Death of Janette Williams
This learning activity is an
interrupted case study concerning
the safe use of chemicals found
in the home.
http://www.pbs.org/hometime/house/environ/chem.htm
http://www.yourhome123.com/infocenter.asp?UserID=10768&SubjectID=1&ArticleID=93
Goals
The students will investigate the toxicity
of chemicals found in household
cleaning products.
Time Frame
Overview
4 - 5 Days of Student Centered Activities
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Request for Assistance
Police Report
Student Research
Autopsy & Forensic Report
Solve Chemical Mystery
Extensions
http://www.boyscoutstuff.com/Galleries/Equipment/equipment.html
Chemistry Core Standards
III. Moles and Stoichiometry
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a compound as a substance
empirical and molecular formulas
http://www.moleday.org/
IV. Chemical Bonding
•
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compounds differ by properties
ionic and molecular compounds
http://www.kean.edu/~chem/
Chemistry Core Standards
V. Physical Behavior of Matter
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classification of matter
composition of a mixture
proportions of components in mixture
solutions as homogeneous mixtures
kinetic molecular theory
http://thegreatwaterodyssey.com/third.html
Chemistry Core Standards
VII. Organic Chemistry
•
organic compounds
www.ktf-split.hr/glossary/en_o.php?def=benzene
IX. Acids, Bases, and Salts
•
behavior of acids and bases
www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/.../e16/essig.htm
Living Environment Core
Key Idea 5:
http://www.rpi.edu/dept/phys/Dept2/APPhys1/torque/torque/node2.html
Organisms maintain a dynamic equilibrium that
sustains life.
5.2 Explain disease as a failure of homeostasis
a. Homeostasis is constantly threatened
h. Disease caused by toxic substances
Day 1
Request for Assistance
Dear Chemical
Investigators,
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
With Respect,
Murray Jones
Unexplained death of
Janette Williams
Day 1
Official Police Report
Describes scene of death
Evidence of cleaning house
http://www.leonuniform.com/Emblems_BadgeState.htm
Day 1
Official Police Report
Recorded statements
 Co-workers
 Neighbor
 Husband
http://www.leonuniform.com/Emblems_BadgeState.htm
Day 1: Task 1
Process Official Police Report
Answer questions
together in group
www.fotosearch.com/EYW241/ei00447/
Day 1: Task 2
Background Information
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/newsletters/nl081503/nl081503.htm
1.
2.
3.
4.
What is Toxicology?
Exposure, Routes of Entry, Dose-Response
Reading Household Labels
Risk / Benefit Assessment
http://www.uwosh.edu/faculty_staff/fischert/Lincoln/third.htm
Day 2
Jigsaw Activity
Students share background information with
their team members.
Day 2: Task 3
Checking for Understanding
The Chief Chemical Investigator
“certifies”
the Chemical Investigators
http://www.grupoisotex.com/Empresas/Empresas.htm
Day 2: Task 4
Learning More About
Household Product Labels
Federal Hazardous Substance Act
(FHSA)
http://www.penickgroup.com/
http://www.healthmarvels.net/
Day 2-3: Task 5
Recording information from
household product labels
pested.unl.edu/pat2.htm
pested.unl.edu/pat2.htm
Day 3: Task 6
Evaluating
information
from household
product labels
www.cosmos-contractfilling.com/household.html
Day 4
Coroner’s Report
www.abc.net.au/coroner/ep03.htm
Day 4
Forensic
Specialist’s
Report
chemistry.ewu.edu/forensics/
Day 4
Final Report from the
Chemical Investigators
http://www.private-investigations-detectives-investigators-sweden.com/
Possible Day 5
3 minute presentation
by each team of
Chemical Investigators
Possible Scenario
Mysterious Death Solved
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unmarked bottle of chlorine bleach
acidic toilet bowl cleaner
bleach added (remove rust stains?)
chlorine gas generated
exits bathroom twisting the rug
collapsed on kitchen floor
gasping, scratched throat, lost consciousness
Chemistry of Bleach + Acid
Active ingredient in bleach; sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl)
Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) formed by hydrolysis:
NaOCl + H2O ↔ HOCl + Na+ + OH−
Active ingredient in Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner;
hydrochloric acid (HCl)
When bleach and acid are mixed;
HOCl + HCl ↔ H2O + Cl2 ↑
Moral of the Story
• ?
• ?
• ?
Moral of the Story
• Do not mix chlorine bleach
with any other household cleaners.
• Read the labels of
household products.
• Never transfer chemicals into
unmarked containers.
Extensions
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Extensions
• Toxicology Lab
• MSDS
• pH’s of household chemicals
• Antifreeze and Colligative properties
• Healthy cleaning alternatives
• Chemistry of household products
• Home survey of household products
http://www.philatron.com/coiled-extensioncord/
Suggested Household Chemicals
WD 40®, Heet®, Goop®, Prestone® Antifreeze
Pic® Ant Control Systems, Brasso®, Mr.Metal®
Whink® Rust Remover, Lysol®, Lime-A–Way®, Windex®
Easy Off®, Parsons’® Ammonia, Arm and Hammer®
Dial® Hand Sanitizer, Goo Gone®, Cascade®
Soft Scrub®, Moth Balls, Washing Soda
RIT® White Wash, Clorox® Bleach, Oxi Magic, Bounce®
Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Draino®, Sani Flush®
34 Prepared Labels in Appendix B
AMERICA’S #1 OVEN CLEANER!
EASY-OFF®
HEAVY DUTY ORIGINAL
OVEN CLEANER
CUTS THROUGH TOUGH BAKED-ON
FOOD AND GREASE
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.
DANGER:
CAUSES BURNS TO SKIN AND EYES ON
CONTACT. HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED.
CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE.
READ PRECAUTIONS ON BACK
EASY-OFF® HEAVY DUTY
OVEN CLEANER
Effectively cleans warm or cold ovens!
Ideal for cleaning ovens, broilers, barbeque
grills, & stainless steel surfaces.
READ WARNINGS, PRECAUTIONARS AND
ENTIRE LABEL BEFORE USE. NOTE:
FOLLOW DIRECTIONS ON SAFETY CAP
TO REMOVE IT. DO NOT USE KNIFE OR
OTHER TOOL TO PRY CAP. DOING SO
MAY PUNCTURE CONTAINER.
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.
DANGER: Contains sodium hydroxide (LYE).
WILL BURN SKIN AND EYES. Avoid contact with
skin, wyes, mucous membranes, and clothing.
HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED. Do not ingest.
AVOID BREATHING SPRAY MIST. WEAR
RUBBER GLOVES WHEN USING.
The End
Lesson goals;
• To use EHS as a conduit…
• To create a chemical mystery…
http://ag.arizona.edu/nsc/new/efnep/goals.htm
• To create a need to know about ….EHS!
• To discover Chemistry and Biology are all
around us.