Drinking Water
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Provided by: MIT OpenCourseWare|Published on: March 30, 2023
Videos
Scientist Reviewed
1112AP
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Synopsis
- This recorded college lecture explains the importance of molecular orbital structures and orbital hybridization using the real-world example of filtering pollutants out of water.
- Students will learn that access to clean drinking water is a critical issue for billions of people around the world and that water filtration, particularly desalination, is a difficult and expensive process.
- Students will also learn that graphene is a promising material to use as a membrane in water purification due to its molecular structure.

Subjects: Chemistry, Biology, Engineering
Authors: Professor Jeffrey Grossman
Region: Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The professor takes the time to set up the issue of water quality and establish the scale of the problem globally.
- The video includes visuals like maps, graphs, and diagrams to aid in student understanding.
Additional Prerequisites
- Some content presented is copyrighted and is not in the public domain.
- The video and transcript are available to download.
- The video can be opened on YouTube to watch with closed captions or subtitles.
- Students should already be familiar with atomic orbital shapes, molecular orbital theory, hybridization of orbitals, and sigma and pi bonding.
Differentiation
- The chemistry topics referenced in this video are typically beyond the scope of AP, IB, or advanced high school chemistry courses. This resource is best suited for college-level students.
- Before watching the video, teachers should discuss the orbital structures of benzene and graphene, paying particular attention to the pi bonds.
- This video was recorded in 2018, and since then, there have been numerous advancements in the use of graphene as a membrane. Students can research how they are being used today and where scientists are looking to take these membranes next.
- Many new technologies are being explored for desalination, which students can research and compare to graphene.
Scientist Notes
Teaching Tips
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Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
MIT OpenCourseWare
MIT OpenCourseWare is a free and open collection of material from thousands of MIT courses, covering the entire MIT curriculum. Since 2001, MIT OpenCourseWare has been creating new opportunities for millions of learners and educators, sharing Open Educational Resources (OER) from MIT and helping to lead a global revolution in free access to knowledge.
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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