This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Phillip Cook . It has been edited for length and clarity .
A physicist or a mathematician might argue with me, but I believe chemistry is the best way to understand how the world works. Once you understand atoms, the underpinnings of the world around us can be explained.
Over the past 26 years, I’ve aimed to demonstrate this for my students through experiments. One of my favorites involves dissolving an aluminum soda can with sodium hydroxide, more commonly known as lye. Once the can dissolves, students can see the invisible plastic liner inside, which holds the soda.
I’ve been doing these…
