Chemistry
Resources
- Chemistry Class Preparation Page
- Chemistry Workbook
- Scoutmaster Bucky's Merit Badge Advancement Quick Reference
- Scoutmaster Bucky's Acknowledgement Form
Related
Chemistry Requirements Current Scouts BSA requirements
as of March 8, 2025
as of March 8, 2025
1.
Do the following and discuss with your counselor:
a.
Obtain safety data sheets (SDS) for sucrose (sugar), isopropyl alcohol
(rubbing alcohol), and a waterproofing spray. Compare their properties
and potential hazard(s), including handling and disposal guidelines and
toxicity information.
b.
What types of personal protective equipment (PPE) are recommended for
each, and why? How does the recommended PPE change with toxicity and
route of exposure?
c.
Review the pictograms in Section 2 of each SDS. What do they mean, and
how do you see them used in your community?
d.
Discuss the safe storage of chemicals. How does the safe storage of
chemicals apply to your home, your school, your community, and the
environment?
2.
Chemistry and First Aid. After successfully completing requirement
1, do the following:
a.
Discuss with your counselor why you think soap and alcohol are used to
clean cuts and scrapes. Discuss how you could test your hypotheses with
your counselor.
b.
Coat your hands with a mixture of cooking oil and a nontoxic powder,
such as sand or cocoa. Wash your hands with water and observe what
happens. Coat your hands again, then wash with soap and water. Discuss
the differences with your counselor.
c.
Perform an experiment to demonstrate how rubbing alcohol affects
microbial growth using baker's yeast. Discuss the results with your
counselor.
3.
Chemistry in the Kitchen. After successfully completing requirement
1, do EACH of the following:
a.
Perform a Maillard, or browning, reaction. Discuss with your counselor
whether a physical or chemical change has occurred, and what happened
to molecules in the food during the cooking process.
b.
Prepare and use red cabbage indicator to measure the pH of five common
household liquids, including water. Discuss your observations with your
counselor.
4.
Chemistry and Camping. After successfully completing requirement 1,
do TWO of the following:
a.
Design and conduct an experiment to compare at least two different
types of waterproofing. Discuss with your counselor which one you would
prefer to use on your tent and which one you would prefer to use on
your boots, and why.
b.
Describe the four classes of fires, and the four classes of fire
extinguishers. Discuss with your counselor how sand, baking soda, and
the four classes of extinguishers work to put out fires.
c.
Under your counselor's supervision and/or the supervision of a
knowledgeable adult approved in advance by your counselor, conduct
flame tests of at least five elements using a kitchen or propane torch.
d.
Under your counselor's supervision and/or the supervision of a
knowledgeable adult approved in advance by your counselor, synthesize
nylon (may be from a kit).
5.
Describe how chemistry can be used to reduce the environmental impacts of
single-use items, such as water bottles, bags, straws, or batteries.
6.
Identify five fields of chemistry. Briefly describe each, tell how each
applies to your life and how they interact.
7.
Identify three government agencies that oversee or provide guidance on the
use of chemicals for personal, pharmaceutical, commercial, or industrial
use, and discuss the agencies' history and responsibilities with your
counselor.
8.
Do ONE of the following:
a.
Visit a research laboratory, and discuss the research performed there
with a chemist or chemical technician. Learn what education and
training they received.
b.
Visit a company or plant that makes chemical products or uses chemical
processes. Learn about their products or processes, and talk with
someone who works there. Learn what they do, and what education and
training they received.
c.
Identify three career opportunities that would use skills and knowledge
in chemistry. Pick one and research the training, education,
certification requirements, experience, and expenses associated with
entering the field. Research the prospects for employment, starting
salary, advancement opportunities and career goals associated with this
career. Discuss what you learned with your counselor and whether you
might be interested in this career.
