Chemistry Merit Badge (Worksheet & Requirements)
Do you dream of becoming a master of chemistry? If so, the chemistry merit badge could be the perfect challenge to test your skills and knowledge. In this badge, a Scout must demonstrate their understanding of the basics of chemistry and its influence on everyday life.
Worksheet
To successfully complete the chemistry merit badge, a Scout must complete a worksheet that includes tasks such as demonstrating that heating sawdust or wood chips produces a gas that burns, sketching the carbon dioxide-oxygen cycle, and explain how agriculture benefits from chemistry in their own county.
The first task in the worksheet is to demonstrate that heating sawdust or wood chips produces a gas that burns. To do this, the Scout must place the sawdust or wood chips in a contained enclosed area and light it with a match. This will cause the gas to ignite and start a flame. The Scout can then observe the flame, which is an example of a combustible gas.
The second task is to sketch the carbon dioxide-oxygen cycle. This cycle explains how the gases move through the environment and how they interact with each other. The Scout can sketch this cycle by showing how carbon dioxide is absorbed into plants through photosynthesis and then released back into the atmosphere. The oxygen produced in this cycle is then absorbed by animals and other organisms, completing the cycle.
The third task is to explain how the needs of agriculture are met through chemistry. A Scout can do this by writing an essay that explains how different chemical processes, such as fertilizers, can be used to improve crop yields. They can also explain how different chemicals can be used to control pests and diseases in agricultural settings.
Requirements
To successfully earn the chemistry merit badge, a Scout must fulfill the following requirements:
- Demonstrate that heating sawdust or wood chips produces a gas that burns.
- Sketch the carbon dioxide-oxygen cycle.
- Explain how the needs of agriculture are met through the use of chemistry.
- In addition to the worksheet, present a collection of five common chemicals.
- Visit a chemistry laboratory and describe the equipment and the work being done.
Earning the Chemistry merit badge is a great accomplishment and is a testament to a Scout’s dedication to becoming a master of chemistry. With the knowledge and skill acquired from completing this badge, a Scout can use chemistry in everyday life to their advantage.