The Chemistry of Cell Phones

This lesson was designed by Jen Rushing at Central Coast New tech high school. If you would like to share a lesson with us, please reach out at education[at]ifixit[dot]com.

Objective:

In this module, students will learn about the chemicals used in making cell phones and other electronics. Students will discuss what types of elements are in our devices and the global impact they have on us as people.

Procedures:

Activity: What is in our cell phones?

As a class, have students brainstorm all the types of elements they think are in a cell phone, and why they are used in the cell phone.

Have students take apart a device and explore what is inside, looking for specific elements.

Note: This activity has a lot of variations, so there is not as much detail on this page as there are on other activities. Instead, we encourage you to take a look at the lesson plans, slides, and resources below for inspiration.

Other Resources: