Cryptic #3

Some cryptic fun for a long weekend! 

PDF 

PUZ 

Solutions

Lessons in Chemistry

To celebrate the end of the school year, here's a 21x21 Sunday stumper that's not for the faint of heart! To keep things interesting, I've decided it to share it in two versions: Regular and Hard. In the Regular version, there are seven starred Across answers that provide an explanation of the theme when read in order. In the Hard version, they're not starred, and you have to find the seven words by yourself (meta-style). The clues and answers are otherwise identical in the two versions. The version on CrossHare is the Hard one, and you can enter the meta answer after successfully completing the puzzle.

Happy solving!

Regular version: PDF PUZ

Hard version: PDF PUZ

Divided Loyalties

 (Cross-posted to Muggle Meta Mondays - a wonderful forum for fans of meta crosswords!)

Apparently there was some kind of sportsball thing yesterday? I find these things confusing. Anyway, here's a metapuzzle. The meta answer, which has two words, can be found in both the U.S. and Canada.

PDF

PUZ

Solution will be posted on Sunday, February 18.

Note: The easiest way to submit and verify your meta answer is using the Crosshare interface below, after completing the grid there. If you solved the puzzle on paper (which is highly recommended), you can just use "Reveal Puzzle" to get directly to the meta submission.