Chem-speak (introduction to chemical equations)

Students will understand what constitutes a chemical reaction and how chemical equations represent chemical reactions by means of discussion and demonstrations.

A lesson plan for grades 9–12 Science

By Brenda Rock

Learn more

• Balancing Chemical Equations a tutorial on how to balance equations

Related pages

• Discovering elements online: Students will work independently and in small groups to research assigned elements on the internet with sites given in advance. They will then contribute to a class database with their individual information. The database will then be made available for students to again work independently and in pairs to answer questions created from a class discussion to discover relationships about the elements.
• pH indicators and tests for acids and bases: Students will create various pH indicators and test unknown solutions to determine if they are an acid or a base.
• Physical and chemical changes: This is a PowerPoint presentation to help students distinguish between physical and chemical changes. It includes teacher demonstrations to check the students' understanding.

Related topics

• Learn more about chemistry and science.

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Learning outcomes

Students will identify chemical changes and write balanced chemical equations.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

80 minutes

Materials/resources

• graphing calculator
• graphical analysis program by Vernier
• CBL / temperature probe by Texas Instruments
• molecular model kit
• 250 milliliter beakers
• balance
• graduated cylinder
• acetic acid
• ammonium chloride
• barium hydroxide octahydrate
• sodium bicarbonate
• sucrose
• concentrated sulfuric acid
• barium chloride
• dilute sulfuric acid

Technology resources

• CBL System by Texas Instruments
• graphing calculator
• graphical analysis program by Vernier

Pre-activities

Students should be familiar with the CBL and graphing calculators, and be able to write chemical formulas.

Activities

1. Key terms on overhead: reactant, product, coefficient, endothermic, exothermic, precipitate.
2. Instructor will demonstrate:
   • acetic acid (vinegar) reacting with sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)
   • sucrose reacting with sulfuric acid
   • ammonium chloride reacting with barium hydroxide oxyhydrate
   • barium chloride reacting with sulfuric acid
3. Use CBL temperature probe and graphing calculator to record and chart temperature change in reaction between ammonium chloride and barium hydroxide oxyhydrate.
4. After each reaction, students identify any indicators of a chemical reaction—color change, energy change, odor change and evolution of gas.
5. Instructor writes word equations for each of the four demonstrations and then translates into “chem speak” (i.e. writes chemical equations).
6. Demonstration with molecular model kit of molecular structure of ethyne, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water.
7. Write word equation for reaction of ethyne burning in oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water. Have students translate into “chem-speak.”
8. Have students check to see if the Law of Conservation of Mass has been observed.
9. Ask students to offer solutions for solving this problem.
10. Instructor leads students through balancing equation using coefficients.
11. Students use molecular model kit to rearrange the atoms to form CO₂ and 2 H₂O.
12. Worksheet with eight equations to be balanced.

Assessment

• feedback during discussions
• correct completion of equations worksheet

Supplemental information

Attachments:

• chemical equations worksheet