Summary

In this game, students will explore the concepts of solubility and precipitation reactions. The game contains three difficulty levels – introductory, standard, and mastery – in which students will have to fulfill specific victory conditions for a series of scenarios. Victory conditions include selecting compounds to form a particular precipitate, using the proper ratio of reactants, and correctly identifying what precipitate will form from a collection of ions using a solubility chart. Bonus questions include naming compounds and identifying spectator ions.

Grade Level

High School

NGSS Alignment

This game will help prepare your students to meet the following scientific and engineering practices:

• Scientific and Engineering Practices:
  • Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking
  • Developing and Using Models

Objectives

By the end of this game, students should be able to:

• Interpret solubility charts to predict whether a precipitate will form when solutions are mixed.
• Determine the correct ratio of reactants needed in a precipitation reaction.
• Visualize the behavior of ions in water for soluble and insoluble ionic compounds.

Chemistry Topics

This game supports students’ understanding of:

• Solubility rules
• Precipitates
• Ionic bonding
• Naming compounds
• Chemical formulas

Time

Teacher Preparation: minimal
Lesson: 30 minutes

Materials

• Student handout
• Device connected to the Internet
• Access to game: https://teachchemistry.org/classroom-resources/precipitation-reactions-game

Safety

• No specific safety precautions need to be observed for this activity.

Teacher Notes

• Many thanks to Steve Sogo, retired chemistry teacher from Laguna Beach High School, for creating this game and sharing it with the chemistry education community.
• The game can be found at the following link (note that students can access the simulation without an AACT login):
  • https://teachchemistry.org/classroom-resources/precipitation-reactions-game
• In this game, students will explore the concepts of solubility and precipitation reactions, including interpreting solubility charts with a limited number of ions. They will also be introduced, at a general level, to stoichiometry and ratios of reactants (though they are not introduced to the term “stoichiometry” or asked to write/balance complete equations). The game will help students visualize how ions in both soluble and insoluble ionic compounds behave in water. The game is divided into three difficulty levels, and students can earn a copper, silver, gold, or platinum medal in each level after completing various scenarios.
• Some of the questions throughout this game ask students to identify the correct names of some of the compounds. Students are also asked to name compounds in Part 2 of the student handout. The Chemical Names and Formulas Unit Plan has additional AACT resources to teach naming compounds, and the Matchmaker: Ionic Bonding game could be used prior to this game to allow students to practice with both naming ionic compounds and writing formulas.
• The game contains three levels of play, which can be played independently and in any order.
  • Introductory level:
    • The questions on this level are more basic, with students selecting compounds from a limited list to create certain precipitates, predicting precipitates from a solubility chart with limited ions, and determining proper ratios of reactants to form a precipitate. Often, only one compound will include the desired cation or anion, making it easier for students to identify the correct compounds.
    • Students earn 20 points for each correctly completed scenario and lose 5 points for each mistake. Students can replay a scenario to recover half of the points they lost if they made a mistake. Medals are awarded based on the total points at the end of 6 scenarios.
    • This level is appropriate for all chemistry students.
  • Standard level:
    • The questions on this level involve similar types of questions as in the introductory level, but the choices are more challenging. On this level, it is more common to have multiple compound options that include the desired cation or anion, so students must identify the one that satisfies the conditions in the scenario described based on solubility data or other information provided.
    • Students earn 20 points for each correctly completed scenario and lose 5 points for each mistake. Students can replay a scenario to recover half of the points they lost if they made a mistake. Medals are awarded based on the total points at the end of 6 scenarios.
    • This level is appropriate for chemistry students who have had some introduction to the concepts of solubility and precipitation reactions.
  • Mastery level:
    • The questions on this level are the most advanced. Students will be asked to use both solubility and reaction stoichiometry knowledge in some scenarios, to distinguish useful information from multiple superfluous data points, or to apply more advanced knowledge, such as acid-base chemistry and the decomposition of carbonic acid.
    • The scoring on this level is different – students will complete scenarios until they lose 10 points from mistakes they make, and students cannot replay scenarios for partial credit. Once they have lost 10 points, or once they complete the maximum 8 scenarios, the level is over medals are awarded based on how many scenarios students successfully completed.
    • This level involves an understanding of more advanced chemistry concepts (some of which are not addressed in earlier levels of the game) and would be appropriate for more advanced students.
• The student handout is divided into three parts:
  • Part 1 should be completed prior to beginning the game as it introduces students to vocabulary associated with solubility and precipitation reactions.
  • Part 2 should be completed after playing the game as it challenges the students to answer similar types of questions, but without the visual aid provided in the game. These questions will help to ensure that students understand the concepts of solubility, precipitation reactions, and interpreting solubility charts.
  • The final “Challenge” portion of the student handout provides several research questions to help students gain a more nuanced understanding of solubility. There are multiple questions provided, and teachers can choose which (if any) they would like to include for their students.
• An Answer Key document is available for teacher reference.