Summary

In this activity, students visit stations to learn about a variety of interesting chemical reactions. Using written clues and QR code links to videos, students write chemical formulas and balanced chemical equations for each of the reactions.

Grade Level

High School

NGSS Alignment

This activity will help prepare your students to meet the performance expectations in the following standards:

• HS-PS1-2: Construct and revise an explanation for the outcome of a simple chemical reaction based on the outermost electron states of atoms, trends in the periodic table, and knowledge of the patterns of chemical properties.
• Scientific and Engineering Practices:
  • Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
  • Engaging in Argument from Evidence
  • Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Objectives

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

• Use word equations and observations to write balanced equations for chemical reactions.

Chemistry Topics

This activity supports students’ understanding of:

• Chemical Reactions
• Chemical Equations
• Nomenclature
• Balancing Chemical Equations

Time

Teacher Preparation: 20 minutes
Lesson: 45 minutes

Materials

• Student Handouts
• Printout of PowerPoint slides
• Student devices that read QR codes such as smart phones or iPads (one per student, or per group of students if they work together)
• Periodic Table

Teacher Notes

• This activity does not require a lot of preparation for teachers and is fun for students!
• This activity works well for first-year chemistry students or honors chemistry students studying chemical reactions.
• Before participating in this activity, students should be able to write chemical formulas for molecular and ionic compounds. They should also have some practice balancing skeleton equations.
• In preparation for this activity, it is recommended that the teacher prints one set of the Interesting Reactions Stations PowerPoint Slides (8 slides) and posts them around the classroom. Teachers could use acrylic sign holders for the slides, or they can be taped to a wall, placed on a lab bench, or supported by magnets on white boards. The slides should be spread out to allow for students to move about and collaborate. These printouts can be saved and reused in the future.
• Prior to the activity, the teacher should also print a class set of the Interesting Reactions Stations Student Handout (one copy per student). Each student should have a worksheet to complete as they travel around the room. Providing clipboards for students to support their worksheets as they work can be helpful.
• The student worksheet can easily be modified to include more leading information if needed.
• During the activity, students take their worksheets to each station in no particular order. At each station, students aim to write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction described. Students read written clues about each reaction and watch a video about each reaction (using a QR code and electronic device) to gather all of the information needed to determine the balanced equation.
• When the activity is complete, teachers can share the provided Answer Key for students to check their answers and discuss any questions that arise.
• For reference, the 8 videos connected to the QR codes are:
  1. “Explosive Sodium and Poisonous Chlorine Elements and Compounds” from Mister Science
  2. “Reaction of Magnesium with Carbon Dioxide” from sciencevidds
  3. “Demo: Sugar Dehydration with Sulfuric Acid” from MSU SMACS
  4. “Slow Motion contact Explosive – Nitrogen Triiodide” from The Royal Institution
  5. “Iron – Periodic Table of Videos” from Periodic Videos
  6. “Caesium in Water (slow motion) – Periodic Table of Videos” from Periodic Videos
  7. “Cool chemical volcano reaction – Ammonium Dichromate” from voodoo30x
  8. “Lead Iodide Precipitating” from H de G