Activity 8

1. Choose any Teaching Idea from any of the Chemistry Simulations (http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/category/chemistry ) and post your results/data and/or answers on your blog.

Build a Molecule- Concept Questions: by Patricia Loeblein
1. A (picture)
2. D (both B & C)
3. A (only if it is in a water solution)
4. B (picture)
5. A (methane)
6. D (water)
7. C (chlorine)

2. Work with any of the Chemistry Simulations to create your own Teaching Idea. The criteria for this is as follows:

a. must identify and meet three (3) science education standards
b. must be original work
c. must be scientifically accurate and appropriate for the directed grade level.

Simulation: Balancing Chemical Reactions
Grade Level: High School Science (9-12 grade)
Science Education Standards:
1. D.12.4 Explain* how substances, both simple and complex, interact* with one another to produce new substances
2. D.12.6 Through investigations*, identify* the types of chemical interactions*, including endothermic, exothermic, oxidation, photosynthesis, and acid/base reactions
3. D.12.12 Using the science themes* and knowledge of chemical, physical, atomic, and nuclear interactions*, explain* changes in materials, living things, earth's features, and stars

Activity:
- Teacher will give a brief lesson on balancing chemical reactions. (how it is performed)
- Students will then have the opportunity to practice on the computer simulation on how to balance chemical reactions.
- Once students are familiar with the process and how chemical reactions are balanced, students will pair up with a partner, and further their practice through a classroom game.
- Teacher will have several chemical reactions written on a piece of paper. Students will need to identify which chemical(s) is/are listed and correctly balance the equation. When the pair of students think they have it balanced correctly they will come the the front of the room and ring a bell. All the students must stop and the teacher will determine if the pair has done it correctly. If done right that pair will get a point, if not not correctly all the students will have the opportunity to keep working until one pair comes up with the correct balanced equation. The first pair to receive 3 points will be the winner.

Example:  (this is what teacher should expect to see.)
write the balanced combustion equations for the following substances:
          CH4:         CH4 + 2O2 --> CO2 + 2H2o
          C5H12:     C5H12 + 8O2 --> 5CO2 + 6H2O
          C9H20:     C9H20 + 14O2 --> 9CO2 + 10H2O