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Infant Incubator Lesson 5

What patterns are present when a chemical reaction occurs?

Student Sheet 

Teacher Answers 

Optional: "Measurement with SI Units"

Estimated class Time:

Two 40 minute class periods

Question:

How can you determine if a chemical reaction occurs?  What patterns?

Materials:

  • Metric Balance
  • Goggles
  • Droppers
  • Small scoop of table salt
  • Alka seltzer tablet
  • 1 cm of magnesium ribbon
  • Dropper full of hydrochloric acid
  • Dropper full of silver nitrate
  • Beakers
  • Paper towels
  • Thermometer
  • Test tube
  • Water
  • CER videos (found in resource file)
  • CER organizer

 

Lesson Level Learning Objectives:

  • MS-PS1-2: Analyze and interpret data on the properties of substances before and after the substances interact to determine if a chemical reaction has occurred.

Phenomenon:

  • Students conduct a variety of chemical reactions (unexpected color change, unexpected temperature change, production of gas, formation of a precipitate) and record their observations.  The observations are used to generalize patterns and begin to define chemical changes.

What we Figured Out: 

  • In a chemical change new  substances are formed.
  • The clues that a chemical reaction has taken place are unexpected color change, unexpected change in temperature, unexpected gas production, unexpected property change and a formation of a precipitate. 
  • In a physical change, the substances might look different in size or shape only, but it is still the same substance. 
  • Exothermic reactions - a process that releases heat and causes the temperature to rise.
  • Endothermic reactions - a process that absorbs heat and cools the surroundings.

Questions we still have:

  • Why do some reactions take longer than others?
  • Does it matter how much of each chemical we use?
  • Can we stop a reaction?
  • Can we control how long a reaction takes?

 

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