Creating models of chemical reactions is super important to help students understand how things change and how atoms balance. In this activity, students will create a grid that illustrates four chemical reactions. They should be sure to include the reactants, products, and the equation in their finished product. To extend this activity, ask students to add a cell that explains what type of reaction it is (exothermic vs endothermic) and what happens during the process.
The chemical reaction models suggested below get more difficult as students progress through. The final two reactions listed in the activity require students to use the additional skill of balancing the symbol equation with coefficients. If you want to avoid this, choose the following alternative reactions:
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Student Instructions
Model various chemical reactions by creating a T-Chart on Storyboard That. Identify the reactants and products in the reactions and create models of the molecules. Remember: atoms are not created or destroyed in a chemical reaction, so the total number of atoms doesn’t change.
Bring chemistry to life by setting up a safe, teacher-led demonstration of a simple chemical reaction (like vinegar and baking soda). Model lab safety, explain the reactants and products, and invite students to observe and predict outcomes. This concrete experience helps students visualize abstract concepts and deepens understanding.
Gather all necessary supplies—chemicals, containers, goggles, gloves, and paper towels—before class starts. Double-check for allergies or safety concerns to ensure a smooth, safe demonstration that keeps students engaged and protected.
Ask students to predict what will happen when mixing the reactants. Encourage them to write or share their hypotheses based on their understanding of chemical reactions. This sparks curiosity and primes them for observation.
Carefully carry out the reaction while clearly describing each action, what is being mixed, and any visible changes. Highlight when reactants become products and connect observations back to chemical equations.
Prompt students to write or draw what they observe during the demonstration. Have them link their observations to the chemical equations or models they've been studying for deeper understanding and retention.
Students can model chemical reactions by creating a grid or T-chart that shows the reactants, products, and balanced chemical equations for each reaction. Using shapes or drawings to represent atoms and molecules helps visualize how atoms rearrange during reactions.
Easy chemical reactions for students include iron + sulfur → iron sulfide and hydrogen + oxygen → water. These reactions use simple reactants and help students practice identifying and balancing reactants and products.
Balancing equations ensures that the law of conservation of mass is followed, showing that atoms are neither created nor destroyed in a reaction. It helps students understand chemical processes and the correct proportions of reactants and products.
Exothermic reactions release energy as heat (e.g., iron and sulfur forming iron sulfide), while endothermic reactions absorb energy (e.g., photosynthesis). Modeling both types helps students see how energy changes during chemical reactions.
Teachers can simplify activities for younger students by choosing basic reactions without balancing equations, and increase complexity for older students by introducing coefficient balancing, more challenging reactions, and energy changes (exothermic/endothermic).