Reflection
The chemical dominoes project had some good and challenging aspects. This project was our first major project of the year, so we were tasked with applying everything we had learned this semester to the project. My group (Toni Spina, Austin Marr, and Blake Carlile) and I made our chemical dominoes into a board game which was beach themed. This project turned out really well but we had some ups and downs. To start, I think our group had a few communication errors. It was hard for us to come up with a cohesive idea that was manageable within the time frame. Another minus of this project was the timing. On all of our parts, we could have managed our time better. If we had been more productive with the time we had in the maker space, we might have had to spend less time outside of class working on it. For the next group project we have, I will try and make sure that we get focused right away and are as productive with our time and ideas as possible. Despite these small problems, our project turned out really well. Our group collaborated nicely and we did a good job of splitting up the work. Another thing I did well on was leadership. I took initiative and helped divide up the work and I think everyone's combined effort created a great project. The asthetics of the game were great and on theme and all the parents that played our game enjoyed playing and the reactions
The chemical dominoes project had some good and challenging aspects. This project was our first major project of the year, so we were tasked with applying everything we had learned this semester to the project. My group (Toni Spina, Austin Marr, and Blake Carlile) and I made our chemical dominoes into a board game which was beach themed. This project turned out really well but we had some ups and downs. To start, I think our group had a few communication errors. It was hard for us to come up with a cohesive idea that was manageable within the time frame. Another minus of this project was the timing. On all of our parts, we could have managed our time better. If we had been more productive with the time we had in the maker space, we might have had to spend less time outside of class working on it. For the next group project we have, I will try and make sure that we get focused right away and are as productive with our time and ideas as possible. Despite these small problems, our project turned out really well. Our group collaborated nicely and we did a good job of splitting up the work. Another thing I did well on was leadership. I took initiative and helped divide up the work and I think everyone's combined effort created a great project. The asthetics of the game were great and on theme and all the parents that played our game enjoyed playing and the reactions
Content
Single Replacement Reaction- When a compound combines with a single element and forms into a different compound and element. AX + B --> BX + A
Double Replacement Reaction- When two compounds "switch partners" into two different compounds made up of a different cation and anion. AB + CD -->AD + CB
Synthesis Reaction- When two separate elements or compounds combine to create one single compound. A+B --> AB
Decomposition reaction- When one whole compound is broken up into two or more separate elements/ compounds. AB ---> A + B.
Catalyst- a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction, but is not consumed by the reaction
Ion-an atom or molecule with a net electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons.
Polyatomic Ions- charged ion composed of 2 or more atoms that are covalently bonded to act as one single unit
Cation- Positive, usually metal ion
Anion- Negative, usually non-metal ion
Atom- Made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Everything on earth is made up of atoms.
Element- A piece of matter that is made up of only one type of atom. The Periodic Table is made up of elements.
Compound- A molecule made up of multiple elements.
Activity Series- List of which elements are more reactive than others; used to predict the outcome of single replacement reactions
Solubility Guidelines- Used to determine if a precipitate will form when two aqueous solutions are combined
Single Replacement Reaction- When a compound combines with a single element and forms into a different compound and element. AX + B --> BX + A
Double Replacement Reaction- When two compounds "switch partners" into two different compounds made up of a different cation and anion. AB + CD -->AD + CB
Synthesis Reaction- When two separate elements or compounds combine to create one single compound. A+B --> AB
Decomposition reaction- When one whole compound is broken up into two or more separate elements/ compounds. AB ---> A + B.
Catalyst- a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction, but is not consumed by the reaction
Ion-an atom or molecule with a net electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons.
Polyatomic Ions- charged ion composed of 2 or more atoms that are covalently bonded to act as one single unit
Cation- Positive, usually metal ion
Anion- Negative, usually non-metal ion
Atom- Made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Everything on earth is made up of atoms.
Element- A piece of matter that is made up of only one type of atom. The Periodic Table is made up of elements.
Compound- A molecule made up of multiple elements.
Activity Series- List of which elements are more reactive than others; used to predict the outcome of single replacement reactions
Solubility Guidelines- Used to determine if a precipitate will form when two aqueous solutions are combined
Our Project
We named our board game Chemistry Island Hopper to go along with our beach theme. Our project consisted of four reaction on each of the four corners of our game. We had a double-replacement, single-replacement, decomposition, and a production of a gas reactions. This included a mini baking soda and vinegar volcano, aluminum foil in copper chloride, ammonium sulfate in copper nitrate, and elephant toothpaste for the grand finale.
We named our board game Chemistry Island Hopper to go along with our beach theme. Our project consisted of four reaction on each of the four corners of our game. We had a double-replacement, single-replacement, decomposition, and a production of a gas reactions. This included a mini baking soda and vinegar volcano, aluminum foil in copper chloride, ammonium sulfate in copper nitrate, and elephant toothpaste for the grand finale.
Materials
Paint Wooden board (base) Styrofoam Cups Chicken Wire Mod Podge Newspaper Wooden Dowels Plastic Tube Petri dishes String Paper Plate Wooden Blocks Tubing (foam) Game Rules
On the right are the rules of our game. We advised game players to wear gloves at all times because some of the chemicals we handled were hazardous and could irritate skin. |
Here are more specific details about the reactions:
Reaction 1: Sodium Bicarbonate and Acetic Acid
NaHCO3 + HC2H3O2 → H2O + CO2 + NaC2H3O2
Acetic acid reacts with sodium bicarbonate in a double-displacement reaction. This also produces a gas. Sodium bicarbonate is a fancy term for baking soda and acetic acid is Vinegar. This reaction is simple but can be powerful with the right mixtures.
NaHCO3 + HC2H3O2 → H2O + CO2 + NaC2H3O2
Acetic acid reacts with sodium bicarbonate in a double-displacement reaction. This also produces a gas. Sodium bicarbonate is a fancy term for baking soda and acetic acid is Vinegar. This reaction is simple but can be powerful with the right mixtures.
Reaction 2: Copper Nitrate and Ammonium Sulfate
Cu(No3)2 + (NH4)2SO4 → 2NH4NO3 + CuSO4
This is a double-replacement reaction because the Copper Nitrate trades its anion (Nitrate) with Ammonium Sulfate's anion (sulfate). This creates two whole new compounds called Ammonium Nitrate and Copper Sulfate. This double displacement reaction causes a color change which is a chemical change.
Cu(No3)2 + (NH4)2SO4 → 2NH4NO3 + CuSO4
This is a double-replacement reaction because the Copper Nitrate trades its anion (Nitrate) with Ammonium Sulfate's anion (sulfate). This creates two whole new compounds called Ammonium Nitrate and Copper Sulfate. This double displacement reaction causes a color change which is a chemical change.
Reaction 3: Aluminum Foil and Copper Chloride
2Al + 3CuCl2 →2 AlCl3 + 3Cu
This single replacement reaction replaces copper with aluminum. Once the aluminum foil was submerged in the copper chloride it immediately began reacting and turned a rust color. The ends of the foil were connected to wires from our bread board. This board formed a circuit that would turn on an LED. Once the reaction broke the aluminum, it turned on the light. We placed the copper chloride into the cup below and the person who played the game pulled the string and poured the copper chloride into a large petri dish with the aluminum.
2Al + 3CuCl2 →2 AlCl3 + 3Cu
This single replacement reaction replaces copper with aluminum. Once the aluminum foil was submerged in the copper chloride it immediately began reacting and turned a rust color. The ends of the foil were connected to wires from our bread board. This board formed a circuit that would turn on an LED. Once the reaction broke the aluminum, it turned on the light. We placed the copper chloride into the cup below and the person who played the game pulled the string and poured the copper chloride into a large petri dish with the aluminum.
Reaction 4: Elephant Toothpaste
KI + H2O2 → 2H2O + O2 + KI
Potassium iodide and hydrogen peroxide, dish soap and food coloring (to help reaction have more wow factor) yield hydrogen peroxide, water, and potassium iodide. This decomposition reaction was our grand finale and we set it off in the big volcano in the middle. The hydrogen peroxide reacted with the dish soap and the potassium iodide (which acted as a catalyst to speed up the reaction) and decomposed forming water and oxygen. This reaction was also exothermic meaning it produced heat.
KI + H2O2 → 2H2O + O2 + KI
Potassium iodide and hydrogen peroxide, dish soap and food coloring (to help reaction have more wow factor) yield hydrogen peroxide, water, and potassium iodide. This decomposition reaction was our grand finale and we set it off in the big volcano in the middle. The hydrogen peroxide reacted with the dish soap and the potassium iodide (which acted as a catalyst to speed up the reaction) and decomposed forming water and oxygen. This reaction was also exothermic meaning it produced heat.