Chemical Equations

Unit overview

For students to learn the properties of a chemical equation. They will need to be able to understand the law of conservation of mass. The students will prove they understand of the law of conservation of mass through balancing equations. They will be able to identify the type of chemical reaction taking place from a balanced equation.

Personal Unit Overview: What did you achieve this unit?

Understanding the concept of balancing equations.

Enduring Understandings: Chemical Formulas

A chemical equation is the symbolic representation of a chemical reaction using the element's symbol, coefficients and subscripts. A chemical equation represents the reactants and the products of a reaction. A chemical equation needs to be balanced so that it follows the law of conservation of mass, which states that mass cannot be created nor destroyed during a reaction, meaning the amount of one element has to be the same before and after the reaction.

Evidence of Learning

Synthesis - two or more simple substances combine to form a more complex product

A + B → AB

Decomposition - the separation of a chemical compound into elements or simpler compounds

AB → A + B

Single replacement - when one element is replaced by another in a compound

A + BC → C + BA

Double replacement - the cations and anions switch between two reactants to form new products

AB + CD → AD + CB

Combustion - a reaction in which something reacts with oxygen

A + O2 → __

Reflection on Standards

Strength

Applies mathematical representations to chemical compounds

Explanation

This I found very easy during the Unit, as I enjoy Math. I was easily able to calculate percent mass for different molecules.

Evidence of Learning

Synthesis - ∆ + ø = ∆ø

Decomposition - Ω† = Ω + †

Single replacement - Ω∆ + ø = Ωø + ∆

Double replacement - Ω∆ + ø∞ = Ω∞ + ø∆

Combustion - A + O2 =

Weakness

Develops writing literacy in Science

Explanation

Writing literacy in science is something we have never done in the previous years, so consequently this area needs a lot of improvement. In the next quarter, I could try reading other people’s work and take notes in order to improve my own scientific writing skills.