Activities Summary

In this activity, students will:

• Discover through laboratory investigations the effect of concentration, surface area, and temperature on the rates of chemical reactions
• Read and record pertinent information from MSDS and safety concerns at each station
• Complete Essential Skills Matching Worksheet

Prior Knowledge

• Essential Skills and practice identifying tasks associated with each
• Reading and obtaining information from MSDS
• Safety precautions (e.g., Personal protective equipment)
• Definition of rate of chemical reaction
• Definition of effervescent

Teaching Planning Notes

• Review assignment including prior knowledge required and assessment tools
• Review MSD sheets and laboratory procedures to become familiar with potential safety concerns and to alert students to specific safety concerns before they conduct their investigations.
• Make clear the expectations for cleanup of the work area and the proper disposal of materials.
• Provide a MSDS for hydrochloric acid at station 1 and 2
• Explain roles of Scientist and Recorder for each station. The role of the Scientist is to perform the experiment. The role of the Recorder is to record the observations. The students will switch roles after each station.
• Assign each group a different station to start with and rotate through each one (or do a station/lesson).
• For Station #3, MSDS is not required. On a piece of paper write the following instructions for the students to read: Chemical safety glasses are required for this station. All ingredients at this station are safe and can be disposed of down the sink. Do not consume the Alka-Seltzer tablet.
• Provide drawings of each activity on the blackboard for the visual learners.

Note 1: These activities could be completed over three consecutive classes.

Assessment and Evaluation of Student Achievement

Activities and Evaluation Materials

• Rates of Chemical Reactions Assignment Sheet
• Challenge #1: Safety Comes First Worksheet
• Challenge #2: Lab Worksheets #1, 2 and 3 (1 per station)
• Challenge #1 and #2: Answer Key
• Assignment Checklist
• Essential Skills Matching Worksheet