This was our first big Chemistry project of the year. Leading up to this project we had done a handful of labs where we learned about chemical reactions and lab safety. For this project we would be using all the knowledge we had gained about different compounds and substances being mixed with each other. We were spilt up into groups and told to make a sturdy board game that included chemical reactions. We were required to incorporate a single displacement reaction, double displacement reaction, a production of a gas reaction and the lighting of an LED through a chemical reaction into our board game. Other than these requirements the project was very open ended so we had the freedom to be very creative with our projects.
For our single displacement reaction we combined zinc and hydrochloric acid in a small vial. The hydrochloric acid slowly dissolved the zinc and turned a dark brown color. There was also lots of fizzling going on and gas was produced. For double displacement reaction we combined potassium bromate and silver nitrate in a petri dish. Immediately after we combined the two substances they created a chunky white liquid. For our production of gas reaction we combined calcium carbonate and hydrochloric acid. We poured the hydrochloric acid into a balloon and the calcium carbonate into a skinny graduated cylinder. Then we carefully attached the ballon over the graduated cylinder and watched as the hydrochloric acid combined with the calcium carbonate. Immediately after they mixed they produced gas and the ballon began to blow up. For our lighting of an LED we had a battery attached to a circuit board with an LED on it. Attached to the circuit board were two wires attached to a piece of aluminum. The aluminum cut off the circuit so the LED would not light. To get the LED to light we poured copper chloride onto the aluminum, dissolving it and therefore connecting the circuit, lighting the LED. Below I have provided the rules as well as safety precautions that we showed people on the game night.
Rules 1. Each player picks one of the four spaces; red, blue, green, or yellow. 2. Next place your playing piece on the black space with a red dot in the middle. 3. When the timer begins, you have 1 minute to roll the dice and land on as many white spaces as you can. 4. When the minute is up, pick up as many cards in the center as white spaces you landed on. For example, if you landed on 2 white spaces, then pick up two cards. 5. Depending on the square you chose, you will see see a different chemical reaction. 6. Out of the four cards you are able to draw there are two possible combinations to create. One works, one does not. 7. If you choose two cards that work, then you win a point and we will demonstrate the reaction. 8. After the reactions have been demonstrated you rotate a square. 9. After all rotations, tally up the points, and whoever has the most points wins!!
Safety Precautions
Do not play game without a chaperone or student supervising.
Do not touch anything except your board piece.
Have to be 10+ years of age, and over 3 feet tall.
Patiently listen to rules and be cooperative.
Have a fun time!
Chemical Safety Precautions
Aluminum + Copper(II)Chloride(SRP) - Do not touch or get close to this reaction because being a reaction that changes the substance, it will burn you and be very toxic. (We know from experience)
Calcium Carbonate + Hydrochloric Acid(POG) - This reaction will cause fizzing and result in a balloon potentially getting popped, so don’t put your face or hands near it unless you want acid on your skin!
Zinc + Hydrochloric Acid(SRP) - During this reaction, the zinc will dissolve when placed in hydrochloric acid, so don’t touch it.
Potassium Bromate + Silver Nitrate(DRP) - When combined, a color or solid will form. Although this isn’t containing acid, please keep a distance and let the game makers do their job.
Here are pictures of our circuit board and our board game
Concepts
Ion: an atom with number of electrons differing from that of its element.
Cation: A positively charged ion, often a metal
Anion: A negatively charged ion
Single Replacement Reaction: The anion of one polyatomic ion switches places with the anion standing alone. Example- A+BX ->AX+B Double Displacement Reaction: The anions of both polyatomic ions switch places to be paired with a different cation. Example- AX + BY ->AY+BX
Combustion Reaction: A hydrocarbon and oxygen combine to form carbon dioxide and water. Example- CH+O2 ->CO2 +H2O
Production of a Gas: The combination of two substances to form a gas
Synthesis Reaction: Adding two ions together to form a compound or substance. Example- A+B -> AB
Decomposition Reaction: The breaking down of a compound or substance into two ions. Example- AB -> A+B
Reactivity series: A chart showing us the progression of a series of metals that are arranged by their reactivity from highest to lowest
Solubility Guidelines: This is another chart that shows us which substances are soluble and their exceptions
Reflection
This project was very fun and it was definitely one of the top projects I have done throughout my years of STEM. I really liked that we had the freedom to make whatever we wanted and we were given lots of time to build. I felt that I did good work throughout this project and my group worked very well together. I have known my group members since freshman year and have built strong relationships with them which helps a lot during group work. We were all like minded individuals that agreed on almost everything. This allowed for this project to go very smoothly. Nothing went poorly during this project because of the good communication and cooperation skills amongst my group. I learned that I really like working in a group with like minded individuals because it is so much easier to agree on things. I also regained my building skills during this project because we haven't done building like this since freshman year. Looking back I wish I contributed more to the descriptions of each reaction so I would have had a better understanding of them. Other then that I think I did very good work during this project and contributed an equal amount to the project as my group mates did. A peak of this project was being able do fun hands on work like we did freshman year and have the freedom to do whatever we wanted with this project. I did not have a pit for this project because it went so well and I am happy with how our end result turned out.