chemistry | science-analogies

Stoichiometry

Chemical Kinetics

Some concepts in chemistry can be initially overwhelming when presented in the context of 'chemistry'. Breaking down complex ideas into simple analogies allows a way to introduce chemical concepts without the initial intimidation students may experience.

Chemistry

Engaging Activity:

Begin by showing the class the first couple of minutes of the video 'How to speed up chemical reactions (and get a date to the dance)".

Inquiry Activity:

Stop the video before the narrator begins redesigning the school. Split the class into groups. Each group needs a marker and large sheet of chart paper.

Review how you get a date to the dance and then ask the students how they would redesign a school (rules, or physical layout) in order to facilitate the act of getting a date.

Have the groups design floor plans and rules for a school that has a high likelihood of getting a date to the dance.

Connections to Chemistry:

After the class shares their designs talk about how collision theory in chemistry works the same way. Talk about the things students tried to do with their school designs and how that correlates with speeding up chemical reactions.

For more videos and ideas like this check out TED-Ed.

Engaging Activity:

Begin by posing a problem to the class. You can use a variety of different scenarios however I choose the following:

"You are the head of the engineering department at Stark Industries. We have recently gotten an order for _____ __________s. In the warehouse we have _____ _________s and _____ __________s. Take a look at the blueprints. Can we fill the order?"

Inquiry Activity:

Split the students into groups and give each group a different amount of supplies. You can use anything for supplies (nuts & bolts, LEGO, etc.). I used pattern blocks as their supplies because I found a large box sitting around the classroom.

Have the students create as many final products as they can.

Did the students use all of their supplies?

Did one set of supplies determine how many products they could make?

Connections to Chemistry:

Chemical reactions work the same way as this activity. Reactants combine in simple, whole-number ratios to produce a certain amount of product. The reactant that determines the amount of product you can make is called the limiting reagent. What was the 'limiting reagent' in this activity?