Science Reasoning Center - Chemistry

Here is our current listing of Science Reasoning activities for topics associated with Chemistry. All activities can be used as a Guest without Task Tracker or as a logged-in student with Task Tracker. Learn more about Task Tracker for Science Reasoning activities.


The Periodic Table, Elements, and Their Bonds

This NGSS-inspired activity focuses on the relationship between the location of an element on the Periodic Table and its tendency to form an ionic, covalent, or metallic bond with other elements on the table. The activity aligns with the HS-PS1-1 performance expectation of the Next Generation Science Standards.
  
 

The Periodic Table, Ions, and Ionic Compounts

This NGSS-inspired task includes five scaffolded activities that begin with an investigation of the sub-structure of atoms and ions. Then students explore the formation of ions by atoms of main group elements. Finally, the last two activities pertain to the ratio by which atoms of elements combine to form ionic compounds. Each activitiy places an emphasis upon the connection between the chemistry concept and the family properties of elemental groups on the Periodic Table. The activity aligns with the HS-PS1-1 performance expectation of the Next Generation Science Standards.
  

 

Periodic Trends

This NGSS-inspired task includes five activities that identify trends in atomic size and metallic character (ease at which electrons are lost), that use trends in electronegativity to predict the type of bond formed between a given element and three other elements in the table, and relate trends in outer shell electron arrangements to the formula of a molecular compound. The activity aligns with the HS-PS1-1 performance expectation of the Next Generation Science Standards.



 

Chemical Reactions

This NGSS-inspired task includes five activities that guide students through the task of predicting the product of a simple reaction between two elements by using an understanding of how the location of an element on the Periodic Table (and thus, the number of valence shell electrons) affects the chemistry of that element. Students also learn how to balance the chemical equation using coefficients and conducting an atom count to insure it is balanced. The activity aligns with the HS-PS1-2 performance expectation of the Next Generation Science Standards.


 

 

Intermolecular Forces

This NGSS-inspired task consists of five activities. Each of the five activities place an emphasis upon the planning of an investigation and the analysis of the results. The investigations pertain to bulk scale properties of substances and the relationship of those properties to the strength of the intermolecular forces between particles of those substances. The activity aligns with the HS-PS1-3 performance expectation of the Next Generation Science Standards.
 

 

Melting Points and Boiling Points

This NGSS-inspired task consists of five activities. Each activity seeks to associated trends in melting point and boiling points of varying substances to the strength of the intermolecular forces between particles. The activity aligns closedly with the HS-PS1-3 performance expectation of the Next Generation Science Standards. Several activities offer close alignment to the HS-PS1-1 performance expectation.
 

 

Bond Energy and Reactions

This NGSS-inspired task consists of five activities. The activities probe the relationship between bond energy, chemical reactions, the transfer of energy between the chemical system and the surroundings, and the law of energy conservation. The activity aligns with the HS-PS1-4 performance expectation of the Next Generation Science Standards. 
 

 

Reaction Rates

This NGSS-inspired task includes four activities in which students utilize data and principles to identify and predict the effect of reactant concentration and temperature upon the rate of reaction. The collision model is used to explain the patterns that are observed. The activity aligns with the HS-PS1-5 performance expectation of the Next Generation Science Standards.




The Ammonia Factory

This NGSS-inspired task consists five activities that begin with equilibrium concepts and LeChatelier's principle and end with an engineering design problem. The activity is based on a simulation by the same name that can be found elsewhere. In the design problem, students make an effort to determine the optimal conditions that would  result in the greatest yield and profit at an ammonia factory. The activity aligns with the HS-PS1-6 and the HS-ETS1-4 performance expectations of the Next Generation Science Standards.
 



Stoichiometry

This NGSS-inspired task consists of five activities that center around the concept of atom and mass conservation. Calculations are involved but the answers are not ends in themselves. The role of all calculations is to demonstrate that the concept that if atoms are conserved in a chemical reaction, then it makes sense that mass is conserved. This concept is approached from a variety of angles. Every calculation is accompanied by a follow-up, sense-making question. The activity aligns with the HS-PS1-7 performance expectation of the Next Generation Science Standards.
 



Nuclear Chemistry

This NGSS-inspired task consists of five activities that focus on alpha decay, beta decay, gamma emission, nuclear fission, and nuclear fusion. Students use models of each of these nuclear transformations to answer questions, predict results, provide explanations, and analyze data. The activity aligns with the HS-PS1-8 performance expectation of the Next Generation Science Standards.