Chemistry: Balancing Chemical Equations - Practice

Objectives

• Students will describe what “reactants” and “products” in a chemical equation mean.
• Students will explain the difference between “coefficients” and “subscripts” in chemical equations.
• Students will recognize that the number of atoms of each element is conserved in a chemical reaction.
• Students will balance a chemical equation.

Vocabulary

• reactant
• synthesis (combination)
• product
• double replacement (precipitation)
• combustion
• neutralization (acid-base)
• decomposition
• single replacement (oxidation-reduction)

About the Lesson

This lesson involves students using ChemBox feature of TI-Nspire^TM technology to practice balancing chemical equations.

• Students will use Edit mode of the activity to enter given reactants and products in a chemical equation.
• Students will use Balance mode for visual support necessary to balance a chemical equation.

As a result, students will:

• Reinforce understanding that the number of atoms is conserved in a chemical reaction
• Recognize the meaning of coefficients and subscripts in a chemical equation.