Metals Lab

For this pre-lab quiz, I was confused at first because of the wording of the question because we hadn't really talked about those kinds of problems in class before. However, we already knew the answer, I just didn't realize how simple it actually was. The lab was also really cool because some of the reactions were really noticeable and had really weird reactions. Again, it was a good hands on experience for actually seeing the actual application of what we'd been learning in class. This lab was also not as long as the last two labs which is always a good thing so we didn't have to rush so I was actually able to enjoy this lab and thoroughly observe it without being rushed. After the lab, calculating the net ionic reactions was also really good practice and it definitely helped me because before I started, I had no idea what I was doing, but towards the end I was pretty confident in what I was doing. 

Quiz Reflection

I studied pretty hard for this quiz because I didn't do so great on the last few tests/quizzes and I need to even that out. However, I feel more confident on this unit in general. I think it's more of applications of what we've already learned and that makes me comfortable because it's strengthening my skills in previous units as well (like the nomenclature unit). So far, I think the hardest part of this unit has been memorizing the solubility rules and such and balancing equations. I am really bad at memorizing things (basically I don't even have a memory) so I need to work on memorizing all the rules with this unit. After getting the quiz back, I found that I have a decent grasp on the material so far and hopefully that will prove to carry throughout the unit.

Solubility Rules Lab

This lab was really cool because we got to actually see the chemical reactions occur. The reactions were very interesting and some were really noticeable. (As you can see from some of the pictures from below). I think the hardest part of this lab was keeping track of which well contained which reaction. To fix that problem, I drew out little "maps" of the well plate and wrote down the reactions on a piece of paper. It was also really tedious because there were a lot of reactions that we had to go through. We also had to clean out the well plates after each time it was full which took even more time and was tedious. Because of all these processes, it took us a really long and we ran over time. However, this lab was good practice if we predicted the driving forces ahead of time. 

Driving Forces in a Chemical Reaction

Driving Forces in a Chemical Reaction

• chemical changes are a result of chemical reactions
• reactions involve a change in energy 
• two compounds will react if there is at least one driving force present

Double Replacement Reactions

• two compounds produce two new compounds 
• the positive ions replace each other
• must both be ionic compounds that are aqueous 

Predicting the product practice: 

• this link is extremely helpful (it includes videos and a really clear procedural notes)
• here are some practice problems

Chemical Reactions and Balancing

Clues that a Chemical Reaction has occurred

• the color changes
• a solid forms (precipitate)
• bubbles form (only for aqueous solutions)
• Heat and/or a flame is produced or hear is absorbed (heat=Enthalpy)

Anatomy of Chemical Equations

Combustion- CHO method

• always reacts with oxygen O2
• combustion of a hydrocarbon always produces carbon dioxide CO2 and water H2O
• 1st Carbon
• 2nd Hydrogen
• 3rd Oxygen

Balancing Chemical Reactions

• here is a link that helps on the process of balancing equations
• here is a link for a practice quiz 
• here is a game for more practice