The work investigating equilibrium is built upon the Reactions & Rates simulation develop by PhET Interactive Simulations.
Learning Objectives
Students should be able to:
- Identify when a reaction reaches equilibrium by finding the point when the concentration of reactants and products remain relatively constant
- Explain that equilibrium is a dynamic process. That the forward and reverse reactions are constantly occurring but that equilibrium occurs when those two rates are equal.
- Predict and explain that adding a reactant (product) will cause the number of product (reactant) particles to increase and the number of other reactant (product) particles to decrease because the rate of the forward reaction will initially increase.
- Predict and explain that removing a reactant (product) will cause the number of product particles (reactant) to decrease and the number of other reactant (product) particles to increase because the rate of the forward reaction will initially decrease.
- Describe how temperature affects the equilibrium position of endo and exothermic reactions differently.
Instructional Materials
- PhET Reaction & Rates simulation
- Screencast; Screencast to introduce collision theory (if not introduced previously in class)
- Pretest (Use contact form to request a copy)
- Screencast assignment (if collision theory has not yet been introduced)
- Screencast assignment (if collision theory has been introduced)
- Simulation assignment (if collision theory has not yet been introduced)
- Simulation assignment (if collision theory has been introduced)
- Screencast assignment without collision theory as a Google Form (this link should make a copy for you)
- Alignment of pretest and assignment/follow-up questions (use contact form to request a copy)
Further information about this simulation/assignment
This topic is still in the early stages of investigation. However due to the need for online materials due to COVID-19, these materials currently in development are being made available.
