Activity

Summary

In this activity, students will gain practice drawing particulate diagrams. This is important because it is a big focus on the newly revised AP exam. Many teachers need more examples of what this looks like.

Grade Level

High school

Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students should be able to visualize what is occurring in a chemical reaction in terms of limiting and excess reactants using particulate diagrams.

Chemistry Topics

This lesson supports students’ understanding of

• Stoichiometry
• Limiting reactant
• Balancing equations

Time

Teacher Preparation: None

Lesson: 30–45 minutes

Teacher Notes

• Remind students that each problem has the same instructions at the top of the handout.

Downloads

• Teacher Guide.doc
• Teacher Guide.pdf
• Student Activity.doc
  
• Student Activity.pdf
  

Submitted by
Jamie Flint
Spring Woods High Schooll
Houston, Texas

Thanks to
Ward’s Science

For the Student

Lesson

For each word equation

• Write a balanced chemical equation.
• Draw particulate representations of the reaction. Make sure you include the correct number of each particle based on the information provided.

Determine which reactant is limiting and which is in excess.

 1)   Three molecules of oxygen react with four molecules of hydrogen to produce water molecules.

a.    Write the balanced chemical equation:

 _________________________________________________________

Draw the particulate representations of the reaction:

a.    Which reactant is limiting? _________    Excess? __________

2)   Two sodium atoms react with three water molecules to produce sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.

a.    Write the balanced chemical equation:

 _________________________________________________________

b.    Draw the particulate representations of the reaction:

c.    Which reactant is limiting? _________    Excess? __________

3)   Four Aluminum atoms combine with three chlorine molecules to produce solid aluminum chloride.

a.    Write the balanced chemical equation: ________________________________________________________

 b.    Draw the particulate representations of the reaction:

c.    Which reactant is limiting? _________    Excess? __________

4)   Two molecules of potassium chloride react with two molecules of silver oxide to produce potassium oxide and silver chloride

a.    Write the balanced Chemical equation: ________________________________________________________

b.    Draw the particulate representations of the reaction:

a.    Which reactant is limiting? _________    Excess? __________

5)   Assuming the reaction goes to completion, draw the product particles in the box on the right.

Which reactant is limiting? _____      Excess? _____

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