Neutralisation game
Teaching notes
This is a 1 hour activity to support the teaching of neutralisation at KS4 and is suitable for
foundation/SEN students. It is expected that students will already be familiar with acids, alkalis,
bases and pH.
The objectives are for students to write word equations for acid plus base reactions.
The resource contains





a PowerPoint, which can support the teaching of neutralisation
a game board which can be enlarged to A3
individual game boards – one per student
a set of chemical cards
a student worksheet.
To run the activity



Use the PowerPoint to introduce neutralisation and writing word equations (10 mins).
Students play game (15 mins).
Students complete worksheet and mark (10 mins).
To play the game
Maximum number of players per group is 5.
Each player rolls the dice and moves their counter on the board. When they land on a coloured
square they pick up an appropriate card and place it on their individual board. Players can only
have a maximum of three cards for each chemical e.g. if they have 3 acids and land on an acid,
they may pick a card up but must then return one of their acids to the bottom of the pile.
The game ends as soon as one player completes one correct equation.
You will need to provide students with dice and counters.
Answers to student worksheet
1. Magnesium chloride
2. Sodium nitrate
3. Lithium nitrate
4. Hydrochloric acid
5. Sulfuric acid
6. Sodium hydroxide
7. Lithium hydroxide
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Neutralisation game
Individual game board
acid
base
salt
water
acid
base
salt
water
acid
base
salt
water
----------------------  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individual game board
acid
base
salt
water
acid
base
salt
water
acid
base
salt
water
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Neutralisation game
Board game cards
hydrochloric
acid
hydrochloric
acid
hydrochloric
acid
hydrochloric
acid
hydrochloric
acid
hydrochloric
acid
hydrochloric
acid
hydrochloric
acid
hydrochloric
acid
hydrochloric
acid
nitric acid
nitric acid
nitric acid
nitric acid
nitric acid
nitric acid
nitric acid
nitric acid
nitric acid
nitric acid
sulfuric
acid
sulfuric
acid
sulfuric
acid
sulfuric
acid
sulfuric
acid
sulfuric
acid
sulfuric
acid
sulfuric
acid
sulfuric
acid
sulfuric
acid
water
water
water
water
water
water
water
water
water
water
water
water
water
water
water
water
water
water
water
water
magnesium
hydroxide
magnesium
hydroxide
magnesium
hydroxide
magnesium
hydroxide
magnesium
hydroxide
magnesium
hydroxide
magnesium
hydroxide
magnesium
hydroxide
magnesium
hydroxide
magnesium
hydroxide
sodium
hydroxide
sodium
hydroxide
sodium
hydroxide
sodium
hydroxide
sodium
hydroxide
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Neutralisation game
sodium
hydroxide
sodium
hydroxide
sodium
hydroxide
sodium
hydroxide
sodium
hydroxide
calcium
hydroxide
calcium
hydroxide
calcium
hydroxide
calcium
hydroxide
calcium
hydroxide
calcium
hydroxide
calcium
hydroxide
calcium
hydroxide
calcium
hydroxide
calcium
hydroxide
calcium
chloride
calcium
chloride
calcium
chloride
calcium
chloride
calcium
chloride
calcium
nitrate
calcium
nitrate
calcium
nitrate
calcium
nitrate
calcium
nitrate
calcium
sulfate
calcium
sulfate
calcium
sulfate
calcium
sulfate
calcium
sulfate
sodium
chloride
sodium
chloride
sodium
chloride
sodium
chloride
sodium
chloride
sodium
nitrate
sodium
nitrate
sodium
nitrate
sodium
nitrate
sodium
nitrate
sodium
sulphate
sodium
sulphate
sodium
sulphate
sodium
sulphate
sodium
sulphate
magnesium
chloride
magnesium
chloride
magnesium
chloride
magnesium
chloride
magnesium
chloride
magnesium
nitrate
magnesium
nitrate
magnesium
nitrate
magnesium
nitrate
magnesium
nitrate
magnesium
sulfate
magnesium
sulfate
magnesium
sulfate
magnesium
sulfate
magnesium
sulfate
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Neutralisation game
The neutralisation game
START
base
base
acid
acid
salt
water
acid
water
acid
salt
water
base
salt
water
salt
base
water
acid
salt
base
base
salt
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acid
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Neutralisation game
Task
Complete the equations by filling in the boxes.
1. Hydrochloric acid + magnesium hydroxide →
+ water
2. Nitric acid
+
sodium hydroxide →
+ water
3. Nitric acid
+
lithium hydroxide
→
+ water
4.
+
magnesium hydroxide →
5.
+
calcium hydroxide
6. Sulfuric acid
+
7. Hydrochloric acid +
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→
magnesium chloride + water
calcium sulfate + water
→
sodium sulfate
→
lithium chloride + water
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+ water
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