Curriculum Guide
High School Science 1.3
Physical Science Standard 1.3- Matter can change form through chemical or nuclear reactions abiding by the laws of conservation of mass and energy.
Related Colorado Department of Education Sample Units:
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Chemical And Nuclear Reactions - High School Physical Science (Concepts: Chemical Reactions, Nuclear Reactions, Products, Conservation of Mass)
Reactions Of Matter (Chemical Reactions) - High School Chemistry (Concepts: Reactions, Equations, Quantities, Mass, Conservation, Classification,
Prediction)
Matter And Energy - High School Chemistry (Concepts: Energy, Transformation, Transfer, Conservation, Radiation, Quantification)
Population Ecology - High School (Biology) (Concepts: Ecosystem, Interactions, Change, Equilibrium, Energy, Populations, Balance, Sustainability, Biotic,
Abiotic, Adaptation, Cycles
Matter And Energy In Ecosystems - High School Biology (Concepts: Energy, Transformation, Matter, Cycle, Interdependence, Conservation, Ecosystem)
Essential Questions - 21st Century Skills and Readiness Competencies (District):
1a. What patterns of chemical reactions exist?
1b. How are chemical reactions distinguished from nuclear reactions?
1c. How is the conservation of mass exhibited in a nuclear reaction and through the
process of recycling?
2a. What evidence identifies that a chemical reaction has occurred?
2b. How is the Law of Conservation of Mass demonstrated through the balancing of
chemical equations?
2c. How would the equations for a chemical reaction differ from that of a nuclear
reaction?
2d. What are the ways that you can differentiate between different types of chemical
reactions?
3a. How do the reactants and products differ in synthesis, decomposition, and single
replacement reactions?
3b. How are the products of fusion and fission different?
4. What is the relationship between the amount (mass) of products and reactants in a
chemical reaction?
Evidence Outcomes (District):
1. Examine, evaluate, question, and ethically use information from a variety of sources
and media to investigate the conservation of mass and energy.
2. Recognize, analyze, interpret, and balance chemical equations (synthesis,
decomposition, combustion, and replacement) and nuclear equations (fusion and
fission.)
3. Predict reactants and products for different types of chemical and nuclear reactions.
4. Predict and calculate the amount (mass) of products produced in a chemical
reaction based on the amount of reactants.
Academic Vocabulary (District):
alpha ray
beta ray
chemical reaction
coefficient
combustion
decomposition
double replacement
endothermic reaction
exothermic reaction
fission
Assessment (District):
1a. Assess accuracy of responses to the journal article.
1b. Use the check data sheet on the Law of Conservation of Matter as assessment.
2a. Check for accuracy as students are working on Identifying Types of Reactions and
Predicting Products.
1.- 4. For the vinegar and baking soda stoichiometry lab, use the lab report
as assessment.
2. & 3. In the Balancing Chemical Equations, the assessment is embedded in the
lesson.
2b. & 3b. Grade the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Decay Animation quiz.
3a. For the Predicting Products of Chemical Reactions activity, students will play a
fusion
gamma ray
mole ratio
nuclear decay
product
reactant
single replacement
subscript
synthesis
scatter game wherein they have to predict the products in under three minutes.
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2. & 3. Nuclear Decay 1
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2. & 3. Nuclear Decay 2
2. & 4. Check the S'more stoichiometry lab worksheet for accuracy. Key attached.
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2. & 4. S'mores Stoichiometry Student Key
2, 3, & 4. Assessment for classifying, balancing, and product prediction can be found
on the Chem Tutor-Web site in the practice problems.
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2, 3, & 4. Chem Tutor
Suggested Activities/Strategies (District):
1a. Have students read the Law of Conservation of Mass and Energy and then
journal three real-life examples of how the law applies.
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1a. Law of Conservation of Mass
1b. In the Law of Conservation of Matter Lab, have students conduct an experiment in
which they understand and apply the Law of Conservation of Matter.
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1b. Law of Conservation of Matter Lab
2a. Using the Identifying Types of Reactions and Predicting Products link, students
translate word equations into chemical formula products for each type of reaction.
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Predicting Products and Writing Equations
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http://misterguch.brinkster.net/equationworksheets.html
1.- 4. Use the Vinegar and Baking Soda Stoich Lab for predicting and calculating
the amount of products, percentage yield, and error analysis.
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1.- 4. Vinegar and Baking Soda Stoich Lab
2. & 3. Use the Balancing Nuclear Equations and Predicting Products interactive
website for student practice of concepts.
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2. & 3. Balancing Nuclear Equations and Predicting
2b. & 3b. Students watch the video and then practice Nuclear decay (fission) through
Alpha, Beta, and Gamma on the quiz.
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2b. & 3b. Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Decay Videos and Quizzes
3a. Students use the quizlet to practice predicting products in chemical reactions, then
they play a "scatter game" in under three minutes.
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3a. Predicting Products of Chemical Reactions
2. & 4. Use the S'more-making activity to teach balancing chemical equations, stoich,
limiting, reagents, and excess reagents.
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2. & 4. S'mores Stoichiometry Lab Sheet
2, 3, & 4. Use the Stephen Murray IPC website worksheet to classify and balance
chemical reactions.
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2, 3, & 4. Stephen Murray IPC Website
2, 3, & 4. Use the Nuclear Fission Simulation to show the decay of a nucleus.
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2, 3, & 4. Nuclear Fission
Resources/Technology (District):
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Conserving Matter
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Tutorial on How to Predict Products