What happens to substances when they dissolve in water? Young scientists investigate the dissolving process with a colorful interactive. The resource illustrates changes in potential energy as solute particles interact with water molecules to form a solution.

Concepts

dissolving, solutions, molecules, water, potential energy

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Have pupils describe what is happening in the solution when they see an increase in potential energy
  
• Expand the lesson to include the effects on kinetic energy within the system as a result of decreasing potential energy
  

Classroom Considerations

• A discussion of potential energy in chemical systems would help prepare the class to use the interactive
  

Pros

• Resource can show interactions between atoms and molecules, which allows for a more in-depth look into solution chemistry
• Water and solute particles are easy to identify and keep track of throughout the interactive
  

Cons

• None