Did you know when you mix the reactants sulfur, tungsten, and silver, you get the products SWAg? The simulation begins with making sandwiches, to show pupils reactants and products of something familiar. They then can make water, ammonia, and combust methane by determining the number of molecules before and after each reaction. They finish by testing their understanding when given either the reactants or the products side and have to determine the number of molecules needed to balance the equation. 

Concepts

chemical reactions, limiting reactants, products, reactants

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Great simulation to put at a station on a day of balancing equations or chemical reaction stations; learners can use on their own or teacher can project and model how to use

Classroom Considerations

• Teachers may register for a free account, giving them access to teacher tips and a video primer
• Includes related lesson plans and activities 
• Activity seems best fit for eighth graders and above; scholars must understand balancing chemical equations and the Law of Conservation of Matter

Pros

• Engaging and effective simulation on reactants, products, and limiting reactants
• Lesson is challenging and gives learners three levels of difficulty
• Great use of graphics to help visual learners

Cons

• None

Common Core

RST.6-8.3