The computer allows the student to edit and correct a formula after receiving
feedback, without having to type it over again.This lesson is intended to familiarize students with the characteristic reactions of elements, oxides and hydroxides with water, acid and base. It requires the student to write complete, balanced net ionic chemical equations. This material is essential for an understanding of chemistry in aqueous solutions. However, it is very difficult to teach well. In this form, a student may learn it a bit at a time, in a challenging and helpful environment
The judging algorithm detects and informs the student of incorrect or missing reagents, incorrect formulas, incorrect coefficients, and inappropriate species (for example H+ and F- instead of HF, or NaOH instead of Na+ and OH-). It can interpret equations with either H3O+ or H+ as the acidic ion in water. It cannot accept equations containing fractional coefficients or coefficients greater than smallest integer ones.
The computer allows the student to edit and correct a formula after receiving
feedback, without having to type it over again.
After examples of each type of reaction, there is a quiz in which the student is expected to get two equations completely right in a row without assistance.
Chapter 1 classifies metals and nonmetals, and shows the 45 elements which will be used in the lesson. It then introduces the reactions of active metals with acid to produce hydrogen and the hydroxide (soluble or insoluble), and reactions of very active metals with water to produce hydrogen and the hydroxide (soluble or insoluble).
Chapter 2 deals with basic oxides. The student is shown examples, and then asked to write the equations of the reactions of soluble basic oxides with water, insoluble basic oxides with acid, insoluble hydroxides with acid, and soluble peroxides with water.
Chapter 3 deals similarly with acidic oxides: the reactions of soluble acidic oxides with water to give acidic solutions, of insoluble acidic oxides with base, and of amphoteric hydroxides with base.
Chapter 4 is the final review quiz. The student is asked to write ten equations, given descriptions of the reactions. Examples are taken from all of the types above, in random order. Each is marked out of 5. The quiz score is expressed as a percentage and may be recorded in a dataset.
Chapter 5 provides a list of top scores (up to 15), and a histogram of all scores.
Home page | Index of lessons | Next lesson (Ideal Gas) | Previous lesson (Nomenclature)
Updated July 18, 2000