1.1.1 Balancing equations (AQA GCSE Chemistry)

Designed as lesson 2 (Atomic Structure) for AQA GCSE Chemistry (probably year 9)

Spec 1.1.1: Balancing equations (Could be used at any point in the course)

Lesson preparation:

Loads of dollymix
Bluetack
You could print the equations on slide 15

Rational:

I have found that many students feel they are unable to balance equations. The key misconception are that they try to change the number of atoms in a substance rather than just the stoichiometry. I created this lesson to make explicit the difference between number of atoms in a substance and number of substances in a balanced equation.

Suggested teaching:

Slide 1: A bit of simple recall to settle

Slide 6-8: The idea here is that students build the dolly mix structures (I get them to connect the atoms with blutack. They create the initial equation and then build more of each substance to obey the conservation of mass. They may draw out the equations and ultimately write the balanced equation.

Slides 9-11: The same idea, but moving away from Dolly mix to real examples (could use molymods here)

Slides 12-14: This is an alternative method for balancing equations you may want to introduce

Feel free to tweet me @Chemeducation is you have any questions or ideas!