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Science lesson plan · 11th grade (Year 12 in England) · 30 minutes

Calculate energy changes from bond energies

Chemical reactions, acids and bases

CCSS NGSS.HS-PS1-4England: GCSE Combined Science: Energy changes (bond energies, Higher)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Calculate energy changes from bond energies.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Reaction profiles: energy change and activation energy

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Teacher demo or video, Indicator color chart, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Reaction profiles: energy change and activation energy). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. On a reaction profile, the reactants are at 80 kJ, the peak is at 180 kJ and the products are at 100 kJ. What is the overall energy change, in kJ? (Use a minus sign if energy is released.) → 20 kJPrompt: energy change = energy of products − energy of reactants
  2. Reactants: 140 kJ. Peak of the profile: 290 kJ. Products: 110 kJ. What is the activation energy, in kJ? → 150 kJPrompt: Activation energy is the minimum energy needed to start the reaction.
  3. How does a catalyst change a reaction profile? (It removes the reactants / It raises the products / It lowers the peak (activation energy) but not the overall energy change / It changes an exothermic reaction into an endothermic one) → It lowers the peak (activation energy) but not the overall energy changePrompt: A catalyst provides a different reaction pathway.

Hook · 3 min

  • Drop an antacid tablet in water (or show a clip) and ask whether a new substance is being made.
  • Share the objective: Calculate energy changes from bond energies. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: CHâ‚„ + 2Oâ‚‚ → COâ‚‚ + 2Hâ‚‚O. Bond energies (kJ/mol): C–H 413, O=O 498, C=O 805, O–H 464. Calculate the energy change, in kJ/mol.
  • Step 1: broken: 4 × 413 + 2 × 498 = 2648
  • Step 2: made: 2 × 805 + 4 × 464 = 3466
  • Step 3: 2648 − 3466 = −818
  • Step 4: So the answer is: −818 kJ/mol
  • Answer: -818 kJ/mol
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. H₂ + Cl₂ → 2HCl. Bond energies (kJ/mol): H–H 436, Cl–Cl 243, H–Cl 432. Calculate the energy change, in kJ/mol. → -185 kJ/molPrompt: energy change = energy to break bonds − energy released making bonds
  2. In a reaction, 1350 kJ is needed to break bonds and 1270 kJ is released when new bonds form. Is the reaction exothermic or endothermic? (exothermic / endothermic) → endothermicPrompt: Breaking bonds takes in energy; making bonds releases it.

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. N₂ + 3H₂ → 2NH₃. Bond energies (kJ/mol): N≡N 945, H–H 436, N–H 391. Calculate the energy change, in kJ/mol. → -93 kJ/molPrompt: energy change = energy to break bonds − energy released making bonds
  2. In a reaction, 1250 kJ is needed to break bonds and 1500 kJ is released when new bonds form. Is the reaction exothermic or endothermic? (exothermic / endothermic) → exothermicPrompt: Breaking bonds takes in energy; making bonds releases it.

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Reaction profiles: energy change and activation energy.
  • Use concrete materials: teacher demo or video.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-11.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

eurekami

Calculate energy changes from bond energies

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Hydrogen fuel cells combine hydrogen and oxygen. Why do they release energy overall?

    • A. More energy is released forming O–H bonds than is needed to break H–H and O=O
    • B. No bonds are broken
    • C. Hydrogen is radioactive
    • D. Water absorbs energy
  2. Question 2

    CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O. Bond energies (kJ/mol): C–H 413, O=O 498, C=O 805, O–H 464. Calculate the energy change, in kJ/mol.

    AnswerkJ/mol

  3. Question 3

    In a reaction, 950 kJ is needed to break bonds and 1070 kJ is released when new bonds form. Is the reaction exothermic or endothermic?

    • A. exothermic
    • B. endothermic
  4. Question 4

    Why is breaking bonds endothermic?

    • A. Breaking bonds releases heat
    • B. Energy must be supplied to overcome the attraction holding atoms together
    • C. Atoms repel each other
    • D. Bonds contain no energy
  5. Question 5

    H₂ + Br₂ → 2HBr. Bond energies (kJ/mol): H–H 436, Br–Br 193, H–Br 366. Calculate the energy change, in kJ/mol.

    AnswerkJ/mol

  6. Question 6

    In a reaction, 1300 kJ is needed to break bonds and 1420 kJ is released when new bonds form. Is the reaction exothermic or endothermic?

    • A. exothermic
    • B. endothermic

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Answer key: Calculate energy changes from bond energies

  1. 1. A. More energy is released forming O–H bonds than is needed to break H–H and O=O

  2. 2. -818 kJ/mol

  3. 3. A. exothermic

  4. 4. B. Energy must be supplied to overcome the attraction holding atoms together

  5. 5. -103 kJ/mol

  6. 6. A. exothermic