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Science lesson plan · 8th grade (Year 9 in England) · 30 minutes

What acids make with metals and carbonates

Chemical reactions, acids and bases

CCSS NGSS.MS-PS1-2England: KS3 Chemistry: Acids and alkalisEngland: GCSE Combined Science: Chemical changes

Objective and success criteria

Students will: What acids make with metals and carbonates.

  • 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: Acids, alkalis (bases) and the pH scale; Reactants, products and word equations

Leads to: Identify gases with laboratory tests

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 (Acids, alkalis (bases) and the pH scale; Reactants, products and word equations). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Complete the word equation: zinc + oxygen → ___ (zinc carbonate / iron oxide / zinc chloride / zinc oxide) → zinc oxidePrompt: A metal reacting with oxygen makes a metal oxide.
  2. Universal indicator turns red in a solution. What does this tell you? (It is a strong acid / It is neutral / It is a strong alkali / It is pure water) → It is a strong acidPrompt: Red is at the low-pH end of the colour chart.
  3. Complete the word equation: copper + oxygen → ___ (copper chloride / copper carbonate / iron oxide / copper oxide) → copper oxidePrompt: A metal reacting with oxygen makes a metal oxide.

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: What acids make with metals and carbonates. 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: Zinc reacts with sulfuric acid. What are the products?
  • Step 1: sulfuric acid makes sulfate salts.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: zinc sulfate + hydrogen
  • Answer: zinc sulfate + hydrogen
  • 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. Magnesium reacts with sulfuric acid. What are the products? (magnesium nitrate + hydrogen / magnesium sulfate + hydrogen / magnesium sulfate + carbon dioxide / magnesium chloride + hydrogen) → magnesium sulfate + hydrogenPrompt: acid + metal → salt + hydrogen
  2. Magnesium carbonate reacts with hydrochloric acid. What are the products? (magnesium oxide + carbon dioxide / magnesium chloride + water / magnesium carbonate + water / magnesium chloride + water + carbon dioxide) → magnesium chloride + water + carbon dioxidePrompt: Carbonates fizz with acids. Which gas turns limewater cloudy?

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. Which metal would NOT fizz when placed in dilute hydrochloric acid? (iron / zinc / magnesium / copper) → copperPrompt: Metals below hydrogen in the reactivity series do not react with dilute acids.
  2. Calcium reacts with sulfuric acid. What are the products? (calcium sulfate + water / calcium sulfate + carbon dioxide / calcium chloride + hydrogen / calcium sulfate + hydrogen) → calcium sulfate + hydrogenPrompt: acid + metal → salt + hydrogen

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: Acids, alkalis (bases) and the pH scale.
  • 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

  • Move on to: Identify gases with laboratory tests.
  • 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-8.

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

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What acids make with metals and carbonates

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    How could you prove that the gas from magnesium and acid is hydrogen?

    • A. it relights a glowing splint
    • B. a lighted splint gives a squeaky pop
    • C. it turns limewater cloudy
    • D. it bleaches damp litmus

  2. Question 2

    Zinc reacts with nitric acid. What are the products?

    • A. zinc sulfate + hydrogen
    • B. zinc nitrate + carbon dioxide
    • C. zinc oxide + hydrogen
    • D. zinc nitrate + hydrogen

  3. Question 3

    Sodium carbonate reacts with nitric acid. What are the products?

    • A. sodium nitrate + water + carbon dioxide
    • B. sodium carbonate + water
    • C. sodium nitrate + hydrogen
    • D. sodium nitrate + water

  4. Question 4

    Acid rain slowly damages limestone and marble statues. Why?

    • A. They are alkali metals
    • B. They are made of iron
    • C. They are calcium carbonate, which reacts with acids
    • D. Rain makes them grow

  5. Question 5

    Magnesium reacts with sulfuric acid. What are the products?

    • A. magnesium sulfate + water
    • B. magnesium nitrate + hydrogen
    • C. magnesium sulfate + hydrogen
    • D. magnesium sulfate + carbon dioxide

  6. Question 6

    Magnesium reacts with hydrochloric acid. What are the products?

    • A. magnesium chloride + water
    • B. magnesium oxide + hydrogen
    • C. magnesium chloride + hydrogen
    • D. magnesium sulfate + hydrogen

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Answer key: What acids make with metals and carbonates

  1. 1. B. a lighted splint gives a squeaky pop

  2. 2. D. zinc nitrate + hydrogen

  3. 3. A. sodium nitrate + water + carbon dioxide

  4. 4. C. They are calcium carbonate, which reacts with acids

  5. 5. C. magnesium sulfate + hydrogen

  6. 6. C. magnesium chloride + hydrogen