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

Neutralisation and naming salts

Chemical reactions, acids and bases

CCSS NGSS.MS-PS1-2CCSS NGSS.HS-PS1-2England: KS3 Chemistry: Chemical reactionsEngland: KS4 Combined Science: Chemical changes

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Neutralisation and naming salts.

  • 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: The reactivity series and displacement; Titration calculations

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: magnesium + oxygen → ___ (magnesium chloride / copper oxide / magnesium carbonate / magnesium oxide) → magnesium 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 neutral / It is a strong alkali / It is pure water / It is a strong acid) → It is a strong acidPrompt: Red is at the low-pH end of the colour chart.
  3. Complete the word equation: calcium + oxygen → ___ (calcium oxide / calcium chloride / calcium carbonate / carbon dioxide) → calcium 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: Neutralisation and naming salts. 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: Name the salt: potassium hydroxide + nitric acid → ___ + water
  • Step 1: nitric acid → nitrate
  • Step 2: So the answer is: potassium nitrate
  • Answer: potassium nitrate
  • 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. Name the salt: zinc + nitric acid → ___ + hydrogen (zinc chloride / zinc sulfate / zinc nitrate / zinc oxide) → zinc nitratePrompt: The first part of the salt's name comes from the metal.
  2. A farmer's soil is too acidic. What could they add? (lime (calcium hydroxide), a base / lemon juice / vinegar / sulfuric acid) → lime (calcium hydroxide), a basePrompt: You need something that neutralises acid.

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. What are the products when an acid neutralises an alkali? (an acid and a base / a salt and water / a salt and hydrogen / oxygen and water) → a salt and waterPrompt: acid + alkali → … + …
  2. Name the salt: copper carbonate + nitric acid → ___ + water + carbon dioxide (copper oxide / copper sulfate / copper chloride / copper nitrate) → copper nitratePrompt: The first part of the salt's name comes from the metal.

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: The reactivity series and displacement; Titration calculations.
  • 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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Neutralisation and naming salts

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Name the salt: zinc + sulfuric acid → ___ + hydrogen

    • A. zinc chloride
    • B. zinc sulfate
    • C. zinc nitrate
    • D. zinc oxide

  2. Question 2

    25 cm³ of an acid starts at pH 2. An alkali is added 10 cm³ at a time. The pH readings are 2, 4, 5, 7. What total volume of alkali made the solution neutral, in cm³?

    Answercm³

  3. Question 3

    Indigestion tablets help with too much stomach acid because they…

    • A. contain more acid
    • B. kill all the stomach's bacteria
    • C. turn the acid into sugar
    • D. contain bases that neutralise some of the acid

  4. Question 4

    Name the salt: sodium hydroxide + sulfuric acid → ___ + water

    • A. sodium nitrate
    • B. sodium sulfate
    • C. sodium oxide
    • D. sodium chloride

  5. Question 5

    10 cm³ of an acid starts at pH 1. An alkali is added 5 cm³ at a time. The pH readings are 1, 4, 7. What total volume of alkali made the solution neutral, in cm³?

    Answercm³

  6. Question 6

    What are the products when an acid neutralises an alkali?

    • A. an acid and a base
    • B. oxygen and water
    • C. a salt and hydrogen
    • D. a salt and water

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Answer key: Neutralisation and naming salts

  1. 1. B. zinc sulfate

  2. 2. 30 cm³

  3. 3. D. contain bases that neutralise some of the acid

  4. 4. B. sodium sulfate

  5. 5. 10 cm³

  6. 6. D. a salt and water