Science lesson plan · 8th grade (Year 9 in England) · 45 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 · 5 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.
- Complete the word equation: iron + oxygen → ___ (iron chloride / carbon dioxide / iron carbonate / iron oxide) → iron oxidePrompt: A metal reacting with oxygen makes a metal oxide.
- What happens to blue litmus paper in an acid? (It turns red / It stays blue / It turns purple / It turns green) → It turns redPrompt: Litmus has only two colours.
- Which of these is an acid? (oven cleaner / pure water / soap / lemon juice) → lemon juicePrompt: Acids often taste sour (never taste chemicals in the lab!).
Hook · 5 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 · 10 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 · 10 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Name the salt: magnesium + hydrochloric acid → ___ + hydrogen (magnesium oxide / magnesium chloride / magnesium sulfate / magnesium nitrate) → magnesium chloridePrompt: The first part of the salt's name comes from the metal.
- Which gas is produced when a carbonate reacts with an acid? (nitrogen / carbon dioxide / hydrogen / oxygen) → carbon dioxidePrompt: It turns limewater milky (cloudy).
You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- 20 cm³ of an acid starts at pH 2. An alkali is added 10 cm³ at a time. The pH readings are 2, 5, 7. What total volume of alkali made the solution neutral, in cm³? → 20 cm³Prompt: Neutral means pH 7.
- Which gas is produced when a carbonate reacts with an acid? (hydrogen / oxygen / nitrogen / carbon dioxide) → carbon dioxidePrompt: It turns limewater milky (cloudy).
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