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Science lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 45 minutes

Reactants, products and word equations

Chemical reactions, acids and bases

CCSS NGSS.MS-PS1-2CCSS NGSS.MS-PS1-5England: KS3 Chemistry: Chemical reactions

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Reactants, products and word equations.

  • 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: Physical and chemical changes

Leads to: Neutralisation and naming salts; Exothermic and endothermic reactions; Balancing chemical equations

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 (Physical and chemical changes). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Is this a physical or a chemical change: water boiling? (physical change / chemical change) → physical changePrompt: Is a new substance made?
  2. Why is boiling water a physical change? (Water turns into hydrogen and oxygen / It cannot be reversed / The steam is still water, just in a different state / Bubbles always mean a chemical change) → The steam is still water, just in a different statePrompt: What are the bubbles made of?
  3. Physical and chemical changes: which statement is NOT true? (In a chemical reaction, atoms are rearranged to make new substances. / Burning is a chemical change. / Dissolving is a physical change. / Atoms are destroyed in chemical reactions.) → Atoms are destroyed in chemical reactions.Prompt: Does each change make a new substance?

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: Reactants, products and word equations. 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: Complete the word equation: calcium + oxygen → ___
  • Step 1: calcium + oxygen → calcium oxide
  • Step 2: So the answer is: calcium oxide
  • Answer: calcium oxide
  • 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.
  1. Complete the word equation: copper + oxygen → ___ (calcium oxide / carbon dioxide / copper carbonate / copper oxide) → copper oxidePrompt: A metal reacting with oxygen makes a metal oxide.
  2. Why does a candle under a glass jar go out? (The wax turns into water / Glass puts out flames / The oxygen inside is used up / The jar gets too heavy) → The oxygen inside is used upPrompt: What does burning use from the air?

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.
  1. Complete the word equation: calcium + oxygen → ___ (carbon dioxide / iron oxide / calcium oxide / calcium chloride) → calcium oxidePrompt: A metal reacting with oxygen makes a metal oxide.
  2. Calcium carbonate is heated strongly: calcium carbonate → calcium oxide + ___ (carbon dioxide / hydrogen / oxygen / water) → carbon dioxidePrompt: What is left when you take CaO away from CaCO₃?

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: Physical and chemical changes.
  • 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: Neutralisation and naming salts; Exothermic and endothermic reactions; Balancing chemical equations.
  • 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-7.

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

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Reactants, products and word equations

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Word equations: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. Thermal decomposition breaks a substance down using heat.
    • B. Products are the substances you start with.
    • C. Combustion is a reaction with oxygen.
    • D. Reactants are written on the left of the arrow.

  2. Question 2

    Complete the word equation: iron + oxygen → ___

    • A. copper oxide
    • B. iron oxide
    • C. iron chloride
    • D. carbon dioxide

  3. Question 3

    In the reaction "iron + sulfur → iron sulfide", what are the reactants?

    • A. iron sulfide
    • B. iron only
    • C. iron and sulfur
    • D. sulfur and iron sulfide

  4. Question 4

    Complete the word equation: magnesium + oxygen → ___

    • A. carbon dioxide
    • B. magnesium chloride
    • C. iron oxide
    • D. magnesium oxide

  5. Question 5

    Complete the word equation: zinc + oxygen → ___

    • A. carbon dioxide
    • B. zinc chloride
    • C. zinc oxide
    • D. magnesium oxide

  6. Question 6

    What is needed for fuels to burn?

    • A. water and light
    • B. carbon dioxide
    • C. oxygen and enough heat
    • D. nitrogen only

  7. Question 7

    Complete the word equation: copper + oxygen → ___

    • A. copper chloride
    • B. iron oxide
    • C. carbon dioxide
    • D. copper oxide

  8. Question 8

    Methane burns completely in air: methane + oxygen → carbon dioxide + ___

    • A. hydrogen
    • B. nitrogen
    • C. carbon monoxide
    • D. water

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Answer key: Reactants, products and word equations

  1. 1. B. Products are the substances you start with.

  2. 2. B. iron oxide

  3. 3. C. iron and sulfur

  4. 4. D. magnesium oxide

  5. 5. C. zinc oxide

  6. 6. C. oxygen and enough heat

  7. 7. D. copper oxide

  8. 8. D. water