Learning Resource Type

Lesson Plan

What Makes a Chemical Reaction Endothermic or Exothermic?

Subject Area

Science

Grade(s)

9, 10, 11, 12

Overview

Students will analyze the bond energy of the reactants and products in a chemical reaction.  Students will develop a model to illustrate how the changes in total bond energy determine whether the reaction is endothermic or exothermic.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

    Science (2015) Grade(s): 09-12 - Chemistry

    SC15.CHM.11

    Construct an explanation that describes how the release or absorption of energy from a system depends upon changes in the components of the system.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:SC15.CHM.11

    Vocabulary

    • System
    • Surroundings
    • Reactants
    • Products
    • Endothermic
    • Exothermic
    • Bond energy
    • Molecular collisions
    • Conservation of energy
    • Closed system
    • System boundaries
    • Components
    • Surroundings
    • Conservation of energy
    • Energy transfer
    • Thermal energy

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • Energy is a quantitative property of a system that depends on the motion and interactions of matter and radiation within that system. That there is a single quantity called energy is due to the fact that a system's total energy is conserved, even as within the system, energy is continually transferred from one object to another and between its various possible forms.
    • Models are developed based on evidence to illustrate the relationships between systems or between components of a system.
    • A stable molecule has less energy than the same set of atoms separated; one must provide at least this energy in order to take the molecule apart.
    • In chemical processes, whether or not energy is stored or released can be understood in terms of collisions of molecules and rearrangement of atoms into new molecules.
    • The energy change within a system is accounted for by the change in the bond energies of the reactants and products.
    • Breaking bonds requires an input of energy from the system or surroundings, and forming bonds releases energy to the system and surroundings.
    • The energy transfer between systems and surroundings is the difference in energy between bond energies of the reactants and products.
    • Although energy cannot be destroyed, it can be converted to less useful forms (i.e., to thermal energy in the surrounding environment).
    • The overall energy of the system and surroundings is conserved during the reaction.
    • Energy transfer occurs during molecular collisions.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Construct and revise an explanation based on valid and reliable evidence obtained from a variety of sources (students' own investigations, models, theories, simulations, peer review) and the assumption that theories and laws that describe the natrual world operate today as they did in the past and will continue to do so in the future.
    • Apply scientific principles and evidence to provide an explanation of phenomena.
    • Develop a model based on evidence to illustrate the relationships between systems or components of a system.
    • Describe relationships between system components to illustrate that the net energy change within the system is due to bonds being broken and formed, that the energy transfer between the system and surroundings results from molecular collisions, and that the total energy change of the chemical reaction system is matched by an equal but opposite change of energy in the surroundings.
    • Plan an investigation that describes experimental procedure (including safety considerations), how data will be collected, number of trials, experimental setup, equipment required, and how the closed system will be constructed and initial conditions of system.
    • Conduct an investigation to collect and record data that can be used to calculate the change in thermal energy of each of the two components of the system.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • Energy is a quantitative property of a system that depends on the motion and interactions of matter and radiation within that system. That there is a single quantity called energy is due to the fact that a system's total energy is conserved, even as within the system, energy is continually transferred from one object to another and between its various possible forms.
    • When investigating or describing a system, the boundaries and initial conditions of the system need to be defined and their inputs and outputs analyzed and described using models.
    • Models are developed based on evidence to illustrate the relationships between systems or between components of a system.
    • A stable molecule has less energy than the same set of atoms separated; one must provide at least this energy in order to take the molecule apart.
    • In chemical processes, whether or not energy is stored or released can be understood in terms of collisions of molecules and rearrangement of atoms into new molecules.
    • Uncontrolled systems always evolve toward more stable states (i.e., toward more uniform energy distribution).
    • The distribution of thermal energy is more uniform after the interaction of the hot and cold components.
    • Energy cannot be created or destroyed, but it can be trasported from one place to another and transferred between systems.
    • Scientists plan and conduct an investigation individually and collaboratively to produce data to serve as the basis for evidence and in the design, decide on types, how much, and accuracy of data needed to produce reliable measurements and consider limitations on the precision of data. Uncontrolled systems always evolve toward more stable states (i.e., toward more uniform energy distribution).
    • The distribution of thermal energy is more uniform after the interaction of the hot and cold components.
    • Energy cannot be created or destroyed, but it can be trasported from one place to another and transferred between systems.
    • When investigating or describing a system, the boundaries and initial conditions of the system need to be defined and their inputs and outputs analyzed and described using models.

    Scientific and Engineering Practices

    Developing and Using Models; Planning and Carrying out Investigations; Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

    Crosscutting Concepts

    Cause and Effect; Systems and System Models; Stability and Change

    Primary Learning Objectives

    Learning Targets:

    • I can develop a model to illustrate how changes in total bond energy determine whether a reaction is endothermic or exothermic.
    • I can identify that in a chemical reaction bonds are broken in the reactants requiring an input of energy and bonds are formed in the products releasing energy.

    Procedures/Activities

    Before:

    Show students the ACS Video: Exothermic & Endothermic Reactions to introduce the idea of bond energy in relation to a reaction being classified as either endothermic or exothermic.  

    As students watch the video they should complete a Venn diagram on the two types of reactions.  After the video, students should work with a partner using the strategy: think, pair, share to discuss what they saw in the video.  

    Following partner discussions engage the class in a whole class discussion where groups share what they learned from the video.  This will allow the teacher to assess what students know and think prior to the lab activity.  

    During:

    Students will complete a lab activity on endothermic and exothermic reactions with their lab partner.  See the attached document "Bond-energy-endothermic-exothermic" for directions.  

    During the activity students will react sodium bicarbonate with acetic acid and then react sodium bicarbonate solution with calcium chloride to see an example of an endothermic and exothermic reaction.  Ensure that students wear goggles and lab aprons in the laboratory and follow all appropriate safety precautions.  Following the experiment, students will write the balanced chemical equation for each reaction, identify the type of reaction that has occurred and analyze the bond energy requirements.  As a result of the lab activity, students will develop a model to illustrate how changes in total bond energy determines whether a reaction is endothermic or exothermic.  

    After: Give each group of students 2 of the index card strips that have velcro on one side and a magnetic strip on the other.  Have students determine which side (magnet or velcro) takes more energy to pull apart when they are connected and have them relate this to the breaking of bonds in the reactants.  Then have students analyze which side (magnet or velcro) is easier to put together and have them relate this to the formation of bonds in the product.  You can include technology in this step of the lesson by using a poll on Kahoot, Socrative, or Google forms to collect data from the class.  Discuss with students why the reason for their selection to be easier to put together and their comparison to the bond types.  This discussion will help you formatively assess student understanding of the bond types.  Review endothermic and exothermic reactions with students based on the overall energy change from the reactants to the products.   

    Assessment Strategies

    • Students will be formatively assessed during think, pair, share activity during the introduction phase of the lesson.  
    • Student will be assessed formally on the lab activity and model developed for endothermic and exothermic reactions based on the worksheet that they turn in.
    • Student will be informally assessed based on descriptions given during the velcro/magnet activity as the teacher discusses why the velcro or magnet is an "easier" bond to form and the student makes comparisons between that model and the bond types.

    Acceleration

    Students who are already familiar with bond types and reaction types or who learn quickly can extend their study on energy by watching the ACS video: Meet a BP Chemist to give students an idea of what a chemist who works with energy does on a daily basis.  

    Intervention

    Students who need extra assistance based on formal and informal assessments with the teacher should have individual or small group focused instruction with the teacher to clarify bond types and reaction types.  

    Approximate Duration

    Total Duration

    61 to 90 Minutes

    Background and Preparation

    Background/Preparation

    • Students should have a clear understanding of the difference between physical changes and chemical changes.
    • Students should know how to write and balance chemical equations. 
    • Students should be comfortable with the law of conservation of energy.
    • Teacher Preparation for follow-up activity: Take index cards and cut into strips that are about the same width of the adhesive velcro and magnetic strips.  Put a piece of velcro on one side of the index card strip and a piece of magnetic strip on the opposing side.  Ensure that you have enough for each group to have a set of 2 that will stick together on both sides.  (The velcro on one index card attaches to the velcro on the other index card and the magnet on the back of the card sticks to the magnet on the back of the other card).  

    Materials and Resources

    Materials and Resources

    Index cards

    Adhesive magnetic strips (or small magnets)

    Adhesive velcro strips

    250 mL beakers (2 per group)

    Vinegar (20 mL per group)

    Baking Soda (2.0 grams per group)

    Calcium chloride (0.5 grams per group)

    Water

    Temperature probes or thermometers (1 per group)

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