1. Chemical Equations
All life is constantly affected by countless types of chemical reactions. What was Dalton's "law of definite proportions" and what is the "molar mass lesson"? What do you know about chemical reactions?

Follow the links at below to try an experiment to reinforce what you know.

Consider This Before Answering the Questions
All life-yours, ours, everything around us-is constantly affected by countless types of chemical reactions (think about when you're standing in the grocery line and the person in front of you has obviously not bathed for quite some time, or when you left your gardening tools out in the rain and they rusted, or how the plants around us flourish when given the proper amounts of sun, water, and nutrients).

• To explore this in more depth, go to http://www.visionlearning.com/library/science/chemistry-1/CHE1.8-equations.htm.
• First, proceed through the site, answering the questions as they are asked and working through the equations.
  • As you proceed, link to "the formation of water," review Dalton's "law of definite proportions," as well as the "molar mass lesson." (Hold off on the first link, "chemical reaction," for a bit because we'll get back to that one.)
  • When you get to the end of this site, take the Chemical Equations Quiz and the quiz titled "What do you know about chemical reactions?"
  • You might also want to explore the Equation Balancing Problem Set and Practice Balancing Equations (as well as some of the other resources and further explorations).
  • Then scroll back up and try the Experiment: Interactive Tutorial for Balancing Equations just to be sure you've got it. If you're having problems or there are things you don't understand, try clicking on either the Ask-a-Tutor or Ask-a-Scientist links.
  • Once you feel comfortable with the information on this site, go back to the top of the lesson and link to "chemical reaction" (this should take you to http://www.visionlearning.com/library/science/chemistry-1/CHE1.6-reactions.htm).
  • Again, as you go through the site, jot down your responses to the questions before they are answered for you.
  • At the end of this site, test yourself by doing the Chemical Reaction Quiz; then try the Further Exploration, Types of Chemical Reactions.
  
  
  
  
  After You Answer the Questions
  After completing both sections above, consider your own world and write down some of the chemical reactions that take place in your daily life, noting which ones take place without you doing anything and which are caused by your own actions. (When you're done, you might want to check out your refrigerator and see if there's anything you need to do there!)
  
  2. Splitting Water
  Has it ever really occurred to you that you could "split water"? Visit the links below and follow the links to give it a try. What reaction did you expect? What reaction did you get? How can you practically apply what you learned from this experiment?
  
  Consider This Before Answering the Questions
  It probably has never occurred to you that you could "split water," but this is an easy way to demonstrate chemical reactions.
  • First, read the section in the text on Energy and Rate of Reaction and check out the accompanying figure.
  • Then go to the web site at http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/projects/split_h2o.html
  • Read the short introduction, and then try the experiment.
  • Did you get the reaction that was predicted?
  
  
  
  
  After You Answer the Questions
  Obviously, you're not going to be walking around carrying a 9-volt battery and a glass of water, but how can you extend what you learned from this into a practical application?