When molecules of hydrogen and oxygen are combined, how does water form? Science scholars observe changes in kinetic and potential energy during a chemical reaction in an interactive. The resource features easy controls that allow users to add energy to the reaction vessel and observe molecular interactions at different points in the reaction. A handy graph of energy versus time records changes throughout the reaction.

Concepts

atoms, molecules, chemical reactions, chemical bonds, kinetic energy, potential energy, hydrogen, oxygen, water molecules

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Use the interactive to allow students to create a model that illustrates changes in energy within a chemical system
• Instruct the class to focus on moments where bonds form or break and have them record their observations on the energy graph

Classroom Considerations

• Schedule time in the computer lab for individuals to use the interactive
• Enable the legend to help pupils track changes in kinetic and potential energy

Pros

• The interactive has controls that allow users to search forward and backward during the reaction to view specific interactions between atoms and molecules
• Adding energy to the reaction helps learners understand and view how bonds break

Cons

• None