Introduction to Chemical Reactions Interactive Simulation | Physical Science | Grades 6–8

This Interactive Simulation has grades 6–8 Middle School Physical Science students run a hands-on classroom model of Introduction to Chemical Reactions.

Driving question: "How can we collect quantitative evidence to determine whether combining household substances produces a chemical reaction?" Objective: Investigate property changes, temperature variations, and gas production across multiple substance combinations to differentiate chemical reactions from physical mixtures.

What's inside: objective and background, a materials list (100 mL glass beakers and graduated…; Digital temperature probes (+/- 0.1 deg…; Distilled water and white vinegar…; Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and…), an 8-step protocol, a data table, 4 analysis questions, and teacher notes.

Resource type: Interactive Simulation (.docx). Format: editable Microsoft Word lab handout with approximately 670 words (~5 pages).

Classroom use: a team investigation in a Middle School Physical Science course. Grades 6–8.

Format note: These files are delivered in Microsoft Office formats (Word and/or PowerPoint). If you open a worksheet that includes tables in Apple Pages or another non-Microsoft app, table formatting may not display correctly. For best results, use Microsoft Word or PowerPoint (or upload the file to Google Docs). If you run into any formatting issues, contact us and we can send a PDF version.