Chemical Dominoes
This project was called Chemical Dominoes. Our job was to create a borad game that actively engages our players and when they walked away, to have them feel that they had learned more about chemistry. We had to include a phase change, creation of a gas, double displacement reaction, and a single replacement reaction that lights up a LED. The game had to be made so that there was a level of difficulty while keeping the players engaged and not frustrated. Since we were dealing with chemicals we also had to add safety precautions to our players and provide them with aprons and goggles.
Content:
Atom: the basic unit of a chemical element
Proton: a stable subatomic particle occurring in all atomic nuclei, with a positive electric charge equal in magnitude to that of an electron, but of opposite sign
Neutron: a subatomic particle of about the same mass as a proton but without an electric charge, present in all atomic nuclei except those of ordinary hydrogen
Electron: a stable subatomic particle with a charge of negative electricity, found in all atoms and acting as the primary carrier of electricity in solids
Element: primary constituents of matter
Compound: a thing that is composed of two or more separate elements; a mixture
Ion: an atom or molecule with a net electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons
Single Replacement Reaction: chemical reaction where an element reacts with a compound and takes the place of another element in that compound
Double Displacement Reaction: where two compounds react, and the positive ions (cation) and the negative ions (anion) of the two reactants switch places, forming two new compounds or products
Synthesis Reaction: multiple reactants combine to form a single product
Decomposition Reaction: which a single compound breaks down into two or more elements or new compounds
Combustion: which something reacts with oxygen - commonly known as burning
Aqueous: of or containing water, typically as a solvent or medium
ESPN 8 The OCHO: Bringing you the finest from seldom seen sports from around the world since 1999
The last vocabulary word bring us to our project, ESPN 8 The OCHO. That was the theme for our project where we took random games that are never shown on TV and turned them into mini games with chemical reactions. The games we turned into mini games were corn-hole, bottle flipping, mini-basketball, and dart shooting. Under each picture of the game below will be the explanation of the science behind the game. Scroll down and be ready to learn.
This picture is an over view of our whole board game. It shows all the mini games we played and in the exact order. It also shows how the player moves down the game. The stop signs on the path makes the player stop and play each game. To win the game you must be the first player to complete all the games and cross the finish line.
This game is mini basketball and had our phase change. We would put a thin layer of tissue paper covering the basket. On top we would place some dry ice and underneath a bucket of water. The tissue paper allowed the dry ice to stay on top of the basket until the player made the shot. This would break the paper and drop the dry ice into the water. Once the dry ice went into the water sublimation immediately occurred. The solid dry ice skips the phase if liquid and immediately turn into gas. The temperature of the water causes this change releasing CO2 and water vapor.
This game was our mini dart shooting and also our single displacement reaction. We modified a nerf gun to shoot a dart with a tack in the tip. The tack allowed the player to pop a water balloon with copper chloride inside it. The copper chloride ran down our make sift funnel into a bowl containing aluminum foil. When copper chloride comes in contact with aluminum they exchange an element changing the make up of both substances. The changing of the substances breaks down the aluminum. Also in the picture there is a circuit. When connected the the aluminum foil the electricity flows throw it since it is the path of least resistance. However, when the aluminum is broken down from the copper chloride the electricity can no longer flow through that path and ruins through the LED causing it to turn on.
This game was our version of the bottle flipping championships and our double displacement reaction. In a double displacement reaction occurs when town aqueous solutions combine switching an anion making two new compounds. One of these two new compounds will be aqueous and the other will be a solid. This causes the liquid to change color and and look like there are "chunks" in the solution. For our game we had the player bottle flip the bottle onto what color they think the two compounds mixed together will make. Once they bottle flip is successful, we will mix potassium iodate and lead nitrate. These compounds mixed will create an aqueous solution with bright yellow solids in it.
This game is our version of the corn hole champion ships. We had player take small alka-seltzer tabs and throw them through the hole. Behind the hole was a cup of vinegar. The sodium bicarbonate in the alka-seltzer tabs reacted with the vinegar (acetic acid) and releases carbon dioxide. This was our creation of gas for our project
Reflection
I not only learned many chemistry concepts and how to make this game, but I also learned many group skills. I learned that sometimes you have to step up as the leader and take charge. While other times I have to step down and let others lead. I also learned how to keep everyone on task and make sure work is getting done.
There were two main "pits" or downfalls my group had. First, one problem my group had was keeping on task. I think this was a pit many groups had, but I think my group solved the problem very well. Other than avoiding the problem we assessed it immediately. Our solution was we appointed a group task manager that made sure everyone was doing their job. Our next pit was, being too social. The task manager's job was to also make sure we stayed in our group. Sometimes one person in our group would wonder off and the task manager would have to tell them to come back.
The two main "peaks" or something gained I had was learning when to take charge and when to step back. I would have to take charge when people in my group weren't paying attention. I would also have to get everyone back on task and make sure we would finish on time. I would have to step back and let others take charge many times too. I would do this to make sure everyone's voice was heard and every idea was spoken of.
In the end, I was very happy with our project and felt that we spent our time well. I know that our game doesn't work without our assistance, but that helps with the learning process. I am very happy with how our game turned out, and I hope to do it again.
I not only learned many chemistry concepts and how to make this game, but I also learned many group skills. I learned that sometimes you have to step up as the leader and take charge. While other times I have to step down and let others lead. I also learned how to keep everyone on task and make sure work is getting done.
There were two main "pits" or downfalls my group had. First, one problem my group had was keeping on task. I think this was a pit many groups had, but I think my group solved the problem very well. Other than avoiding the problem we assessed it immediately. Our solution was we appointed a group task manager that made sure everyone was doing their job. Our next pit was, being too social. The task manager's job was to also make sure we stayed in our group. Sometimes one person in our group would wonder off and the task manager would have to tell them to come back.
The two main "peaks" or something gained I had was learning when to take charge and when to step back. I would have to take charge when people in my group weren't paying attention. I would also have to get everyone back on task and make sure we would finish on time. I would have to step back and let others take charge many times too. I would do this to make sure everyone's voice was heard and every idea was spoken of.
In the end, I was very happy with our project and felt that we spent our time well. I know that our game doesn't work without our assistance, but that helps with the learning process. I am very happy with how our game turned out, and I hope to do it again.