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Interactive equation builder

The interactive equation builder is a teaching and learning tool that helps students integrate a mathematical model with their conceptual model of what happens during a chemical reaction. These equations are designed to show how adding or removing a substance affects the amounts of products, as well as how to balance a chemical reaction equation. Directions on how to use the equation builder are found on page 222 of the textbook.

You can navigate to interactive equations within the textbook via the following methods:

  • To display a list of links to all interactive equations in the textbook, select Equations from the home screen.
  • To display a list of links to all interactive equations in a specific chapter, navigate to a page from that chapter and select Equations from the page navigation bar.

In the equation builder, reactants and products can be added or subtracted to create and work with customized chemical reactions. The types of atoms, polyatomic ions, or compounds added to the reactants or products can be entered in any order, and the subscripts for each added component are adjustable.

The lesson plans, assignments, and slides provide teaching strategies for using the interactive equation builder effectively. This tool allows for interactive, self-directed discovery of stoichiometric relationships, which is ideal for flipped classrooms.

When the Interactive Simulation button (outlined in red below) appears in the left margin next to a solved problem in the eBook, clicking the button will open the relevant chemical equation in the equation builder.

Functions

The equation builder features four primary functions:

  • Equation: Allows the user to enter an unbalanced chemical reaction.

  • Balance: Allows the user to balance the reaction.

  • Stoichiometry: Relates the formula mass, the coefficients in the balanced reaction, and the total mass of each reaction component.

  • Show Me How: Shows how to use a balanced reaction to calculate the quantity of one substance based on the quantity of another.

Teaching with the interactive equation builder

You can use the interactive equation builder to support a lesson about using coefficients in an equation. From there you can scaffold to more difficult equations that contain polyatomic ions. After students learn how to balance a chemical equation, you can continue to use the equation builder to visually and mathematically verify what happens when quantities change in a balanced reaction.

The steps below outline a sample process for using the equation builder to supplement lessons on this topic.

  1. Build an unbalanced chemical equation, such as KClO3 -> KCl + O2.

  2. Emphasize the requirement to include the same number of each element on both sides of the equation to satisfy the law of conservation.

  3. Use the visualized quantities of matter under the equation to show that the same types of matter must be present on both sides of the equation.
  4. Take students' suggestions on which atoms and how many of each to add.

  5. Use the equation builder to implement student suggestions until the program verifies that the equation is balanced.

  6. After balancing a simple equation, move on to more difficult equations that contain polyatomic ions and organic reactions.