A Stoichiometry Lab that *Yields* Good Results

Hello again!

This week I started the stoichiometry unit with my chemistry classes.  A great intro to stoichioimetry lab to do with students uses the single replacement reaction of copper (II) sulfate and iron.  I love this lab because I can use it with both my honors and college-prep classes.

Students will dissolve enough copper (II) sulfate  into water so that it is in excess and will heat to dissolve.  Then the students slowly (if not, I feel sorry for your hot plate!)  add the iron and there you have it, COPPER.  Many times they say "that looks like rust."  So you often will have to gently correct them.

This year wasn't any different than any other year I have done this lab, except I used a new trick to help get rid of that nasty film around the bottom of the beaker that the copper leaves behind.  Regular old soap and water isn't cutting it here.  Instead I used 6M hydrochloric acid and it worked like a charm!  If you don't use this trick, I hate to break it to you, your arm may fall off from exhaustion AND you will be really upset because after all that, the brown stain just simply is not going away any time soon.  Here's a snap shot of my beakers after I did the lab:
Yikes.  Thank goodness for the HCl.  Posted below you can find this lab and many others at my Teachers Pay Teachers store.  For this lab in particular I included a post-lab quiz for easy assessment.  Sometimes you need a break from grading those lab reports!


Lab Activity: Relating Moles to a Balanced Chemical Equation

Enjoy!
Karen (MsRazz ChemClass)

Welcome all!

This is my first blog post.  My hope is that by starting this blog I will be able to collaborate with other educators around the world more effectively.  I am always reflecting on and reworking my chemistry resources. From power points to lab activities, my hope is to use this blog as a vice to bring you the best chemistry teaching resources that I can offer.  

Right now, I have 96 products posted on my beloved TeachersPayTeachers site.  A site that not only will save you time and energy, but will bring the highest quality teaching resources to your science classroom.  This site is sure to change your outlook on lesson planning.  


Which leaves me with one question... What are you going to do with all your extra time?


I hope you find my blog helpful and supportive of all the wonderful things you plan for your classroom.


Looking forward to sharing in this journey with you.

Enjoy!

Karen (MsRazz ChemClass)