Chemical Dominoes
For this project, we made a board game involving chemical reactions. We had to show a sequence of chemical and physical changes that eventually led to lighting up an LED. We started this project by brainstorming what type of board game we were going to do. After deciding on an edition of Sorry, we started to outline the ideas and rules for the game. Basically, you start as an alien and your goal is to conquer the galaxy. In order to do so, you need to get to the planet in front of you and make sure your opponent (the alien trying to get to your planet) does not get to yours. Every time you move (if you don't land on an asteroid), you end up picking a card. If you land on an asteroid, you roll the dice and move back the number of spaces that you rolled. Every time you pick a card, you get a compound. Then, you try mixing that compound with the one of your opponent. If no reaction occurs, then nothing happens. However, if a reaction occurs, your opponent moves back. This cycle repeats until someone wins. More details on the guidelines are below:
One of the reactions that we featured in this game was the double displacement reaction. The double displacement reaction is a type of reaction where AB + CD → AD + CB. In other words, the B and D switch in the reaction. The two compounds on the left are both aqueous solutions and a reaction forms when one of the compounds on the right is aqueous and the other is solid. The card reactions were all double displacement reactions and we featured 12 different ones below. However, not all of the combinations possible in the game create a reaction so there is a lot of luck involved. These are the equations that form reactions.
- 3NaOH+FeCl3 → 3NaCl(aq)+Fe(OH)3(s)
- 2NaOH+MgCl2 → 2NaCl(aq)+Mg(OH)2(s)
- 2NaOH+(NH4)2(SO4) → Na2(SO4)(aq)+2(NH4)OH(s)
- BaCl2+Pb(NO3)2 → Ba(NO3)2(aq)+PbCl2(s)
- BaCl2+(NH4)2(SO4) → Ba(SO4)(s)+2(NH4)Cl(aq)
- BaCl2+Na2(CO3) → Ba(CO3)(s)+2NaCl(aq)
- K3(PO4)+FeCl3 → 3KCl(aq)+Fe(PO4)(s)
- 2K3(PO4)+3MgCl2 → 6KCl(aq)+Mg3(PO4)2(s)
- 2K3(PO4)+3Cu(NO3)2 → 6K(NO3)(aq)+Cu3(PO4)2(s)
- Fe2Cl6+3Pb(NO3)2 → 2Fe(NO3)3(aq)+3PbCl2
- 2FeCl3+3Na2(CO3) → Fe2(CO3)3(s)+6NaCl(aq)
- Fe2Cl6+3K2(CrO4) → Fe2(CrO4)3(s)+6KCl(aq)
The second type of reaction is a Single Displacement Reaction, where A+ BC → AC+ B. A great example of a single replacement reaction is the reaction we did at the end of our game. When somebody wins the game, they pour zinc chloride on the aluminum, making the aluminum disintegrate. Once the aluminum disintegrated, the LED lit up the Disco Ball. We presented this during STEM Board Game Night on Wednesday, December 5th. During our presentation, we talked about the basics of the game and let people try it out for themselves. It was a very fun night and one of the first nights where we really saw our game in action!
Content:
Single Displacement Reaction (A+ BC → AC+ B) - A reaction where an element reacts with a compound and takes the place of another element in the compound. We used this to light up the disco ball in our project. Example in slideshow.
Double Displacement Reaction (AB + CD → AD + CB) - A reaction where two compounds react and the cation and the anion switch places. Our cards in this game were each compounds and you would gain points if you formed a reaction with the compound on your card and your enemy's compound. Example in slideshow.
Precipitate - creation or formation of a solid in solution. For example, Double displacement reactions occur only if a precipitate is formed. If you got a reaction that formed a precipitate during the game, your opponent would move back.
Synthesis Reaction (A+B → AB or A+B+C → ABC) - Two or more reactants make one product. We learned and did labs forming synthesis reactions in class. Example in slideshow.
Decomposition Reaction (AB → A+B or ABC → A+B+C) - One reactant yields two or more products. We learned and did labs forming decomposition reactions in class. Example in slideshow.
Solubility Guidelines - The solubility guidelines are the guidelines used to determine if a reaction forms a soluble compound through double displacement reactions. It measures if a compound is aqueous (dissolving in water) or a solid. I used the solubility guidelines to determine the compounds that we would use for each character. The compounds with the most reactions that formed a precipitate were the ones chosen. Example in slideshow.
Combustion Reaction of a Hydrocarbon - Products/reactions of carbon dioxide and water. We learned and did labs forming combustion reactions in class. Example in slideshow.
Poly-atomic Ions - Two or more atoms covalently bonded into a single unit.
Mono-atomic Ions - Ion consisting of exactly one atom.
Ion - an atom or molecule with neutral charge due to loss or gain of electrons.
Isotopes - variants of a specific chemical element that have different amounts of neutrons but the same charge. We learned about these in class.
Chemical Change - when a substance combines with another one to form a new substance. We used chemical changes in our single and double displacement reactions for our board game.
Physical Change - changes that affect the form of a chemical, but not its composition. (e.g. solid to liquid to gas)
Reactivity Series - a progression of metals arranged from highest to lowest in reactivity. This is used to determine if single displacement reactions work. If the solo element is higher than the one in the compound before the reaction, than the reaction will happen. When we worked on our single displacement reaction, we made sure that the solo element (Aluminum) was higher than the one in the compound (Copper). Example in slideshow.
Double Displacement Reaction (AB + CD → AD + CB) - A reaction where two compounds react and the cation and the anion switch places. Our cards in this game were each compounds and you would gain points if you formed a reaction with the compound on your card and your enemy's compound. Example in slideshow.
Precipitate - creation or formation of a solid in solution. For example, Double displacement reactions occur only if a precipitate is formed. If you got a reaction that formed a precipitate during the game, your opponent would move back.
Synthesis Reaction (A+B → AB or A+B+C → ABC) - Two or more reactants make one product. We learned and did labs forming synthesis reactions in class. Example in slideshow.
Decomposition Reaction (AB → A+B or ABC → A+B+C) - One reactant yields two or more products. We learned and did labs forming decomposition reactions in class. Example in slideshow.
Solubility Guidelines - The solubility guidelines are the guidelines used to determine if a reaction forms a soluble compound through double displacement reactions. It measures if a compound is aqueous (dissolving in water) or a solid. I used the solubility guidelines to determine the compounds that we would use for each character. The compounds with the most reactions that formed a precipitate were the ones chosen. Example in slideshow.
Combustion Reaction of a Hydrocarbon - Products/reactions of carbon dioxide and water. We learned and did labs forming combustion reactions in class. Example in slideshow.
Poly-atomic Ions - Two or more atoms covalently bonded into a single unit.
Mono-atomic Ions - Ion consisting of exactly one atom.
Ion - an atom or molecule with neutral charge due to loss or gain of electrons.
Isotopes - variants of a specific chemical element that have different amounts of neutrons but the same charge. We learned about these in class.
Chemical Change - when a substance combines with another one to form a new substance. We used chemical changes in our single and double displacement reactions for our board game.
Physical Change - changes that affect the form of a chemical, but not its composition. (e.g. solid to liquid to gas)
Reactivity Series - a progression of metals arranged from highest to lowest in reactivity. This is used to determine if single displacement reactions work. If the solo element is higher than the one in the compound before the reaction, than the reaction will happen. When we worked on our single displacement reaction, we made sure that the solo element (Aluminum) was higher than the one in the compound (Copper). Example in slideshow.
Reflection:
I feel satisfied about this project. By the end of this project, we were able to get a working board game that looked beautiful. However, we did slip up a couple times in the process. One specific thing we could've improved on was communication. We did not communicate with each other well which resulted in work not being delegated equally. Additionally, some group members were impatient; They wanted others to finish work on time but didn't enable them to do so. I would say the peaks of the project were when we were just starting it. This was because it wasn't stressful for any of us and we had a decent team dynamic. However, when the date of the board game night approached, we became more stressed out and impatient with each other. I would consider this point a pit. I was struggling to figure out equations for example, and my group did not give me enough time for doing so. Fortunately, we got everything done before the board game night and presented. The presentation went quite well, which resulted in another peak.
I feel like I demonstrated grit throughout this project. Specifically, I learned how to face and solve problems I had no information about. During this project, I was faced with a task I knew little about: Finding card combinations for double displacement reactions. I had no idea where to start and failed multiple times, but eventually got the right amount of cards and elements for the reactions. Another thing I feel like I did well in was keep a good empathy level. During this stressful time, I made sure that I didn't worsen the situation and helped one of my group members out when he was stuck. I continued to maintain a neutral tone even when the energy of the group was negative. This showed that I was able to take care of my emotions for the sake of the group.
Although I do feel like I did well this project, there were still a few things I felt like I could've done better. For one, I could've spread out my work. For this project, I felt like there wasn't a strong group dynamic and we didn't communicate well. One person assigned us things and we just went into our own separate spheres. We should've spread out our work to different categories so one person didn't do all of the chemical equations or art. Also, I felt like I should've expressed my problem to the group before it escalated into something worse. I didn't understand chemical equations but I was too afraid to voice that out to the group, which only made things worse for both parties. If I redid this project, I would've made sure everyone was on the same page and understood the jobs that they were doing. That way, we don't get any unpleasant surprises later on in the project and everyone would be content with what they were doing.
I feel like I demonstrated grit throughout this project. Specifically, I learned how to face and solve problems I had no information about. During this project, I was faced with a task I knew little about: Finding card combinations for double displacement reactions. I had no idea where to start and failed multiple times, but eventually got the right amount of cards and elements for the reactions. Another thing I feel like I did well in was keep a good empathy level. During this stressful time, I made sure that I didn't worsen the situation and helped one of my group members out when he was stuck. I continued to maintain a neutral tone even when the energy of the group was negative. This showed that I was able to take care of my emotions for the sake of the group.
Although I do feel like I did well this project, there were still a few things I felt like I could've done better. For one, I could've spread out my work. For this project, I felt like there wasn't a strong group dynamic and we didn't communicate well. One person assigned us things and we just went into our own separate spheres. We should've spread out our work to different categories so one person didn't do all of the chemical equations or art. Also, I felt like I should've expressed my problem to the group before it escalated into something worse. I didn't understand chemical equations but I was too afraid to voice that out to the group, which only made things worse for both parties. If I redid this project, I would've made sure everyone was on the same page and understood the jobs that they were doing. That way, we don't get any unpleasant surprises later on in the project and everyone would be content with what they were doing.