Apologia Chemistry: Moles Modules 5 and 6

Next week, the kids are doing several labs to help understand moles and related concepts in Modules 5 and 6.  First up is Percent Composition Minilab with hydrates: copper II sulfate pentahydrate hydrate, copper II chloride dihydrate, and zinc sulfate monohydrate.  Weigh the test tube.  Sometimes the hydrate won’t come out of the test tube.

Next is Mole lab.  The kids weigh moles to determine both the number of moles and derive the number of atoms.  The kids will weigh one mole of the hydrates, copper shot, baking soda, table salt,  mossy zinc, and aluminum foil.

I plan to use coins to teach empirical formulas.  We’ll do the Beanium lab for isotopes and atomic mass and POGIL’s Nuclear Atom (key).  We will do Experiment 5.1, Measuring the Width of a Molecule in Module 5, Apologia Chemistry and Drawing a Scale Model of the Atom.

The idea is to reinforce atoms make up elements, compounds, and molecules, which are calculated with molar mass.  Once they ideas are as clear as mud, we’ll tackle Stoichiometry.  It pays to do each lab and take time to explain the concepts over and over.