Overview
For this project we had to create a board game that displayed 4 chemical reactions. We needed to include a single displacement reaction, a double displacement reaction, a production of a gas, and the lighting of an LED.
Our first step was to pick a theme, and begin designing a board game. My group and I picked to build our game off of the movie Zootopia. Our game had five sections based on the city sections seen in the movie. It had the burrows, Sahara square, Savannah central, Downtown, Tundra town, and the Rainforest District. We had our players travel a pathway across the board. Along the path were chemical reaction the player will stop at as they pass them.
Our first step was to pick a theme, and begin designing a board game. My group and I picked to build our game off of the movie Zootopia. Our game had five sections based on the city sections seen in the movie. It had the burrows, Sahara square, Savannah central, Downtown, Tundra town, and the Rainforest District. We had our players travel a pathway across the board. Along the path were chemical reaction the player will stop at as they pass them.
Directions
1. Roll to see which player goes first. The highest number goes first.
2. Continue to roll the die and move to that amount of spaces in which you roll. If you land on an ! space, you get to take the shortcut.
3. When you are passing a dashed space, stop. This is a reaction space. Move forwards three spaces when completed.
4. Lift the corresponding reaction card and see the instructions.
5. Whoever reaches the end first and finishes the reaction wins!
2. Continue to roll the die and move to that amount of spaces in which you roll. If you land on an ! space, you get to take the shortcut.
3. When you are passing a dashed space, stop. This is a reaction space. Move forwards three spaces when completed.
4. Lift the corresponding reaction card and see the instructions.
5. Whoever reaches the end first and finishes the reaction wins!
Safety
Wear Gloves at all times and don't touch, eat,or drink any of the chemicals.
Goggles are recommended for use.
Goggles are recommended for use.
Reactions
1. Our first reaction was the production of a gas. To make the gas, we combined hydrochloric acid with calcium carbonate. This is a double displacement reaction that creates CO2 to fill up the balloon when the chemicals are mixed together.
2. The second reaction, a double displacement reaction, consisted of adding Lead Nitrate ( Pb(NO3)) with potassium iodide (KI) which, when combined, displaces into Lead iodide and potassium nitrate. This combination creates a familiar yellow color, as seen on school buses and pencils!
3. Our third reaction was a combination of a single displacement reaction and lighting an LED. Our LED was lighted using a breadboard and a battery; however, the breadboard had a parallel circuit which connected to an aluminum foil strip placed in a plastic container. In order to direct the battery's power to the LED, we had to destroy the aluminum by submerging it in copper chloride (CuCl2). This is a single displacement reaction because it displaces the copper by creating aluminum chloride. The breaking of the second circuit allows the energy to take the path of least resistance and flow through the light bulb.
2. The second reaction, a double displacement reaction, consisted of adding Lead Nitrate ( Pb(NO3)) with potassium iodide (KI) which, when combined, displaces into Lead iodide and potassium nitrate. This combination creates a familiar yellow color, as seen on school buses and pencils!
3. Our third reaction was a combination of a single displacement reaction and lighting an LED. Our LED was lighted using a breadboard and a battery; however, the breadboard had a parallel circuit which connected to an aluminum foil strip placed in a plastic container. In order to direct the battery's power to the LED, we had to destroy the aluminum by submerging it in copper chloride (CuCl2). This is a single displacement reaction because it displaces the copper by creating aluminum chloride. The breaking of the second circuit allows the energy to take the path of least resistance and flow through the light bulb.
Concepts
Single replacement reaction: When a compound combines with a single element and yields a different compound and element. Ex: AX + B yields BX +A ; or in a life like example: our project used aluminum + copper chloride to yield aluminum chloride and copper
Double Displacement Reaction: When two compounds mix and yield two different compounds made of a different cation and anion. Ex: AB + CD yields AD + CB. In our project we combined Lead Nitrate with Potassium iodide to create lead iodide and potassium nitrate, which forms a precipitate.
Synthesis Reaction: When two separate elements or compounds combine to yield one single compound. A+B yields AB.
Decomposition reaction: When one whole compound is broken up into two or more separate elements/ compounds. AB yields A + B.
Circuit: An electrical loop which transfers voltage from a battery across a series of wires, metals, or other objects like a lightbulb. Our project focused on a parallel circuit which had one loop connected to an LED, and the other attached to the aluminum foil.
Breadboard: A model that serves as an experimental device in creating circuits. Our breadboard made it possible to light the LED.
Molarity: The concentration of solutes in a liquid based on how many moles of solute per liter. Our Potassium Nitrate and Lead Iodide had varying molarities, as well as our copper chloride which increased the strength of the chemical.
Cation: The positive ion in the compound, typically found in the beginning. In Copper chloride Cu(Cl)2, copper is the cation.
Anion: the negative ion in the compounds, typically found at the end. Chloride is the anion in the example of Cu(Cl)2.
Elements: Found on the periodic table, elements have a varying number of protons, neutrons, and electrons which allow them to have specific chemical properties.
Safety Guidelines: a set of rules per each chemical that tells the safety of it, and other important warnings. High molarity acids and bases will have very strong safety guidelines as they are very harmful if come in contact or ingested.
Aqueous solution: A solution that is in water and can show whether a reaction is reactive or un-reactive.
Precipitate: when two clear compounds mix and create an insoluble compound that reacts, and changes color.
Soluble Solution: A solution where both of the products are aqueous and do not react with each other. Most compounds ending with acetate are always soluble.
Double Displacement Reaction: When two compounds mix and yield two different compounds made of a different cation and anion. Ex: AB + CD yields AD + CB. In our project we combined Lead Nitrate with Potassium iodide to create lead iodide and potassium nitrate, which forms a precipitate.
Synthesis Reaction: When two separate elements or compounds combine to yield one single compound. A+B yields AB.
Decomposition reaction: When one whole compound is broken up into two or more separate elements/ compounds. AB yields A + B.
Circuit: An electrical loop which transfers voltage from a battery across a series of wires, metals, or other objects like a lightbulb. Our project focused on a parallel circuit which had one loop connected to an LED, and the other attached to the aluminum foil.
Breadboard: A model that serves as an experimental device in creating circuits. Our breadboard made it possible to light the LED.
Molarity: The concentration of solutes in a liquid based on how many moles of solute per liter. Our Potassium Nitrate and Lead Iodide had varying molarities, as well as our copper chloride which increased the strength of the chemical.
Cation: The positive ion in the compound, typically found in the beginning. In Copper chloride Cu(Cl)2, copper is the cation.
Anion: the negative ion in the compounds, typically found at the end. Chloride is the anion in the example of Cu(Cl)2.
Elements: Found on the periodic table, elements have a varying number of protons, neutrons, and electrons which allow them to have specific chemical properties.
Safety Guidelines: a set of rules per each chemical that tells the safety of it, and other important warnings. High molarity acids and bases will have very strong safety guidelines as they are very harmful if come in contact or ingested.
Aqueous solution: A solution that is in water and can show whether a reaction is reactive or un-reactive.
Precipitate: when two clear compounds mix and create an insoluble compound that reacts, and changes color.
Soluble Solution: A solution where both of the products are aqueous and do not react with each other. Most compounds ending with acetate are always soluble.
Reflection
This project was a great and interesting way to mix chemistry and creativity. As we learned the process of chemical reactions and how they work, we also had to figure out a way to incorporate the things we have learned into our board game. Planning the whole game was the most difficult part. By building our game from scratch we had a lot of creative freedom, and many decisions to make on how everything would fit. This took quite some effort as we had to make blueprints, game rules, and build the board itself. I painted the entire board to fit our theme of Zootopia, this theme helped relate to kids and parents alike, as many have seen the movie Zootopia. Another thing I did well was the assistance in helping plan the logistics of our game. Where each reaction would go, and how to fit it with our theme. One thing I can improve for my next project will be to try managing my time better, and not rush to paint the board in the last days of construction. Another thing I can improve upon is my patience. It takes time to make a good product, and sometimes waiting can make the difference in a great and just a mediocre output.
Overall, this project helped me learn about reactions in an interesting and unique task; and in the beginning, it seemed daunting, but over time got easier to let ideas flow and build a great game.
Overall, this project helped me learn about reactions in an interesting and unique task; and in the beginning, it seemed daunting, but over time got easier to let ideas flow and build a great game.