Chemistry Project
“We Are Surrounded By Chemical Compounds”
Household Labels & Daily Life
Background: Throughout this chapter, we have studied the nomenclature and formula writing of
chemical compounds. It is very important to understand the basic nomenclature for chemical
compounds. A simple mix up of H2O and H2SO4 or CO and CO2 could be the difference between life
and death. For this project, you must use everything you have learned from this chapter to
identify different ingredients on labels that you come in contact with daily.
Directions: You are responsible for finding labels from household products or items in daily life
whose ingredients lists contain specific types of chemical compounds. You will create a project
displaying these labels and the specific types of chemical formulas that accompany them, as well as
the purpose of the compound in that product. If you cannot bring in the physical label, you must
print a digital copy (photograph) or drawing of the label.
Example: You might bring in the label from a bottle of Gatorade, or take a digital photo of your
shampoo bottle. List the ingredients then identify a chemical compound that you KNOW how to
write the formula for.
* BE CREATIVE! Do not forget that a lot of these compounds are found daily, all around you. For
example, people breath out carbon dioxide. To represent this compound, you could draw a person’s
lunges expelling a gas. (You may NOT use this specific example!)
This project is broken down into 3 parts:
Step 1: You will find labels, make drawings, or take photos of the following:
 A product containing type 1 binary ionic compound (one metals that forms one type of
cation and one nonmetal – NO POLYATOMIC ION)
 A product containing a type 2 binary ionic compound (one transition metal that you
must specify the charge that forms with one nonmetal – NO POLYATOMIC ION)
 A product containing a binary molecular compound (only 2 elements, both of which are
nonmetals)
 A product containing a polyatomic ionic compound (contains 2 polyatomic ions OR one
metal and polyatomic ion OR a polyatomic ion with one nonmetal)
 A product containing an acid (this will say “acid” in the ingredients list)
**NOTE: Your product may use slightly different naming rules. If you are unsure, check with me!
Make sure you use the standard naming system that we have learned in class when you name the
compound!
Step 2: Create a final product using the following formats: Power Point, poster, brochure, or
booklet (if not listed here, you need to get permission first). Below is a rubric for your reference.
 The final project must include each type of compound listed in step 1, as well as the
label/photo/drawing where you found the compound.
 For each label/photo/drawing, you will know the name AND the chemical formula for the
compound.
 If it’s an acid you have never heard of, that is okay! Look up the formula in the book or
on the Internet, and bring it in! If it is in a product, you will also include the purpose of
the compound in the product.
Project Rubric
Categorized
Correctly
Names and
Formulas
Uses
Labels,
Drawings,
Photos
Presentation
5
All five
compounds
are
categorized
correctly.
Names and
formulas
are all
written
correctly.
The uses
for all
compounds
in products
or
processes
are given.
All five
labels,
drawings or
photos are
included.
The
product is
neat,
organized
and is
pleasing to
the eye.
4
4 of the 5
compounds
are
categorized
correctly.
3
3 of the 5
compounds
are
categorized
correctly.
2
2 of the 5
compounds
are
categorized
correctly.
1
1 of the 5
compounds
are
categorized
correctly.
0
None of the
compounds
are
categorized
correctly.
4 of the 5
are written
correctly.
3 of the 5
are written
correctly.
2 of the 5
are written
correctly.
1 of the 5
are written
correctly.
None of the
compounds
are written
correctly.
4 uses or
processes
are
described.
3 uses or
processes
are
described.
2 uses or
processes
are
described.
1 use or
process is
described.
None of the
uses or
processes
are given.
Four labels,
drawings,
or photos
are
included.
Three
labels,
drawings or
photos are
included.
The project
is somewhat
neat and
organized,
or has only a
few
misspellings.
Two labels,
drawings,
or photos
are
included.
One label,
drawing, or
photo is
included.
No labels,
drawings,
or photos
are
included.
The project
is messy or
disorganized,
or has many
misspellings.
Step 3: Choose a chemical compound that you classified earlier and write a five paragraph
informative essay of its uses. See the following page for more details.
Score
Five Paragraph Informative Essay
Write an informative essay about three uses of a chemical compound. At least three educational
resources must be used to support your writing (for example, NO Wikipedia).
Introduction
1. Capture your reader’s interest. Start off your essay by stating something interesting about
your compound to pique your reader’s interest.
2. Introduce your compound. The next few sentences should give basic information about your
compound. You should include when and who discovered it (if possible) and some other basic
information.
3. The last sentence of the introduction should be your thesis statement. The thesis
statement will describe the three main body paragraphs of your paper.
Body
The body of your paper will consist of three paragraphs that describe the uses of your compound.
Each paragraph must be a different use.
Conclusion
The fifth paragraph will be your conclusion. The conclusion should summarize your main paints and
re-assert your main claim. It should also point out your main points, but not repeat specific
examples.
Date assigned: _______
Date due: __________
**See the following page for informative paper rubric.
Informative Paper Rubric
Category
Thesis
Statement
Introduction
Supporting
Paragraphs
Conclusion
References
4
Above Standards
The thesis
statement names
the topic of the
essay and outlines
the main points to
be discussed.
The paper has an
introduction that
addresses the
scope of the paper.
The paper has
three well written
supporting
paragraphs that
include factual
information and
sound research.
The paper has a
concluding
paragraph that
summarizes all of
the main points.
A reference page is
included at the end
of the paper.
References come
from reputable
sites and are cited
in MLA format.
Grammar
The author makes
no errors in
grammar or spelling
that distract the
reader from the
content.
Font and
Margins:
Paper is typed in
12-point font and
has 1-inch margins.
3
Meets Standards
2
Basic
The thesis
statement outlines
some or all of the
main points to be
discussed but does
not name the topic.
The introduction
does not address
the scope of the
paper.
1
Below Basic
The thesis
statement does
not name the topic
AND does not
preview what will
be discussed.
The paper has
supporting
paragraphs, but
the some of the
information is
questionable.
The paper does
not have
supporting
paragraphs, or all
the information is
questionable.
The concluding
paragraph does not
summarize the
main points of the
paper.
The paper does
not include a
conclusion.
A reference page
is included at the
end of the paper
but there are
errors with some
of the format.
A reference page
is included but it is
not in MLA format.
No reference page
is included.
Author makes 1-2
errors in grammar
or spelling that
distract the
reader from the
content.
Author makes 3-4
errors in grammar
or spelling that
distract the reader
from the content.
The thesis
statement names
the topic of the
essay.
The introduction
only partially
addresses the
scope of the paper.
The paper has at
least two well
written supporting
paragraphs that
include factual
information and
research.
The paper has a
concluding
paragraph that
summarizes some
of the main points.
Score
The paper does
not have an
introduction.
Author makes 4 or
more errors in
grammar or
spelling that
distract the
reader from the
content.
Paper is not typed
in 12-point font
and does not have
1-inch margins.
The total points for this project is 53 points (28pts informative essay/25pts project).