Your last project for me will be on the Law of Conservation of Matter. You are to
research any chemical equation that is interesting to you and explain how it obeys the
Law of Conservation of Matter. For example, the chemical equation for a log burning is:
C6H10O5 + O2 →CO2 + H2O + Energy (in the form of heat and light)
Balanced it is: C6H10O5 + 6O2 →6CO2 + 5H2O + Energy
**(as a side note wood can be other formulas other than C6H10O5 this is just one form)**
The goal is to explain to me and a few of your friends where all the elements go and
how they reform. What are the reactants and what are the new products? What do they
create? Are the new products helpful or harmful to people or the environment?
Some ideas you might want to use:
● If you like to eat, how does your body change carbohydrates?
● If you like fireworks, what are the reactants and products of a specific firework
color?
● If you recently got your license, what is the chemical equation for gasoline and
what does your engine transform it into (there is more than just CO and CO2
coming out of your exhaust)?
● If you had maple syrup on your pancakes this morning, what is the chemistry of
maple syrup and how does it follow the law of conservation of matter?
● If you enjoy using your smartphone, choose one or more of the specific parts of it
and explain what it's made of and how that matter was transformed to create
your phone.
● If you play an instrument what were the reactants and products that made your
instruments possible?
● If you want an idea that leans towards an environmental route, you could
explain the nitrogen, phosphorus or carbon cycle, and how the amount of the
reactants and products never change, but the form that the elements come in
does change.
● What chemical process allows cows to create milk? Or how is cheese created
from milk because you love my cheesy jokes so much!
● Possibilities are endless, chemistry is all around you. The goal is to explain how
the process you choose goes from being reactants to products while still obeying
the law of conservation of matter.
○ If you think of something different than what’s above try googling,
“chemistry of __________” and many options will come up.
Once you have your idea (make sure you find the chemical equation for the process you
have decided on), the requirements are below:
❏ Explain your chemical equation including the chemical names of the compounds
and or elements in your equation
❏ Identify the reactants and products
❏ Explain the law of conservation of matter and explain how your equation
demonstrates it
❏ Explain how the products of the equation are helpful or harmful to humans or
the environment or both humans and the environment.
❏ Something new or interesting about the process you chose that you did not know
before starting this project (more than 1 for a 4 for that criteria).
Format:
Present your knowledge of research in any form you like: comics, slides, prezi, stop
motion, insert other ideas, etc…
It is mandatory you make a video of you explaining what you have learned and
discovered throughout this. This can simply be reading your comic, or presenting
your slides while using Loom (google this program if you haven’t used it yet, its
really easy to use). 5 minutes of video would be plenty, so if you go over 5 minutes
you are probably working too hard on this. The biggest priority for this project is to
explain the law of conservation of matter and how your equation demonstrates that
law.
Please cite all of your sources simply by copying and pasting the link into a google
doc you share with me or at the end of your project. Make sure your project is
written in your own words and not cut and paste.
If you’d like to work with a partner on this project that is an option as well.
Scoring:
Rubric doesn’t fit well in this doc so only 4’s and 3’s are posted below, see rubric posted
google classroom for full rubric. But you should all be striving for at least a 3 so
hopefully we can ignore the 2’s and 1’s.
Proficiency:
Criteria
4
3
Explanation of chemical
equation includes the
M.HS.SCI.PM.5 Use
correct names of
mathematical
compounds and or
representations
elements, as well as
to support the
explains reactants and
law of
products
conservation of
mass/matter
during a
Explanation of the law of
chemical
conservation of matter
reaction. (HSand explains how the
PS1-7)
equation demonstrates it
Student thoroughly
explains all of the
Student explains
criteria using several
all of the criteria
details to enhance
using some details
their explanation
Student thoroughly
explains all of the
Student explains
criteria using several
all of the criteria
details to enhance
using some details
their explanation
Explanation of how the
products of the equation
Student thoroughly
are helpful or harmful to
explains all of the
Student explains
humans or the
criteria using several
all of the criteria
environment or both
details to enhance
using some details
humans and the
their explanation
environment.
Something new or
interesting about the
process you chose that
you did not know before
starting this project.
Student shares
Student shares one
multiple insights into
new insight into
new learning or
new learning or
interesting concepts
interesting concept