8th Grade Science
Chemical Reactions
Chemical Reactions Extra Credit Project
This project is NOT MANDATORY. The purpose of this project is for the students to
expand their knowledge of the different types of chemical reactions.
There are three ways to classify chemical reactions: synthesis, decomposition, and
replacement. During a synthesis reaction, multiple simple substances combine to form a more
complex compound. A complex compound breaks down into two or more simpler substances in
decomposition. During a replacement reaction, elements replace another element in another
compound; in a single replacement reaction, one element changes its position whereas in a
double replacement, two elements switch positions in two different compounds.
For this project, each student will use illustration equations to represent each of the four
types of chemical reactions and provide a brief explanation as to how their example shows the
particular type of chemical reaction. For example, to represent a synthesis chemical equation,
you could add a cat and a dog together to equal the well-known Nickelodeon cartoon, Catdog.
The illustration equation for this an example could look like the following:
A + B → C (AB)
Cat + Dog → Catdog
Catdog
+
→
The final project is due on Monday, November 2nd . No projects will be accepted after this
date! Projects must be completed on a large, white piece of construction paper provided by your
teacher. This project will be counted as a test grade and will be broken up into the following
categories:
Accuracy:
Synthesis Equation
Decomposition Equation
Replacement Equation (Single and Double)
Innovation/Originality:
Presentation (Title, Name, & Neatness):
Spelling
40 points
Total Points:
75 points
10 points
10 points
20 points
20 points
10 points
5 points
8th Grade Science
Chemical Reactions
Name: ______________________________________
Class: ___________
Date: ________________________
Chemical Reactions Extra Credit Project Rubric
Area
Accuracy
(40 points)
Innovation/
Originality
(20 points)
Presentation
(10 points)
Spelling
(5 points)
Strong
Includes accurate
analogy for each type
of chemical reaction.
Student explains each
type of reaction in own
words.
Proficient
Includes accurate
analogy and
explanation for each
type of chemical
reaction.
Below Average
Slight
misconception in
analogy or
explanation for one
type of chemical
reaction.
Poor
Major
misconception in
for one type of
chemical reaction
OR Slight
misconception for
more than one
reaction
(40)
Chemical reaction
analogies are
presented in a wellthought and creative
manner that show
originality.
(20)
Title and name are
present and clearly
visible. Project is neat
with no smearing or
markings, etc.
(38)
Chemical reaction
analogies are
presented in a wellthought and
creative manner
(35)
Chemical reaction
analogies are
presented
in a creative
manner
(30≤)
Chemical reaction
examples could be
strengthened.
(18)
Title and name are
present. Project is
neat with few
smearing or
markings, etc.
(17)
Title or name is not
present OR Project
is neat with some
smearing or
markings, etc.
(15)
Neither title nor
name are present
AND project has
multiple markings,
etc.
(10)
No spelling errors
(9)
Few (1 or 2)
spelling errors
(8)
Some (3 or 4)
spelling errors
(6)
Multiple spelling
errors
(5)
(4)
(3)
(1)
Your Total Points: ________/ 75
Your Final Grade: ________
Comments: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________