SNC 2D1 - Chemical Reactions Project
Goal:
1. To determine if the safety and/or environmental concerns outweigh the continued use
of the reaction or compounds. (Should we keep using the compound or not?).
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2. You must include the following aspects in your finished product:
Name of Reaction in which the compound is used
Uses of the chemical in that reaction
Harmful effects of the chemical compound
Alternative compounds/chemicals that are safer
If they exist, why are they not used
Whether the compound/reaction should continue to be used
3. Record where you find your information and give credit where credit is due. Cite in
APA format. Use the notemaking sheets to help you record your information and cite
properly using KnightCite and the rules for creating a Works Cited using APA style.
Possible chemicals:
Water purification & treatment:
Making fire-retardants
Fluoridation of water
Using bleach
Water softening
Making and using fireworks
Soil remediation
Making chemical weapons
Production and use of pesticides
Using herbicides
Making solar cells
Making rubber
Making gasoline
Hydrogenating fats
Using gasoline
Making batteries
Making electrical equipment (i.e. transformers)
Making and using compact fluorescent bulbs
Burning coal
Using enamel paints
Making steel
Frying foods
Dying hair
Using fire extinguishers
Making plastics
Step One:
a) Find general information and keywords
Choose a process from the list
Search and find a chemical reaction that does this process and is
understandable to you
Find out if it has any other names
Identify the “reactants” or chemicals needed to perform this reaction
Find out if they have other names (common and chemical) as well as
formulas
Research the chemicals (Both reactants and products) to see what safety
issues or risks surround their use
Research the process or reaction itself to see what environmental problems
are connected to this reaction
Research whether there are other ways of doing this process; other reactions;
substituting reactants, fewer pollutants etc.
Then decide whether the chemical should still be used.
Name of Reaction/
Compound
Where is the
reaction or chemical
used?
Why is the reaction
or chemical used?
Balanced chemical
reaction/ chemical
compound formula
Harmful effects of
the chemical
Risks associated
with the reaction of
material
Alternatives that
achieve the same
purpose
Keywords:
Make sure you have common and chemical names for the
chemicals and reactions
Protective equipment needed; pollution?
b) Look in an encyclopedia:
Virtual Library ACCESS
Ancaster Library Website
http://schools.hwdsb.on.ca/ancasterhigh/library-2/
Virtual Library
http://www.hwdsb.on.ca/llrc/virtual-library/
ID:
Password:
Find encyclopedias (Britannica is under the Encyclopedias Tab) and
databases here!
Others:
About.com –Chemistry encyclopaedia
http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemistryatoz/a/aencyclopedia.htm
Encyclopedia 4U
http://www.encyclopedia4u.com/l/list-of-compounds.html
Science World
http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/chemistry/letters/
NIH
http://chem.sis.nlm.nih.gov/chemidplus/
Chemical Compound Database
http://ull.chemistry.uakron.edu/erd/
C. Try a Directory to generate keywords
a. Open Directory Project: http://www.dmoz.org/
b. Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org/
c. Academic Info
http://www.academicinfo.net/
d. Links for Chemists
http://www.liv.ac.uk/Chemistry/Links/links.html
Step 2: Find books
Try some of the books that are pulled for you.
Step 3: Find ARTICLES
For Science Topics search the following databases in the
Virtual Library:
Academic OneFile (scholarly journals)
Step 4: Find articles on the web in Science
Infomine
http://infomine.ucr.edu
SCIRUS a free-science encyclopedia/article site.
http://www.scirus.com/
Sciseek
http://www.sciseek.com/
National Science Digital Library
http://nsdl.org/resources_for/k12_teachers/
Step 6: Finding Quality Websites
Specialized Directories
Links for Chemists
http://www.liv.ac.uk/Chemistry/Links/links.html
Chem Synthesis
http://www.chemsynthesis.com/structure-search.html
CITING SOURCES:
NEED HELP WITH CITATIONS???
1. Go to https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/664/01/ for details about
how to reference your resources.
2. Go to http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/05/
For instructions about how to create a Reference page.
3. Use the coloured handouts or download the sheets from the website. These sheets
will give you an idea of what you need to record. Use the guides found in the
websites above to help you with the formatting.
Try on-line Citation help software:
Go to KnightCite http://www.calvin.edu/library/knightcite/index.php
or Citation machine http://citationmachine.net/
for on-line tools that help you to cite properly using APA Style.
Find Citation Help on the School Library Website…by clicking on CITATION HELP on
the left navigation bar.
http://schools.hwdsb.on.ca/ancasterhigh/library-2
Click on the Citation Help Button on the left and Knight Cite link and Find
APA Help button.