Chemical Reactions

    During this lab, I learned more about chemical reactions and how they produce new substances. In a chemical reaction, atoms rearrange to form new molecules. These new molecules behave differently than the old ones, which we observe as new substances with new properties. We saw this in the baking soda and vinegar experiment we did on day one of the chemistry unit. We then conducted our own experiment to compare the mass of the chemical reaction with and without a balloon. The mass with the balloon on top of the reaction caused the mass to stay the same, and the one without the balloon ends up having a smaller mass in the end. 

I can use this in my future teaching in the way that I am able to better explain. If we have our students conduct the vinegar and baking soda experiment, they are going to witness a chemical reaction. As a teacher, we need to be able to engage and help our students understand why this is occurring the way that it is. Doing this experiment was fun as adults, so I cannot even imagine how much fun our future elementary students would have! That is what I took away from this lab and how I am going to be able to use it as a future educator. 

    A remaining question that I have is- What are other chemical reactions that we can experiment with our future students when we are teachers? I find this interesting because we all know the baking soda and vinegar chemical reaction, but what are other combinations we can do to demonstrate a chemical reaction.