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Recommended for: Grades 6-8

Lesson Plan: How Structure Can Affect Properties Through Phase Changes

Lesson
Standards

Overview

Middle school students will discuss how changing the structure of atoms and molecules can change the properties of a substance after watching videos and filling out worksheets. Students can brainstorm and review their own examples of phase change with the help of a phase change diagram. The idea of technology that can change the structure of materials will be introduced. An extension activity on buckyballs is available.

Content Objectives

Students will know that

molecular arrangement determines physical characteristics
phases are physical properties
why changing the structure of the molecule changes the properties of a substance

Process Objectives

Students will be able to

describe the molecular arrangement of various substances
explain the structural changes occurred by a water molecule during phase changes
label a diagram showing the phase changes of water

Assessment Strategies

Completion of video review questions
Completion of the vocabulary worksheet
Construction of phase diagram and explanation

Grade Level: 6-8

Suggested Time

About an hour

Multimedia Resources

Structure and Property Changes of Water QuickTime Video
Atomic Arrangements in Solids QuickTime Video

Materials

Phase Change Diagram Worksheet PDF Document
Phase Change Diagram Answer Key PDF Document
Structure-Property Relationships Worksheet PDF Document
Structure-Property Relationships Answer Key PDF Document
Studysheet How Structure Affects Properties PDF Document
Computers with internet access (either one for each pair of students or a projection system for the class)

Procedures

Part I: Part 1: Introduction to how structure can affect properties (30 minutes)

1. Explain to the students that changing the structure of atoms and molecules can change the properties of the substance.

2. Pass out the

Structure-Property Relationships Worksheet PDF Document

. Ask students to fill in the answers to Part 1 of the worksheet after they watch the videos and review

Studysheet How Structure Affects Properties PDF Document

3. Show the video Structure and Property Changes of Water QuickTime Video (1 minute 5 seconds).

4. Review the answers to Part 1 of the worksheet with the students.

Part II: Part 2:Completing the 'Phase Change Diagram' (10 minutes)

5. Hand out the

Phase Change Diagram Worksheet PDF Document

. Have students work on completing the diagram

6. Review the diagram with the class by projecting it as an overhead.

7. Hold a discussion about some of the examples that students brainstormed. Focus on how the properties of the substance changed during the phase change.

8. Show the video Atomic Arrangements in Solids QuickTime Video (1 minute 30 seconds).

Part III: Part 3: Changes in structure other than phase changes (5 minutes)

9. Explain that structure changes are caused by phase changes. We can also change the structure using new technology.

Part IV: Extension

10. Have students explore Buckyballs. This is another structural change of carbon. Students can explore how the atoms were rearranged and what different properties are exhibited. Students can also explore the difference between crystalline structures, where atoms are arranged in a set pattern, and amorphous structures, where atoms are not arranged in set patterns. Have students compare and contrast the properties of crystals like quart, salt, and diamonds, with the properties of amorphous solids like glass and silly putty. How does the structure affect the properties of each?