What happens to particles in chemical reactions? | 11-14 years

A photograph showing a glass container as potassium iodide solution is added to a lead nitrate solution, leading to an yellow-orange precipitate being formed

Source: © Shutterstock

Explore what happens to atoms and molecules when new materials are made in chemical reactions, using this lesson plan with activities for 11–14 year olds.

In this practical activity, students explore their ideas about what happens to particles when new materials are formed by a chemical reaction. They follow this up by using ball and stick models to explain their observations.

Encourage your students to collaborate and think for themselves, using creative and evaluative group work to develop their ideas about what happens to atoms and molecules during chemical reactions.

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