Overview The main purpose of this project was to use the concepts we have learned throughout the semester in order to create a board game. We were tasked with creating a board game with a specific theme, instructions, playing pieces and safety instructions. For us, our theme came to be a sort of choose your own adventure game set in medieval times. The goal of the game was to move to the end of the board and complete reactions along the way. Every turn each player would move forward one space then draw a card and do as it says (move forward 2 spaces, move back one, etc.) Our first reaction in the game was three separate double displacement reactions, combining three different chemicals with cupric nitrate to create precipitates. Next, we had a single replacement redox reaction combining copper and magnesium to light an LED. Finally, we had a sort of viking funeral reaction which just created a colored flame using cupric chloride and ethanol. Next, are copies of our games instructions and safety guidelines.
Concepts:
Single Displacement Reaction: A reaction in which an element (eg. calcium) replaces its counterpart (copper) in a solution (copper chloride)
Double Displacement Reaction: A reaction where two aqueous solutions switch similar ions with each other, forming two new solutions
Precipitate: An insoluble solid formed in a double displacement reaction
Synthesis Reaction: A reaction in which two reactants combine to form one product
Decomposition Reaction: The opposite of synthesis, where one reactant separates into two products
Combustion Reaction: A reaction where a hydrocarbon and oxygen react to form carbon dioxide, water, heat, and light
Ions: Versions of an element that are not electrically neutral, meaning that they have a charge
Activity Series: The order of the reactivity of elements that allows us to predict whether a metal will displace the cation in a solution
Solubility Guidelines: Guidelines that allow us to predict whether two aqueous solutions will form a soluble solution or a precipitate
Chemical Change: A change in the chemical properties or composition of a material
Physical Change: A change in the shape, phase, or form of an object in which it retains its identity (composition, chemical formula, etc.)
Below is a video of our presentation for anyone interested in our RxN's and the science behind them
Reflection I think overall our project was pretty amazing considering we were very limited in the time we had to design and build it. We ended up with a functional and beautiful game board with many amazing reactions on it, and many wowed faces in the crowd. My group and I also had a great time designing and building our project, especially enjoying making the playing cards. As far as things we did well, we were very collaborative and worked together excellently, building on each others ideas very well and were able to come up with a project that satisfied all of our needs. As far as I'm aware we didn't have any arguments, and if we were to have any they would be solved in seconds. Another thing we did well, is work under pressure. We were able to quickly finish our project even during the final minutes before presenting it. We ended up having to complete most of our project in the last week before it was due. which worked out best for us. This does lead into our first main problem during the project, time usage. Throughout the first few weeks of the project we barely got anything done, still confused on what our theme should be for our project, and as I said, we were forced to complete most of the project in the last few days. Another problem we had during the project was not being able to experience all the great ideas our group could've come up with if we only worked harder in the designing phase of our project. Overall, I really enjoyed this project and would love to do it again. However if I were to improve it, I would remove the restraints we have on the types of reactions we have to include.