One of Alloprof’s most recent creations, Solitary Reaction is a game designed to help students master a useful concept that often causes conundrums. Tailored specifically to Secondary IV and V students who are learning how to balance chemical equations, it’s also a great tool for teachers who want to change up their approach to teaching this unit.
Here’s the premise: you are the sole survivor of a shipwreck, and you need to build a raft to leave the island you’ve washed up on. Unfortunately, the materials are stowed in crates that can only be opened with secret codes in the form of chemical equations. To escape, the player must balance the chemical equations to open the crates and retrieve what’s inside.
There are three types of crates on the island. Opening the green crates requires counting the number of atoms of each substance in the equation; opening the yellow crates requires balancing an equation, with a little help from the game; and opening the red crates requires balancing equations without help.
One of the advantages of Réaction solitaire is that it has several levels of difficulty. By demonstrating how to open the different types of crates in class, you can show your students how a chemical equation works. With a green crate, you can ask them to count the number of each type of atom in the reactants and products in the equation. With a yellow crate, you can show in real time how the equilibrium of an equation is affected when you modify the coefficient in front of a chemical formula.
Réaction solitaire can also be used as a fun way to practise balancing equations or to study for an exam. However, if you wish to make it a homework assignment, we recommend setting a time limit for the activity (e.g., half an hour) rather than asking students to complete a full level, since the latter may take a while if the student is unlucky.
Here are some tips to make Réaction solitaire more enjoyable for you and your students:
Did you know? Students who have difficulty understanding how to balance chemical equations can check out our content sheet on the subject. The Alloprof website also offers a host of other science and technology exercises.
Writing : Alloprof Teachers' team