Chemical Reactions in our World

Unit Overview

Why are oysters dying, and how can we use chemistry to protect them?

This unit builds deeper understanding of chemical reactions by exploring reversible reactions through ocean acidification. Students watch case videos, analyze data, and read about how carbon dioxide movement from atmosphere to ocean increases acidity. They consider how oyster die-offs impact communities that rely on them for food, and break the problem into subproblems they can address with chemistry. They figure out how changes in concentration of H+ ions in water leads to changes in water pH., and use chemical reactions and stoichiometry tto determine the amounts of a substance they could use to neutralize acidic water. Students weigh engineering trade-offs, criteria, and constraints to design a site-specific solution for oyster die-offs They apply their thinking in a culminating task on increasing rates of ammonia fertilizer.

*This performance expectation is developed across multiple units.
†This performance expectation is developed across multiple courses.