1. Starring 3 amazing chemical reactions!
Abe’s Makeover
TEACHER NOTES BELOW
Materials Per Group (2 or 3 students): old penny, vinegar (~20 mL, in small cup/beaker), salt (in baggie, labeled; with plastic spoon in baggie), stir stick (popsicle stick), safety glasses, Student Handouts
Procedure:
Have students examine their dull penny. Talk about how chemical reaction #1 has already occurred-the penny became dull (think of what it looked like the day it was made). Fill in Part I. on the handout as follows:
Have students write down the reactants and products for Part I. on their handout as shown on the PowerPoint. Make sure they space their writing as shown, to leave room for what’s next. The red circle that appears first gets your students to notice where the halfway mark on the line is, to help them with spacing.
Next, write in plain English what the formula means, as shown on the ppt (“translation”).
*Caution- all students must wear safety glasses for the entire lesson since one product today is hydrochloric acid; weak, but still acidic.
Other Notes:
To see a preview of this lesson on video go to
Change any text you like in the ppt. If you don’t want to talk about chemical bonds today, just delete that part- click on it and press the delete button on your keyboard.
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Starring 3 amazing chemical reactions!

2. oxygen in the air we breathe
Abe’s Makeover Cu O2
CuO
A shiny new penny
and
oxygen in the air we breathe
react to produce
a dull penny
(Translation) O
Covalent bonds- share electrons H H
CH3COOH
H2O
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Vinegar
and
water
and

3. CuO HCl The dull penny and hydrochloric acid react to produce
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