Learning outcomes

Students will be able to:

• Identify oxidation and reduction as loss and gain of electrons, assign oxidation numbers, and name the oxidizing and reducing agents.
• Balance redox equations with the half-reaction method, including in acidic solution.
• Describe how a galvanic cell works (anode, cathode, electron flow, salt bridge) and calculate E°cell from standard reduction potentials.
• Explain electrolysis as a nonspontaneous process driven by outside power, and calculate the mass plated from current and time.

Standards alignment

• HS-PS1-2 NGSS: Construct and revise an explanation for the outcome of a simple chemical reaction based on the outermost electron states of atoms, trends in the periodic table, and knowledge of the patterns of chemical properties.
• HS-PS1-7 NGSS: Use mathematical representations to support the claim that atoms, and therefore mass, are conserved during a chemical reaction.
• HS-PS3-3 NGSS: Design, build, and refine a device that works within given constraints to convert one form of energy into another form of energy.

Includes

Four stages: zinc in copper sulfate and oxidation numbers, half-reaction balancing (basic and acidic), a galvanic cell builder with six metals, and copper electroplating; and a printable lab worksheet. A teacher answer key is available from Logical Home Schooling.

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