Reexamination of Reactions with Alkali Metals at Upper Secondary School Level : Review of Chemical Experiments and Improvement of Experimental Procedures in the Current Textbooks

Azuma Syun-ichirou, Kita Masakazu

doi:10.11639/sjst.kj00006252478

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Other Title

アルカリ金属の反応を扱う高等学校化学実験教材に関する再検討 : 現行の高等学校教科書で扱われている化学実験の検討と改善
アルカリキンゾクノハンノウオアツカウコウトウガッコウカガクジッケンキョウザイニカンスルサイケントウゲンコウノコウトウガッコウキョウカショデアツカワレテイルカガクジッケンノケントウトカイゼン

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<p>Almost all "Chemistry I" textbooks used in upper secondary school treat the reaction between sodium and water as a student experiment, which is representative of reactions between alkali metals and water. Some "Comprehensive Science A" textbooks also use the same experiment. The main part of this experiment is the procedure that the generation of hydrogen gas is confirmed by an explosive sound on ignition with a lighted match. According to the instructions and using the size of sodium piece in the textbooks. however, there are many cases where the pop of hydrogen gas are not confirmed. A reason for this failure is originated in the non-examination of the relationship between the volume of the generated hydrogen gas and the volume of the gas-collecting bottle where a lightened match is close to the hydrogen gas. In this study, we have measured the ratios of hydrogen volume to vessel volume to generate a pop and then we have determined the experimental conditions to ensure complete success. The above experiment is easy for students to carry out. It is also an important phenomenon in that the direct reaction of sodium with chlorine gas to generate sodium chloride. However. this experiment is considered dangerous due to the violent reaction and there are no textbooks that treat it as a student experiment. Since the experimental procedures are improved, the experiment turns out to be impressive, safe, and easy for students.</p>

Journal

Journal of Research in Science Education

Journal of Research in Science Education 49 (2), 1-10, 2008-11-30

Society of Japan Science Teaching

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