1. Olwen Needham-Brooks, Bushra Anwar, Daniel Fiorella, Scott Jaspers-Fayer ELECTROCHEMISTRY SCH4U

2. Big Ideas Oxidation and reduction are paired chemical reactions in which electrons are transferred from one substance to another in a particular way. The control and application of oxidation and reduction reactions have significant implications for industry health and safety and the environment.

3. Overarching Question  How do oxidation-reduction reactions, which are the basis of electrochemical cells, impact our economy, society and environment?

4. Guiding questions  What are oxidation-reduction reactions and how are they characterized?  How do oxidation-reduction reactions apply to electrochemical cells?  What are the applications of galvanic and electrolytic cells?  What are some of the pros and cons of electrochemical technologies?

5. Unit plan

6. Misconceptions  Reduction and oxidation reactions can occur in isolation.  Free electrons flow through the salt bridge or electrolyte solutions to complete the circuit in a cell.  The anode must appear on the left in a galvanic cell diagram.  Oxidation numbers represent an ionic charge in a covalent molecule or polyatomic atom.  Cell potential changes when the volume of the solution in the cell changes, or when the reaction equation is reversed or multiplied by a numerical coefficient.

7. Activity 1  4 groups are needed  Group is provided with a number of slips of paper with steps written on them  Group must figure out which steps are relating to the oxidation number method vs. half reaction method and put them in the correct order  Group must then balance the given equation using one of the methods for practice on provided chart paper

8. Activity 2  The class is divided into five groups.  Each group is provided with a visual representation of an electrochemical technology and related questions.  Students are given 10 -15 minutes to examine the visuals and answer the questions.  Each group will present the reactions, applications and drawbacks (if any) of their assigned electrochemical technology (using their answers of questions).  Presentation can be in the form of a debate, news report, panel discussion, etc.

9. STSE Blog  www.electrochemistry12.blogspot.com www.electrochemistry12.blogspot.com  Each student is required to create two blog entries over the course of the unit.  Blog entry#1: An example of a redox reaction from everyday life  Blog entry#2: An issue pertaining to an electrochemical technology  Each student is also required to comment on two other blog entries#2.

10. Questions or Comments