Chemistry Lesson: Redox Titrations
Lesson Plan
1 hour 30 minutesGrades11, 12Chemistry
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Written by Greta Stacy
About this lesson
In this lesson, students further their knowledge of redox titrations while examining the pressures that contamination and climate change put on access to clean water.
Step 1 - Inquire: Students observe a field scientist testing the dissolved oxygen content of the Hudson River and generate questions.
Step 2 - Investigate: Students apply the Winkler Method as a tool for assessing the health of bodies of water and identify the stresses placed on water sources by climate change.
Step 3 - Inspire: Students explore Sustainable Development Goal #6 and consider what steps they can take to protect the drinking water in their communities.
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Everything you need to teach it
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Positives
- Redox reactions and the Winkler Method are taught in a context relevant to students’ lives.
- Students learn about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
- This lesson can be combined in a unit with SubjectToClimate’s Desalination Exploration lesson.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should have an understanding of stoichiometry and titrations.
- Students should have some familiarity with redox reactions. Specifically:
- Assigning oxidation numbers
- Oxidation vs. reduction
- Oxidizing vs. reducing agents
- Balancing redox reactions
- Students will need a device in order to conduct research.
Differentiation
- The practice problems on the Student Document can be tailored for the age group or class level as needed.
- Research activities can be conducted individually or in groups.
- Students can present their projects to the whole class, in small groups, as a gallery walk, or make and post video recordings.
- Students can calculate their own water footprints or research access to water in different regions and compare and contrast the results.
- Students can research how the Winkler Method is being used as a tool to address access to clean water.
From the scientist review
The lesson is an advocacy tool for SDG 6 and will stretch students' ability to understand water quality, quantity, accessibility, the spatial distribution of water, what water sanitation entails, how water is sourced, the impact of climate change on water quality, and how it could be addressed. It also allows students to learn basic technique in water quality assessment, management, and how to compute water footprint. All materials used in the lesson are factual, engaging, and well-sourced. On that account, this lesson is recommended for classroom use.
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About the teacher writer
Greta Stacy
Education Specialist
Greta Stacy holds a Bachelor of Chemistry from Smith College, a Master of Teaching from Hamline University, and a Graduate Diploma in Chemical Engineering from the University of Limerick. She has nine years of experience teaching chemistry, science, and mathematics for grades 9–12. Greta holds a Minnesota 9–12 Chemistry teaching license, UK Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), Irish Teaching Council registration, and certifications in International Baccalaureate Chemistry and Advanced Placement Biology.
