The Dissolving a Salt interactive is an adjustable-size file that displays nicely on tablets such as the iPad, on Chromebooks, and on laptops and desktops. It's use on phones is at best questionable. The size of the Interactive can be scaled to fit the device that it is displayed on. The compatibility with iPads, other tablets, and Chromebooks make it a perfect tool for use in a 1:1 classroom.

 

This Interactive demonstrates what is meant by the term aqueous state. Students view a crystal of sodium chloride slowly undergoing dissolution. The hydration by water is shown as the H atoms surround the chloride ions and the O atoms surround the sodium ion and the crystal slowly disappear. Students whose mental model is "the sodium chloride is gone" will be challenged to think of the phenomenon differently. The model of the sodium and chloride ions in the crystal being pulled away and surrounded by the polar water molecules will become a more common description of what occurs when a salt like sodium chloride dissolves.

The simulation can be used as a demonstration or as the basis for a student activity. Currently we do not have a Student Activity Sheet. We hope to make one sometime in the near future.

We have a companion simulation to this one that is titled Dissolving a Sugar Crystal.

 

 

 

We are currently at work on our Chemistry Tutorial and will soon have some pages on the topic of Solutions.

Our Dissociation Concept Builder may be a good accompaniment to this simulation.
 

 

 

We owe a special thanks to Physics and Chemistry teacher Chris Bruce (Nerd Island Studios | SimBucket) for creating this simulation.