Chemistry of Fire Emissions

In this unit, students learn about what is occurring on an atomic level during a wildfire, as complete and incomplete combustion reactions release different types of pollutants into the atmosphere. Students consider different possible solutions to mitigate the effects of wildfire emissions on human health.  

Hands-on Activities:

• Students must guess the contents of a closed box, to consider what scientists may have done to identify atoms when they couldn’t see them 
• Students use molecular modeling kits to model the molecules from complete and incomplete combustion 
• Students complete a predict, observe, explain graphic organizer while viewing demonstrations of a variety of reactions 
• Students investigate the mass before and after the reaction produced by alka seltzer tablets 
• Students use molecule modeling kits to model conservation of mass 

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS):

MS-PS1-1 •  MS-PS1-5 •  MS-ESS3-2 •  MS-ETS1-1 •  MS-ETS1-2