Online Interactive Activity: Using a Web-Based Multimedia Activity to Teach Balancing Chemical Equations

Abstract

Balancing chemical equations involves the application of the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed. Particularly for nonscience majors, this task can be challenging because it requires an understanding of the symbolic, submicroscopic, and macroscopic representation of chemical reactions. An online, interactive activity was developed and implemented in two introductory chemistry courses to instruct students on the theory and methods behind balancing chemical equations while providing frequent feedback about the learning process. This activity involves 8 sections, 4 sections delivering new content and 4 sections assessing student learning. The impact of this activity on student learning outcomes was measured using a pre–post study design, and student feedback on the activity was also collected. Overall, this activity provided an interactive and engaging way for students in introductory chemistry courses to learn how to balance chemical equations.