Contextualization

Organic Chemistry, also known as the chemistry of life, is a subdiscipline within chemistry that involves the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation (by synthesis or other means) of carbon, hydrogen compounds that may contain any number of other elements. In this project, we will focus on a specific component of organic chemistry: organic salts.

Organic salts are compounds formed by a cation of an organic acid and an anion of an inorganic base. They result from a neutralization reaction, just like inorganic salts. The difference lies in the acid that reacts with the base: in the case of organic salts, the acid is organic. They are very common in our daily lives and are used in various areas such as medicine, agriculture, and food.

Now, to understand why we are examining organic salts, we need to understand the broader context in which they fit. Organic salts are essential in many industrial and domestic applications. For example, sodium acetate, an organic salt, is used in pocket warmers and in dye manufacturing. Sodium citrate is an anticoagulant agent used in blood storage. Calcium lactate is used as a fermentation agent in bread. These are just a few examples of the usefulness of organic salts in our daily lives.

To develop this activity, we suggest some reliable resources to delve deeper into the topic and base the project's elaboration on:

1. Profile of organic compounds: Organic salts
2. Organic functions: Organic salts
3. Nomenclature of organic salts

Practical Activity

Title: "The Magic of Organic Salts"

Project Objective:

The objective of this project is for students to learn to name and recognize organic salts, understand their importance and applications in everyday life, and, above all, develop teamwork, time management, and communication skills.

Detailed Project Description:

In the proposed activity, students will work in groups of 3 to 5 and will have one week to complete the project. They will delve into the world of organic salts, exploring both the theoretical and practical aspects.

Firstly, they should research the formation, nomenclature, and applications of organic salts, acquiring the necessary knowledge to advance in the activity.

After this stage, the groups should prepare a presentation, using visual support of their choice (slides, posters, videos, etc.), in which they must explain the nomenclature of organic salts and present real examples of applications of these compounds, both in the industry and in everyday life.

Simultaneously, students will carry out a nomenclature activity. They will be provided, through a list, with chemical formulations of organic salts, where the group must correctly name each one.

Necessary Materials:

• Internet access for research.
• Materials for presentation preparation (paper, pencil, computer with presentation software, etc.).

Detailed Step-by-Step:

1. Group Formation: Students should be divided into groups of 3 to 5 members.

2. Theoretical Research: Groups should research the formation, nomenclature, and applications of organic salts. The research should serve as a basis for the following steps.

3. Presentation Preparation: Groups should prepare a presentation in which they explain the nomenclature of organic salts and discuss real examples of their applications.

4. Nomenclature Activity: Groups will receive a list of chemical formulas of organic salts and must correctly name each one.

5. Work Presentation: Each group must present their work to the class, explaining what they have learned and discussing their findings.

6. Report Elaboration: Finally, each group must elaborate a detailed project report, following the guided structure (Introduction, Development, Conclusions, and Bibliography).

Project Deliverable:

Students will deliver the visual presentation and the written report. In the report, students must follow the structure of Introduction (contextualization of the theme and project objectives), Development (detailed explanation of organic salts, methodology used, presentation and discussion of results), Conclusions (review of the main points and general conclusions about the project), and Bibliography (references used). It is important for students to relate the researched theoretical content to the practical activity carried out, demonstrating the application of the acquired knowledge.

This written report will allow students to improve their written communication skills, as well as their ability to synthesize and structure a scientific document. In addition, students will also practice their oral presentation skills during the presentation of their research to classmates.