Contextualization

The study of stoichiometry is of utmost importance for understanding the fundamental principles of chemistry. Stoichiometry relates the quantity of reactants and products in a chemical reaction, allowing us to predict their outcomes. It is the backbone of almost all chemical processes we see around us, from respiration to drug manufacturing.

In the real world, stoichiometry plays a crucial role in many industries and research. It is everywhere, from calculating the amount of ingredients needed in a cake recipe to determining the amount of medication needed to treat an illness. In short, stoichiometry is an indispensable tool for anyone who wants to understand and apply chemical concepts.

Project Introduction

This project aims to explore and consolidate fundamental concepts of stoichiometry through a practical, fun, and engaging experiment. Throughout this project, you will have the opportunity to apply everything you have learned in the classroom, verifying theoretical concepts in practice and affirming the importance of stoichiometry in our daily lives.

Challenges will arise during this work that will need to be overcome as a team. You will need to plan, execute, and, most importantly, communicate effectively to achieve your goal.

Here are some reliable resources you can use to delve deeper into the topic and base your work on:

1. Stoichiometry - Khan Academy
2. Stoichiometry - InfoEscola
3. Law of Conservation of Mass and Stoichiometry - Brasil Escola
4. Stoichiometry - Química em Ação - Professor Paulo Valim
5. Stoichiometry - Manual do Mundo

Explore these resources, dive deep into the universe of stoichiometry, and get ready for a journey of discoveries and learning. Good work!

Practical Activity - "Cooking with Stoichiometry: The Cake Experiment"

Project Objective

The purpose of this activity is to understand stoichiometry through a practical and everyday activity: baking a cake. The goal is to, based on a given recipe, calculate the quantities of ingredients to prepare half or double the recipe, and compare the produced cakes to understand the stoichiometric relationships.

Project Description

Groups of 3 to 5 students should choose a cake recipe and prepare three versions of it: the original recipe, half of the recipe, and double the recipe. The group should note the quantities of each ingredient used and, after baking, measure and compare the mass and volume of each cake obtained. Thus, students will be able to visualize and apply stoichiometric relationships in a practical and tasty way.

Necessary Materials

1. Cake recipe
2. Ingredients for the chosen recipe
3. Kitchen scale
4. Cake pans
5. Kitchen utensils (measuring cups, containers, spoons, etc.)
6. Oven
7. Paper and pen for notes

Step by Step

1. Choose a cake recipe and note the quantities of each necessary ingredient to make the original recipe.

2. Calculate the quantity of each ingredient needed to make half of the recipe and double the recipe. Note these quantities.

3. Prepare the three cakes: the original recipe, half of the recipe, and double the recipe. Note the exact quantities of each ingredient used in the cake preparation.

4. After baking, weigh each cake and note the mass obtained.

5. Measure the volume of each cake and note it.

6. Compare the mass and volume of the three cakes. Discuss as a group how the quantities of ingredients affected the mass and volume of the cakes.

7. Write a detailed report on the experience, including all collected data and conclusions drawn.

Project Delivery

The project delivery will be done in two parts. The first part consists of presenting the three cakes made by the group and demonstrating and explaining the stoichiometric calculations used to adapt the recipe.

The second part is the delivery of a written report that should contain four parts:

1. Introduction: In this part, students need to contextualize stoichiometry, demonstrate its real-world application (such as in cooking, for example), and explain the project's objective.

2. Development: Here, they should explain in detail the theory of stoichiometry, which activity was carried out, the methodology used, and present the results obtained (the masses and volumes of the cakes, for example).

3. Conclusion: Students should summarize the main points of the work, mentioning the knowledge and skills acquired during the project execution and the conclusions drawn from the experience.

4. Bibliography: Indicate the sources of information used for the project, such as websites, books, videos, among others.

Students should use the data collected during the project execution to explain and demonstrate the concept of stoichiometry, showing how the variation in the quantity of ingredients affects the final result (the cake).

The report should be written in an organized and clear manner, with all calculations and reasoning well explained, and should conclude with the students' reflections on the importance and application of stoichiometry in daily life.