Countertop Chemistry Experiment 26
Formulas Poker

Students can practice writing chemical formulas in a game.

Materials
Each deck should contain:

1. At least one card with each of the following ions(47cards):

   Ba +2 Na +1 Ca +2 Li +1 Pb +2 Zn +2	Be +2 Mg +2 Ag +1 K +1 V +3 Ni +3	Cu +2 Cu +3 Fe +2 H +1 Fe +3	Sr+2 Sc +3 Al +3 Hg +2 Sn +1 Rb +1
   NO3 -1 NO2 -1 SO4 -2 SO3 -2 HSO4 -1 CO3 -2	HCO3 -1 PO4 -3 HPO4 -2 NH4 +1 OH -1 ClO4 -1	CrO4 -1 Cl -1 AsO4 -2 C2H3O2 -1 H2PO4 -1 I -1	S -2 O -2 F -1 N -3 Br -1 P -3

   
   
2. One blank or FREE card
   
3. Fifteen cards: five with each of the following subscripts: 1 2 3

Procedure

1. This game is played as a 5-card draw. The dealer will pass out 5 cards to each player from the shuffled deck, placing all remaining cards in a central stack.
2. Each player may discard as many as 3 cards in one rotation—taking as many cards from the central stack as s/he discards. Play begins with the player to the right of the dealer. Players try to make a chemical formula that uses as many of their cards as possible. If they cannot play, they must pass. It is possible to make two chemical formulas in one play. Once a player uses a number of cards to make a formula, that player should draw, from the central stack, as many cards as s/he used. Play then passes to the player on the right.
3. Total the score by the number of cards that a player is able to use to make a chemical formula. It is possible for a player to score as many as 5 points per hand. See Sample Score sheet. Each player has her/his own score sheet.
4. Play continues until no more formulas can be made.
   

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