Visualise Chemical Reactions

Support understanding of reactants and products through AI-generated illustrations.

Teaching context:
Great for Year 9 or 10 chemistry lessons introducing reaction equations or conservation of mass.

Basic AI Prompt:
Show what happens in a chemical reaction using diagrams.

Enhanced AI Prompt:
Create a visual sequence of the reaction between hydrochloric acid and magnesium. Show particles before, during and after the reaction for Year 10 Chemistry.

Spice it up:
Ask for animated slides or printable comic-strip versions of the reaction.

Lesson implementation:
Display the AI-generated visuals on the board as you walk students through a chemical reaction step-by-step. Use particle diagrams to explain what’s happening at the molecular level. Have students sketch the stages and label them to consolidate understanding. For extension, ask them to design their own visual explanation of a new reaction using AI support.

For differentiation, provide scaffolded diagrams or cloze-style worksheets using the same imagery. This works especially well before practical experiments or assessment tasks. Tie in with Science Week or as part of a revision station. Use Google Slides or Canva for digital follow-ups.

Got ideas on different ways to use this prompt? Share them with the class in the comments below!

Also, if you liked this, you'll love 250 AI Prompts for Chemistry Teachers in our books section!