Process
You will learn about chemical and physical changes by looking at the websites listed. You will then view a PowerPoint presentation about these changes. You will view each slide and take notes on the note taking page (print it out) provided at the link below.
Your teacher will now put you into groups of four. Each of you will be given a job to do. In each group there will be:
1. A materials manager. This person will take care of getting all the materials needed from the teacher and returning all of the materials after you finish the experiement.
2. The mixer. This person will handle putting all of the needed materials together.
3. The cleaner. This person will take care of doing any cleaning involved.
4. The washer. This person will handle all the processes after the cleaner.
You will follow the directions below to see how chemical and physical changes occur with everyday objects.
Washing Pennies
- The materials manager will pick up two bowls from the teacher. One will contain vinegar solution; the other will be of another acidic solution (for example, orange juice and lemonade). You will also have to get a pair of gloves for each person in your group, a container of salt and a spoon, clean nails, screws and bolts and paper towel. You will remind your group to be careful when using sharp nails and putting their hands in any solutions without gloves on. Don't forget to pick up a “We Saw” card and a dry erase pen.
- The mixer will put the salt in the vinegar and the other solution. Make sure you stir both really good until it dissolves.
- The cleaner will put on a glove and dip one penny halfway into the vinegar solution bowl of liquid. Hold it there for 10 seconds and pull it out. The cleaner will take the “We Saw” card and write on the back, in one word, what your group saw. The class will then discuss what they saw.
- The cleaner will then dump half of the pennies into the vinegar and the other in the other solution.
- Your group will observe any changes that occur, after 5 minutes. The washer will take out half of the pennies and put then on a paper towel to dry.
- The washer needs to take the other half of the pennies and rinse them under running water for a minute and place on a paper towel labeled rinsed.
- The cleaner will put a nail and a screw/bolt into the vinegar solution. Make sure you lean another nail against the side of the bowl so that only part of it is in the liquid.
- Let the nails sit overnight in the cup of solution. The materials manager will collect all the materials and put the supplies back where told to. Observe what happens and report it on the “Copper Caper” sheet provided. Answer the questions. Each group will share what they observed.
- Each group will then observe what is happening to the screw in the solution. The materials manager will write on the “We Saw” cards, in one word what your group saw. This will be shared with each group in a class discussion.
- The next day, look at the pennies on the paper towels. On the “Copper Caper” sheet answer the questions regarding the pennies on the paper towel.
- The materials manager will hand out glow sticks. Lights will be turned off. You will be instructed to bend the sticks and observe the reaction. You can take home the sticks and tell someone in their family about what you learned today
You will then choose 2 of the 4 experiments from the webpages below to see other ways of producing both chemical and physical changes. You will then write down what the explanation is for the experiments you did.
More Chemical and Physical Experiments
When you finish these you can work on these games and quizzes to see how you are doing.