KitchenChemistry

11/13

Station A: Test Tube Challenge

Background:
Look closely at the figure of the density gradient attached. You might find this section of your
textbook to be useful in this activity. You must have a strong understanding of this picture in
order to proceed to the challenge question.
Problem:
Your challenge is to prepare a similar demonstration device inside a test tube. (See the figure
below) Each of your 3 liquid layers (with no solids present) should be clear and distinct.
Equipment Available:
You may use any equipment inside your lab drawer, tap water, sugar, and food coloring.
*A complete layer of food coloring is not allowed due to the expense of this item.
Safety Concerns:
Students should wear safety goggles and laboratory aprons throughout this experiment. Food
coloring can stain skin.
Lab Quiz Question 1: Devise a hypothesis for this experiment.

Lab Sheets:
Summarize the experimental details of your group's experiment. Be sure to indicate volumes
and/or masses of materials that were used in your experiment. Show the instructor the finished
test tube with three layers. What major chemical topic was explored in this experiment? Was
your hypothesis met?

Station B: Witches Brew

Lab Quiz Question 2: If acetic acid is a monoprotic acid, how many moles of
acetic acid should react with one mole of NH3, a weak base that can accept one
proton?
A) Add five drops of Ex-Lax solution to 50 mL of water in a 300 mL beaker. Gently
stir the solution with the stirring rod. Record any observations.
B) Add 20 mL of ammonia to the beaker. Stir to mix the solutions and record your
observations.
C) Add 10 mL of vinegar to the beaker. Stir gently. Record any observations. Continue
adding vinegar (2 mL) at a time until a permanent color change occurs. Record any
observations, including the number of mL of vinegar used.
D) When you are finished, pour the contents of the beaker down the drain. Clean your
glassware and return it to your drawer.
Lab Sheets: Write the balanced reaction of acetic acid and ammonia. Make sure to write how
many mL of ammonia and vinegar were used and the amount of mL of vinegar added at the point
at which the color change occurred. What major chemical topic was investigated in this lab?

Station C: Root Killer v. Mineral

Lab Quiz Question 3: Predict the products of the reaction of CuSO4 and Fe.
A) Sand the surface of an iron nail using the sandpaper provided. Place two or three mL of
root killer (copper (II) sulfate) solution in a test tube, add a few drops of sulfuric acid
and carefully drop in an iron nail. Let it stand a minute or two and pour off the copper (II)
sulfate solution into the waste container. Rinse the nail and examine it. The deposit on it
is not rust but another metal. What metal does it appear to be? Write an equation for the
reaction that you think has taken place. (The sulfuric acid speeds up the reaction but does
not take part in it but do not forget about it.)
B) Repeat this experiment using mineral (iron (II) sulfate) solution and a small piece of
copper wire instead of the copper (II) sulfate and nail.
C) Record any further observations. When finished, wipe off the nail and the copper wire
with a paper towel and the clean the rest of the equipment.
Lab Sheets: Write the two balanced reactions investigated in this experiment. The two should
be the opposite of one another, and only one should have occurred to any appreciable extent.
Which is it? Show all observations. What is the name of the type of reaction investigated in this
experiment?

Station D: Trick candle?

Lab Quiz Question 4: What are the general products of the combustion of a hydrocarbon fuel
and oxygen?
(Note: Perform the last part of steps A and B simultaneously.)
A) Put about 75 mL of hydrogen peroxide in 250 mL beaker. Add about 1/8 teaspoon of
yeast and gently swirl the contents. Record any observations.
B) Put about 75 mL of tap water in another 250 mL beaker. Add one tablet of AlkaSeltzer. Record any observations.
C) Light a wooden splint from the candle, allow it to burn for about ten seconds, then
blow it out. Put the glowing splint into the beaker with the yeast (but do not
submerge it). Observe what happens. Then put the splint into the beaker with the
Alka-Seltzer. Observe what happens. (If the beaker with yeast is not producing
enough bubbles, add some more hydrogen peroxide; if the beaker with Alka-Seltzer is
not producing enough bubbles, add another Alka-Seltzer tablet.)
D) You may want to repeat part C (above) several times. Record any observations.
E) When you are finished, rinse out and dry both beakers.
Lab Sheets: Record all observations. Explain why one of the beakers puts out the flame and the
other beaker enhances the flame. What type(s) of reaction(s) is/are occurring at this station.

Holiday Art Project Snow Globes

Materials
Benzoic acid, distilled water, glass jar, glue gun and hot glue, beaker, hot plate,
stirring rod, tongs.
Safety
Benzoic acid is a food preservative and relatively safe. Dispose of any excess in
marked waste containers. It is an acid, however, and may mildly irritate your skin.
Wash any excess off with soap and water. Be careful with hot plates and the hot
glue gun. Make sure to wear goggles at all times.
Procedure
Acquire 1 gram of benzoic acid, and put it in a beaker with warm (not boiling
water). Benzoic acid is a special case in that it does not dissolve in water at room
temperature but will dissolve well at higher temperatures.
While the temperature of the solution is increasing, one student should be stirring
in order to dissolve the benzoic acid, and the other should be putting a dab of hot
glue on the bottom of the glass jar(s).
Choose a decoration for the snow globe (if desired) and place in firmly into the hot
glue to be held in place. Use tongs or tweezers to position the decoration.
Allow the heated benzoic acid solution to cool to room temperature. Slow cooling
allows the benzoic acid to precipitate out of solution as fine crystals instead of
large clumps. Once the solution has reached room temperature, pour your solution
into your glass jar over the now firmly glued decoration. Add water to fill the jar
to prevent air bubbles.
Tightly place the lid on the jar such that it does not leak. You are welcome to glue
or tape the lid to the jar for additional support. Your snow globe is now ready to
use!