Inquiry This

Peep Edition
Maddy Weimer, Darnisha Reed, Joshua McBride
You may be wondering what got the three of us here...
Dr. Wileys random assignment system?

A quick but fleeting notion working with Peeps for six weeks
might actually be the saving grace in our last semester at Ivy
Tech?

A passion for demonizing sugar?

 History of Peeps

Peeps are produced by Just Born

Just Born started making Peeps in 1953

Peeps are best stored at 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit with relative humidity of 45 to 50%
What is in that Peep you are eating?
Sugar

Corn Syrup

Gelatin

Contains less than 0.5% of the following ingredients:

yellow #5 (Tartrazine), potassium sorbate (a preservative),

natural flavors, carnauba wax

However this yellow ray of sunshine is in

fact GLUTEN FREE
 Experiment 1
Question: What liquid reduces peeps to the least amount of weight
in grams?

Claim: Vinegar will dissolve Peeps to the least amount of weight in

grams.
 Materials
150 mL of distilled vinegar 18.1 grams of baking soda

300 mL of tap water 1 electric hot plate

1 measuring spoon 1 slotted spoon

9 pH strips 3 five-Peep package of

9 14 oz clear cups Peeps

1 scale 1 graduated cylinder

3 timers (clock) 1 calculator

 Procedure
1. Gather all materials necessary for experiment. 9. Allow Peep 2 hours to rest in liquid. Keep track of time with one
2. Place each individual 14 oz clear cup onto scale and ensure weight timer. Use separate timer for each different liquid.
after 10 seconds is at approximately 22.4 g. 10. Repeat steps 5 through 9 for vinegar.
3. Open one package of Peeps. Separate each individual Peep. Do not 11. Repeat step 5 for water only.
use the two Peeps on the end of each row of five Peeps. Place one 12. Use measuring spoon to scoop out 18.1 grams of baking soda. Use
Peep onto the scale. Record weight of Peep after waiting 10 scale to ensure amount of baking soda.
seconds. 13. Add 18.1 g of baking soda to heated 150 mL water into a 14 oz
4. Plug in hot plate into electrical outlet. Wait until the hotplate cup. Stir the water and baking soda mixture for 30 seconds.
warms to 100 F. 14. Repeat step 7 through 10 for baking soda water mixture.
5. Pour water into flask and place onto hot plate. Check temperature 15. After allotted time use slotted spoon to scoop out Peeps and let
of the water frequently until the water temperature reaches within liquid drain for 15 seconds. Record the weight of Peeps
one degree of 121.7 F. corresponding to each Peeps initial weight.
6. Pour 150 mL of heated water into 14 oz cup. 16. Repeat steps 2-15 an additional two times.
7. Record pH of liquid by placing one pH strip into liquid to saturate 17. Find the total change in weight for each liquid in each trial.
strip. Compare pH strip to color scale on pH strip bottle. 18. Find the average of the ending weights of the peeps for each
8. Place Peep into the cup with water. Place onto scale and record separate liquid of all three trials.
weight after 10 seconds.
Evidence
INSERT CHARTS HERE
INSERT CHARTS HERE
Conclusion

Our claim was supported.

 What caused the chemical reaction?
Vinegar and Peeps
Vinegar has a diluted acetic acid base which chemically causes peeps to reduce in size
quicker than water or baking soda water. The pH of vinegar is about 2.4, the lower the
number, the greater the acidity. The more acidic the substance, the quicker a Peep
dissolves.
Water and Peeps
Water is made up of hydrogen and oxygen atoms which chemically doesnt cause peeps to
reduce in size because it acts more as a base. Bases do not dissolve Peeps as well as acids.
Baking Soda Water and Peeps
The pH of baking soda water is about 9 thus baking soda water is not as effective as
vinegar at dissolving the Peeps, but does dissolve them quicker than water. Baking soda
water is considered a base and therefore Peeps dont dissolve well in such a mixture.
Speak up, I cannot hear you
Oh, you said whats next?

What if we increase the surface area of the Peep?

 Experiment 2
Question: Will cutting each Peep into fourths help them to reduce

the weight in grams once placed in liquids?

Claim: Vinegar will still dissolve Peeps to the least amount of

weight in grams.
 Materials
150 mL of distilled vinegar 18.1 grams of baking soda

300 mL of tap water 1 electric hot plate

1 measuring spoon 1 slotted spoon

9 pH strips 3 five-Peep package of Peeps

9 14 oz clear cups 1 graduated cylinder

1 scale 1 calculator

3 timers (clock) 1 knife

1 object to stir Peep with

 Procedure
1. Gather all materials necessary for experiment. 9. Allow Peep 2 hours to rest in liquid. Keep track of time with one
2. Place each individual 14 oz clear cup onto scale and ensure weight timer. Use separate timer for each different liquid.
after 10 seconds is at approximately 22.4 g. 10. Repeat steps 5 through 9 for vinegar.
3. Open one package of Peeps. Separate each individual Peep. Do not 11. Repeat step 5 for water only.
use the two Peeps on the end of each row of five Peeps. Place one 12. Use measuring spoon to scoop out 18.1 grams of baking soda. Use
Peep onto the scale. Record weight of Peep after waiting 10 scale to ensure amount of baking soda.
seconds. 13. Add 18.1 g of baking soda to heated 150 mL water into a 14 oz
4. Plug in hot plate into electrical outlet. Wait until the hotplate cup. Stir the water and baking soda mixture for 30 seconds.
warms to 100 F. 14. Repeat step 7 through 10 for baking soda water mixture.
5. Pour water into flask and place onto hot plate. Check temperature 15. After allotted time use slotted spoon to scoop out Peeps and let
of the water frequently until the water temperature reaches within liquid drain for 15 seconds. Record the weight of Peeps
one degree of 121.7 F. corresponding to each Peeps initial weight.
6. Pour 150 mL of heated water into 14 oz cup. 16. Repeat steps 2-15 an additional two times.
7. Record pH of liquid by placing one pH strip into liquid to saturate 17. Find the total change in weight for each liquid in each trial.
strip. Compare pH strip to color scale on pH strip bottle. 18. Find the average of the ending weights of the peeps for each
8. Place Peep into the cup with water. Place onto scale and record separate liquid of all three trials.
weight after 10 seconds.
Evidence
Conclusion

Our claim was supported.

 What is that you asked? Why?
According to BBC.co.uk, If a solid reactant is broken into small pieces or ground into
a powder: its surface area increases, more particles are exposed to the other reactant,
there are more collisions, and the rate of reaction increases.

The liquids in our experiment act as the solvent and the Peep is the solute.

A single chewed Peep needs approximately six total hours to dissolve in a humans
stomach.
Speak up, I cannot hear you
Oh, you said whats next?

What if we changed the pH of a liquid?

 Experiment 3
Question: Will a liquid with a neutral, 7 or 8, pH reduce the Peeps
to a smaller amount than the others?
Claim: The milk will reduce the Peeps to a smaller weight than the
water and baking soda water.
 Materials
150 mL of whole milk 18.1 grams of baking soda

300 mL of tap water 1 electric hot plate

1 measuring spoon 1 slotted spoon

9 pH strips 3 five-Peep package of Peeps

9 14 oz clear cups 1 graduated cylinder

1 scale 1 calculator

3 timers (clock) 1 knife

1 object to stir Peep with

 Procedure
1. Gather all materials necessary for experiment. 9. Allow Peep 2 hours to rest in liquid. Keep track of time with one
2. Place each individual 14 oz clear cup onto scale and ensure weight timer. Use separate timer for each different liquid.
after 10 seconds is at approximately 22.4 g. 10. Repeat steps 5 through 9 for vinegar.
3. Open one package of Peeps. Separate each individual Peep. Do not 11. Repeat step 5 for water only.
use the two Peeps on the end of each row of five Peeps. Place one 12. Use measuring spoon to scoop out 18.1 grams of baking soda. Use
Peep onto the scale. Record weight of Peep after waiting 10 scale to ensure amount of baking soda.
seconds. 13. Add 18.1 g of baking soda to heated 150 mL water into a 14 oz
4. Plug in hot plate into electrical outlet. Wait until the hotplate cup. Stir the water and baking soda mixture for 30 seconds.
warms to 100 F. 14. Repeat step 7 through 10 for baking soda water mixture.
5. Pour water into flask and place onto hot plate. Check temperature 15. After allotted time use slotted spoon to scoop out Peeps and let
of the water frequently until the water temperature reaches within liquid drain for 15 seconds. Record the weight of Peeps
one degree of 121.7 F. corresponding to each Peeps initial weight.
6. Pour 150 mL of heated water into 14 oz cup. 16. Repeat steps 2-15 an additional two times.
7. Record pH of liquid by placing one pH strip into liquid to saturate 17. Find the total change in weight for each liquid in each trial.
strip. Compare pH strip to color scale on pH strip bottle. 18. Find the average of the ending weights of the peeps for each
8. Place Peep into the cup with water. Place onto scale and record separate liquid of all three trials.
weight after 10 seconds.
Evidence
 Conclusion

Our claim was not supported.

 What is that you asked? Why?
In order to dissolve any food there needs to be a pH number as close to the pH of
gastric juice, between 1 to 3.
Milk had an average pH of 7 and along with heating the liquids we assumed this would
work as claimed by UCSB ScienceLine.

Formation of the cross bonds is the slowest part of the process, so that under ideal

conditions the strength of the gel increases with time as more cross bonds are

formed, (GMIA, p. 8, 2012).

 Only if Introduction to Scientific Inquiry lasted another 16
weeks
What would we do if it did?
Besides soak up Dr. Wiley immense pool of knowledge?
What effect does temperature have? What effect does pressure have?

Could we simulate what happens if you How do other candies measure up

exercise after eating sugary foods? (literally) to Peeps?

How do our bodies handle this sugar?

 References
BBC. (2014). BBC - GCSE Bitesize: Effect of surface area. Retrieved April 23, 2017, from

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/ocr_gateway_pre_2011/rocks_metals/7_faster_slower4.shtml

CK-12 Foundation. (2014, April 29). Factors Affecting Solubility. Retrieved April 23, 2017,

from http://www.ck12.org/section/Factors-Affecting-Solubility/

Culp, M. (2010). How To Construct An Artificial Stomach. American Biology Teacher

(National Association Of Biology Teachers), 72(7), 444. doi:10.1525/abt.2010.72.7.10

Ervin, R.B., & Ogden, C.L. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). NCHS Data Brief, No. 122: Consumption of Added Sugars Among U.S. Adults, 2005

2010. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db122.pdf

Gelatin. (2016). Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition, 1.

 References (Continued)
General Chemistry Labs. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2017,

from http://odinity.com/acetic-acid-content-vinegar/

GMIA, (2012, January). Gelatin Manufacturers Institute of America-Gelatin Handbook.

Retrieved from http://www.gelatin-gmia.com/images/GMIA_Gelatin_Manual_2012.pdf

How Marshmallow Peeps Are Made. (2016, November 16). Retrieved April 20, 2017, from

http://www.bhg.com/holidays/easter/recipes/how-marshmallow-peeps-are-made/?slideid=e5405771-f85f-4e49-8708-

cf13cd44c1fd

Just Born. (n.d.). FAQs. Retrieved April 23, 2017, from

http://www.justborn.com/faqs#nutrition

Karim, A. A., & Bhat, R. (2011). Gelatin and its Hydrocolloid Alternatives. (cover story).

Prepared Foods, 180(1), 67.

 References (Continued)
Lehrer, J. K., MD. (2014, November 20). Stomach Acid Test. Retrieved April 23, 2017, from

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003883.htm

Lindell, C. (2014). They're 'Just Born' to be sweet!. Candy Industry, 179(2), 28.

Milestones. (2013). Time International (South Pacific Edition), 181(11), 8.

The Accidental Scientist. (n.d.). Science of Candy: Monster Mallows Activity | Exploratorium.

Retrieved April 23, 2017, from http://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/candy/activity-mallows.html

UCSB ScienceLine (2015). What Makes A Marshmallow To Dissolve? Retrieved April 20,

2017, from http://scienceline.ucsb.edu/getkey.php?key=1421

Your Mother Was a Chemist. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2017,

from http://kitchenscience.sci-toys.com/acids