Chemical and Physical Change Lab
Before you begin your Chemical and Physical Change Lab make sure your students understand the following. Physical changes usually involve a change to a substances state of matter where heat energy is added or removed. The molecular structure of the substance remains the same. For this reason, physical changes can be reversed. Chemical changes, by contrast occur at the molecular level when two or more molecules are interacting. These changes involve the bonds in the reacting compounds being broken and new bonds being formed as products. Since the reactants are no longer present, a chemical change cannot be easily reversed.
These lab activities aim to allow students to practice the skill of observing and recording detail notes during lab activities so that they can use them as evidence to make inferences about the types of reaction occurring. Groups of two or three students is highly recommended. The substances used for the first three activities can be located in the home so students can carry this lab out as part of an online or distance learning program, so it be necessary. A link to activity 4 can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX9pskbKSw0.
Chemical and Physical Change Lab Worksheets
The following documents are needed for this lab. Click the links below to download them.
- 3-6 Chemical and Physical Change Lab Activity - Student Edition (PDF)
- 3-6 Chemical and Physical Change Lab Activity - Teacher Edition (Members Only)
- 3-6 Chemical and Physical Change Lab Activity - Teacher Edition (Members Only)
- 3-6 Chemical and Physical Change Lab Activity - Student Edition (Doc)
Chemical and Physical Change Lab Instructions:
- This lab activity consists of several mini labs. For each activity, follow the instructions and record detailed observations about what happens.
- Use this information to write observations at the end of this activity sheet.
Chemical and Physical Change Lab Procedure:
Activity 1: Rainbow Volcano
Equipment:
- Sodium Bicarbonate
- Acetic acid
- Detergent
- Food color/dye (any colors)
- Spatula
- 100ml conical flask
- 100ml beaker
- 100ml measuring cylinder
- Plastic dropper
- Low-sided basin
- Safety glasses
- Gloves
Method:
- Combine 50ml acetic acid, 5 drops of detergent and 1 drop of food coloring into a conical flask. Swirl gently to combine.
- Add 3 heaps spatulas of baking soda to the beaker and a small amount of cold water so that it forms a runny paste. Add 1 drop of a different color food dye to the paste and stir.
- Quickly add the baking soda paste to the conical flask.
Activity 2: Salty Water
Equipment:
- Sodium Chloride solution (saturated)
- 100ml measuring cylinder
- Evaporating basin
- Heating equipment
- Safety glasses
Method:
- Measure 50ml of saturated sodium chloride solution using a measuring cylinder and carefully pour into an evaporating basin.
- Set up heating equipment (tripod, Bunsen, gauze mat or clay triangle, heat proof mat)
- Place the evaporating basin onto the heating equipment and gently heat until almost all liquid has disappeared. Remove dish from heat.
Activity 3: Eggs
Equipment:
- Egg white
- Hot water source (50oC approx)
- Test tube
- Large (250ml) beaker
- Dropper/plastic pipette
Method:
- Combine 50ml acetic acid, 5 drops of detergent and 1 drop of food coloring into a conical flask. Swirl gently to combine.
- Add 3 heaps spatulas of baking soda to the beaker and a small amount of cold water so that it forms a runny paste. Add 1 drop of a different color food dye to the paste and stir.
- Quickly add the baking soda paste to the conical flask.
Activity 3: Eggs
Equipment:
Method:
- Place a dropper-full of egg white into the test tube.
- Fill the beaker with hot water.
- Gently place the test tube into the beaker of water.
Activity 4: Iodine Clouds
Equipment:
- Iodine crystals
- Ice cubes
- Spatula
- Beaker
- Round-bottomed flask
- Heating mat
- Safety glasses
Method:
- Add a spatula of iodine to a beaker and place on a heating mat.
- Heat iodine gently until purple vapor is released.
- Place a round-bottomed flask containing ice into the opening of the beaker, sealing the opening. Leave the round-bottomed in place and observe.
The Chemical and Physical Change Lab Activity:
Students record their predictions and results of the lab activity. Once the activity is finished, discuss the lab activity and answer post-lab questions.
We also provided some of the Resources below for you to use in class. iTeachly Members can access all the content for the activity and the following lesson.
Students must come up with a unanimous answer for each question. Discussing the answers usually, results in some excellent dialogue on this topic.
Here is your Free Content for the Chemical and Physical Change Part of the Lesson!
Chemical and Physical Change - PDFs
- 3-6 Assignment SE - Chemical and Physical Change (FREE)
- 3-6 Assignment TE - Chemical and Physical Change ( Members Only )
- 3-6 Bell Work SE - Chemical and Physical Change (FREE)
- 3-6 Bell Work TE - Chemical and Physical Change ( Members Only )
- 3-6 Exit Quiz SE - Chemical and Physical Change (FREE)
- 3-6 Exit Quiz TE - Chemical and Physical Change ( Members Only )
- 3-6 Guided Notes SE - Chemical and Physical Change (FREE)
- 3-6 Guided Notes TE - Chemical and Physical Change ( Members Only )
- 3-6 Lesson Plan - Chemical and Physical Change ( Members Only )
- 3-6 Online Activities - Chemical and Physical Change ( Members Only )
- 3-6 Slide Show - Chemical and Physical Change (FREE)
Chemical and Physical Change Worksheets - Word Docs & PowerPoints
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