Experimenting with Baking Soda and Vinegar

I will be putting you through the process of mixing vinegar and baking soda. This is a list of the process on how to experiment with the two substances.

• Pour the baking soda into a container, above any surface that will be easily cleaned.
• Then pour the vinegar that can be colored in order to highlight the reaction.

The baking soda should bubble up and react with the vinegar, and releases gases from this chemical reaction. Be careful to wear goggles, because the baking soda and vinegar mixture could splash into your eyes causing great pain.

Fun Fact!
The reaction going on is a double replacement, and therefore creates sodium acetate and carbon dioxide as well as producing water. The carbon dioxide released will create pressure, and if the mixture is capped, it will explode! Which is very fun to watch!

Making Rock Candy MiniProject

So, in class we made rock candy which requires these ingredients, and these materials.

• 2 cups of water
• 4 cups of granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon of flavoring oil (optional)
• food coloring (optional)
• glass jar
• skewer or thread
• hot plate

Heat the water, and slowly add the sugar one cup at a time until it is fully dissolved. Then add the flavoring oil and food coloring. Once the syrup is cool, pour it into the glass jar, and allow the skewer or thread to hang one inch away from the bottom of the glass jar.
Wait for the sugar to crystallize on the thread, then enjoy.

Caution! BE AWARE OF HOT PLATE

Fun Fact!
The candy is formed by water and sugar that evaporate and leave a crystal of sugar.

PHOTO CRED: DAVID WHEELER

How Temperature, Pressure and Surface Area affects the dissolving process.

Chemistry Standard 6c. Students know temperature, pressure and surface area affect the dissolving process.

There are three main factors that change the solubility of a solution are Temperature, Pressure and Surface Area. Usually when a substance cannot dissolve all of the particles, then it has become saturated. By implementing the three factors, you will be able to change the rate of dissolving a substance, and you will also change the amount of solute that can be dissolved.
The Temperature's effect on the dissolving process is clear. Heat allows for the solute to be dissolved quicker, and also increases the solubility of the solvent.
Pressure, causes the solute to be increased in the solvent, because the pressure forces the remaining gases into the solute. Therefore, pressure increases the solubility, and also changes the reaction rate.
Finally, the surface area exposed to the solvent determines the rate of which a solute will dissolve. For example, a large crystal of salt will not dissolve as quickly as powdered salt, because the powdered salt has more surface area exposed, speeding up the reaction time.

The Bending of Glass...With Fire!

So, for my mini-project, I decided to show you the process of bending glass...

• take any circumference glass tube

• use filer to determine desired length, and make a crease in glass with filer

• push along crease with thumbs pointing down

• light burner and begin bending glass! with tongs of course!

FUN FACT!
Glass is made up of sand originally, and contains other ingredients in order to determine the strength of it. When shaped, the glass is annealed, which means allowing for the molecules to cool slowly, so then they can retain the molecular structure. If the structure is not retained, then the glass will break.

Photo Cred: David Wheeler

Mills Creek Canyon

So, on April 29th, yesterday, Mr. Olson conducted a field trip up the hill at Mills Creek Canyon. The experience of trekking along in the wilderness was very exhilarating. We passed by many species of plants, and soon came across poison oak, which was thankfully labeled. Well anyways, there were many insects, animals and other wildlife available for us to see. One of the more interesting parts of the trail was the creek. This area does not seem to have a lot of creeks, so the sight of running water was very pleasing to see. However, the route to the creek can be hazardous at times, but is very worth it. So, I will let you see how we got there, and the basic route of the trail once in Mills Creek Canyon.

View Field Trip in a larger map

UGH

BORING WEEK.... except for the international assembly...
which wasn't very entertaining...
so yea...

IProposeWe experiment with air pressure

Materials: Vacuum, Alarm, Feather, Metal Washer, Magnet, Marshmallow, Goggles

Procedure:

Flip the plastic shield of the vacuum over. Place the feather underneath the metal washer in the center of the shield. Then place the magnet beneath the shield so the feather is held by the metal washer inside. Place the shield on the vacuum. Turn on the vacuum. Record Observations. Turn off vacuum.

Place marshmallow in the center of the vacuum. Place shield on vacuum. Turn on vacuum. Record Observations. Turn off vacuum.

Place Alarm in vacuum. Turn on Alarm. Place shield on vacuum. Turn on vacuum. Record Observations. Turn off vacuum.

Safety Precautions:

• Wear goggles in order to protect your eyes if anything unexpected happens

• Be cautious in operating the vacuum

Scientific Principles

1. Increasing Air Pressure dampens sound
2. Increased Air Pressure does not provide air resistance
3. After increasing air pressure, all the air in the marshmallow will be lost, shrinking the marshmallow