WHAT IS THAT POWDER?
Make sure you have the following materials before you start your investigation:
Materials
Pencil
White Chalk
Sheet of white paper
Magnifying Glass
Measuring Spoons
Eyedropper
Baking Soda
Water Sugar
4 Small Jars
Salt
Iodine Solution
Corn Starch
Dish
Towel
Vinegar
4 x Sheets of black paper
Become a Forensic Chemist by following these procedures and filling in the Powder Analysis Chart with your results.
Complete the appearance, texture, and smell activities before opening the vinegar and iodine bottles.
After analyzing and recording results of each substance have your partner leave the area. Select and place one of the powders on construction paper and do not tell which substance it is. Invite your partner back to see if she/he can determine the powder by performing the same experiments and observations previously done. Change places so your partner can select one of the powders for you to identify. Can you correctly identify the mystery powder?
Extension: View the powders under a microscope.
Materials
Pencil
White Chalk
Sheet of white paper
Magnifying Glass
Measuring Spoons
Eyedropper
Baking Soda
Water Sugar
4 Small Jars
Salt
Iodine Solution
Corn Starch
Dish
Towel
Vinegar
4 x Sheets of black paper
Become a Forensic Chemist by following these procedures and filling in the Powder Analysis Chart with your results.
Complete the appearance, texture, and smell activities before opening the vinegar and iodine bottles.
- Place one-fourth teaspoon (1 ml) of the four white powders on a sheet of black construction paper. Label the powders with the white chalk or white crayon.
- Study the powders with the magnifying glass. Examine what each powder looks like. How would you describe the powder's shape. Does it have large or small grains? Your observations should be written in the appearance column of the chart.
- Examine the powders further by rubbing each powder between your fingers. Describe how each powder feels in the Texture column of the chart.
- Determine if there is a smell to any of the powders. Record your findings in the Smell column of the chart.
- Take the eyedropper and place a drop of water on each individual powder. Examine what happens? Do the powders dissolve? Is there a reaction? Write your observations in the Reaction to Water column.
- Place one-half teaspoon (2ml) of each powder in a separate jar. Add 2 drops of iodine to each jar using the eyedropper. Record what happens in the Reaction to Iodine column. Iodine should be handled with care.
After analyzing and recording results of each substance have your partner leave the area. Select and place one of the powders on construction paper and do not tell which substance it is. Invite your partner back to see if she/he can determine the powder by performing the same experiments and observations previously done. Change places so your partner can select one of the powders for you to identify. Can you correctly identify the mystery powder?
Extension: View the powders under a microscope.