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Next stop – PDQ1 – that means Pretty Darn Quick. Go dog, go!
Reactants, products, and fizzing fun all come together in this databot dive into the science behind chemical reactions!
Ready, Set, Reaction!
Scan this QR Code with your Phyphox sensor app to load the CO2 sensor settings for all activities in the CO2 Science Series.
Ready, Set, Reaction!
Explorations in Chemistry
Reactants, products, and fizzing fun all come together in this databot™ dive into the science behind chemical reactions! Join databot™ as we stir up some chemical fun that provides insight into the invisible world of chemistry that surrounds us.
Overview
Grades:
Time:
Subject:
5-8
50 minutes (PDQ’s + Experiment)
50 Minutes (Challenge & Collaboration)
Chemistry
Poof – it seems like magic, but it’s not, it’s SCIENCE!! This engaging module introduces and explores the concept of chemical reactions – creating a new substance from two or more other substances.
Background
The science of chemistry provides an exciting opportunity to explore the world around us and learn about the invisible forces that hold things together, cause them to come apart, create explosions, and burst your bubbles! Chemistry is literally the science of life and the materials that surround us.
Explore chemical reactions and see the difference between physical and chemical changes. Physical changes are when we see water freeze and it changes from a liquid to a solid. Or when we boil water and it changes from a liquid to a gas. The substance itself is not affected in a physical change – it’s still water, it’s just in a different “state of matter.”
When Chemical changes occur however the substance actually changes into something entirely new, such as our vinegar + baking soda reaction that changes these common materials into CO2, water, and sodium acetate.
In this module, the first PDQ kicks things off by watching for a temperature change and reading CO2 levels in a closed container. Temperature changes in chemical reactions are either endothermic (requiring energy) or exothermic (giving off energy). Using databot™ it’s fun and easy to monitor and visualize the changes that are taking place.
In the second PDQ, databot™ visualizes an exothermic reaction that results in the formation of water vapor and CO2. In each PDQ experimenting with changes in quantity or other variables produces visible changes in the data and suddenly it becomes apparent that we can change the output of our reaction!
The experiment following the PDQs poses the challenge to apply newfound skills to carefully control and produce the exact amount of CO2 desired in a closed environment. Be prepared to understand and master ratios and percentages as you attempt to create the perfect balance of CO2 in your own tiny micro-system.
Objectives
By completing this experiment and conducting the scientific observations associated with it you will master the following knowledge! Good luck science explorer!
- Different types of substances can “react” with one another to create a chemical change in the substances.
- A physical change does not change the composition of a substance, only its form (state of matter).
- Chemical reaction:
- When two substances react with one another to create a new, different substance.
- Causes a change in the composition of a substance.
- Can cause physical and chemical changes in substances –
even creating gas where there was none before. - Can require energy (endothermic) to take place, or produce energy (exothermic).
- Fire is both a chemical and physical reaction.
- CO2:
- An invisible and odorless gas.
- Heavier than air.
- Exhaled by human beings.
- Levels can vary in the air around us depending on many factors.
- Can be generated through a chemical reaction of baking soda and vinegar.
- Can be generated through a chemical reaction between paraffin wax and oxygen.
- Water vapor in the air is called humidity and is measured as a percentage.
- Vinegar is an acid and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a base.
- The pH scale tells us if a substance is a base or an acid.
- A ratio is a numeric comparison of one amount to another. A percentage is a ratio based on a scale of 100.
- Scientific sensors allow us to measure the scientific world around us with better precision and accuracy.
What You'll Need
- IOS or Android smart device with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to connect to databot™
- databot™ + Phypox App installed on your IOS or Android device
- databot™ Temperature Probe
- White Vinegar (acetic acid)
- Baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate)
- Container with an airtight lid.In the activity demonstrations we are are using an OXO brand, 4.2 liter,
storage container that has a push button airlock feature. - Tea candles – 3
- Lighter (Long-Handled)
- Measuring cups, spoons, or graduated cylinder for measuring quantities
- Glassware – low profile drinking glass or beakers that will fit within your airtight container.
A set of inexpensive glass beakers can be very handy for the experiment
Important Terms
Acid: A substance that has a pH level of less than 7, can donate a hydrogen ion, and is characterized by a sour taste or smell. If you have tasted pickle juice or smelled vinegar – those are both great examples of acids.
Atom: The basic unit of matter and is the smallest thing that can have a chemical property. Hydrogen and Carbon are both examples of atoms.
Baking Soda: Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃), is an alkaline salt and is one of the reactants in the vinegar–baking soda reaction.
Base: A substance that has a pH level of higher than 7 and can accept a donated hydrogen ion from an acid. A base is essentially an acid’s opposite so when they get together some spectacular things can happen. Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) is a good example of a base.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2): A colorless, odorless gas naturally present in the air you breathe and is absorbed by plants in photosynthesis. There would be no animal life or green plants without carbon dioxide. Green plants use energy from the sun plus carbon dioxide and water to produce carbohydrates and oxygen. CO2 is one of the products of the vinegar-baking soda reaction comprised of 1 carbon atom and 2 oxygen atoms.
Chemical Reaction: This occurs when substances combine to produce one or more new substances.
Density: An object’s mass in a given volume. For example, a 1 cm cube of gold is much denser than a 1 cm cube of balsa wood so the weight of the gold cube is much, much heavier.
Endothermic Reaction: A type of chemical reaction that requires energy to take place. When this happens you will see a drop in temperature in your reactants.
Exothermic Reaction: A type of chemical reaction that produces energy. When this happens you will see an increase in temperature.
Humidity: The percentage of water vapor in the air you breathe. You will notice humidity changes when you travel – for example, in the desert there is very low humidity and by the sea, you will have high levels of humidity.
Mass: The amount of matter in a substance.
Molecule: Made up of atoms and is the smallest amount of a chemical substance that still retains all the characteristics of that substance. A good example of a molecule is water. Represented as H2O, it has 2 hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
pH: A scale from 1-14 used to rate substances as either “acid” or “base” – the lower the number, the more acidic the substance. Pure water has a pH of 7.
Physical reaction: When a substance changes form, but not its composition. For example, water turning from liquid form to ice. It’s still water, just in a different state.
Product: The substance created in a chemical reaction.
Percentage: A proportion of one number compared to another and is based on a scale of 100. If you have 30 white rocks in a pile of 100 pebbles, you have 30% white rocks!
Ratio: A numeric comparison of one item to another. For example, if you have 3 white rocks and 2 black rocks, the ratio is 3 to 2 and is written as 3:2.
Reactant: The starting substance that enters into a chemical reaction.
Sodium Acetate (C2H3NaO2): One of the products of the vinegar–baking soda reaction comprised of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and sodium.
States of Matter: The 4 states a substance can take on: solid, liquid, gas, or plasma.
Temperature: A measure of a physical property of a substance – how hot or cold is it? Temperature is actually a measure of moving particles in a substance and is expressed in different units such as degrees Celsius.
Units of Measure (metric): Liters, milliliters, parts per million (PPM).
Vinegar: A mixture of acetic acid (CH₃COOH) and water (H20) that is one of the reactants in the baking-soda vinegar reaction.
Volume: The amount of space a substance takes up.
Water (H20): A product of the vinegar–baking soda reaction comprised of 2 hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. It is also a product of the chemical reaction that takes place when you burn a candle.
Weight: A measurement of the force of gravity applied to an object – it is calculated by multiplying an object’s mass by the acceleration of gravity. The weight of an object can vary depending on the gravitational field acting upon it.
Prep
Read the background information, study the terms, and explore the additional resource links.
Educator Info
Educator Info
- Read the background information, study the terms, and explore the additional resource links. The provided vocabulary is much more extensive than is what is referenced in the activities, but is provided for working with more advanced or older students.
- Practice the PDQs and Experiment and review the accompanying educator information.
- Review the Challenge and Collaboration extensions if of interest.
- Scan the QR Code on page 1 with your Phyphox sensor app to load the CO2 sensor settings for all activities in the CO2 Science Series.
Understand and Recognize:
- Different types of substances can “react” with one another to create a chemical change in the substances.
- A physical change does not change the composition of a substance, only its form (state of matter).
- Chemical reaction:
- When two substances react with one another to create a new, different substance.
- Causes a change in the composition of a substance.
- Can cause physical and chemical changes in substances –
even creating gas where there was none before. - Can require energy (endothermic) to take place, or produce energy (exothermic).
- Fire is both a chemical and physical reaction.
- CO2:
- An invisible and odorless gas.
- Heavier than air.
- Exhaled by human beings.
- Levels can vary in the air around us depending on many factors.
- Can be generated through a chemical reaction of baking soda and vinegar.
- Can be generated through a chemical reaction between paraffin wax and oxygen.
- Water vapor in the air is called humidity and is measured as a percentage.
- Vinegar is an acid and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a base.
- The pH scale tells us if a substance is a base or an acid.
- A ratio is a numeric comparison of one amount to another. A percentage is a ratio based on a scale of 100.
- Scientific sensors allow us to measure the scientific world around us with better precision and accuracy.
- 5-PS1-1: Develop a model to describe that matter is made of particles too small to be seen.
- 5-PS1-4: Conduct an investigation to determine whether the mixing of two or more substances results in new substances.
- MS-PS1-2: Analyze and interpret data on the properties of substances before and after the substances interact to determine if a chemical reaction has occurred.
- MS-PS1-6: Undertake a design project to construct, test, and modify a device that either releases or absorbs thermal energy by chemical processes. Emphasis is on the design, controlling the transfer of energy to the environment, and modification of a device using factors such as type and concentration of a substance. Examples of designs could involve chemical reactions such as dissolving ammonium chloride or calcium chloride. Assessment is limited to the criteria of amount, time, and temperature of substance in testing the device.
- NGSS Practice 4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data
Excerpt: When possible and feasible, students should use digital tools to analyze and interpret data. Whether analyzing data for the purpose of science or engineering, it is important students present data as evidence to support their conclusion.
- What is a good way to tell if what you are seeing is a physical or chemical change?
- When you mix Kool Aid with water, is it a physical or chemical change?
- When you crack an egg, is that a physical or chemical change?
- When you cook the egg, is that a physical or chemical change?
Images
- Kitchen Glassware from Pixabay
- Fireball image by Gerd Altmann, Pixabay
pH Table courtesy Wikimedia Commons - Beaker from Pixabay
Definitions and Sources
Ready, Set, Reaction! by Robert O. Grover & Team databot™ is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at databot.us.com/contact.
