States of Matter

Welcome back the return of STATES OF MATTER!

 

We studied states of matter in Autumn Term but we decided to bring it back. Below are different experiments or research that you can do in any order you choose. 

The link below talks you through the layout of the experiment and what the main focus is. Watch 'melting setup video' and 'melting experiment video' to get a clear idea of the experiment.

Gases are all around us, and most of them we don’t even know are there; we can’t feel them and most of the time we can’t see them either. However they can do some amazing things without us realising. For this lesson you are to research different gases and create a poster naming and explaining what your chosen gases do.

In this experiment, you will investigate what makes ice melt faster, by adding several different solids to your ice.

 

Equipment:

• Ice cubes
• Muffin tin, jars, or containers
• Pick 5 different solids (for example: salt, sugar, baking soda, sand or dirt etc.)
• Stopwatch or clock to determine the time of the experiment

 

Set up:

Step 1: Add 6 ice cubes to 6 cupcake cases. Make sure the same amount of ice is in each one.

Step 2:  Add 3 tablespoons of each solid to a separate cupcake case of ice.

• Add 3 tablespoons of baking soda to cupcake case#1.
• Add 3 tablespoons of salt to cupcake case#2.
• Add 3 tablespoons of sand to cupcake case#3.
• Add 3 tablespoons of sugar to cupcake case #4 .
• Add 3 tablespoons of dirt to cupcake case #5
• You need at least 1 cupcake case with only ice. Cupcake case #6

Step 3: Predict which will melt the fastest and try to think of reasons for your choice.

Step 4: Check on the ice cubes every 10 minutes over 1 hour and record your results.

Step 5: Then draw your conclusions. What caused the ice to melt fastest? Was there any surprises?

Some substances sometimes just can't make up their mind whether they're a liquid or a solid! 

 

Equipment:

Cornflour, water, a wooden spoon, a bowl.

 

Step up:

Step 1: Pour half a box of cornflour into a bowl.

Step 2: Gradually pour water over and mix until it looks and feels like custard.

Step 3: Run your fingers through the liquid.

Step 4: Now try and punch the mixture with your fist.

 

What is happening and why?

When you run your fingers through it, it acts like a liquid. But when you punch it, it becomes hard and behaves like a solid (if it doesn't, try adding some more cornflour). 

The cornflour particles are suspended in the water, so it flows like a liquid. But when you apply a force to it, the particles lock together, acting like a solid. As soon as the force stops, the slime goes back to being runny.

Sometimes when solids and liquids are mixed together they create a chemical reaction. This reaction can create a new substance like a gas. Below are two different ways we can create a chemical reaction and capture the result in a balloon. 

 

Which one do you think will create the biggest gas result? Yeast, sugar and water or baking soda and water?