The Case of the Stolen Necklace

Purpose: To determine which burglarAgar, Bubba, or Curlyreached into the bottom of a canister to
steal Mrs.Rollinginits diamond necklace. You will do this by combining three different-colored liquids in the
proper sequence so that no mixing occurs.
Materials
1 test tube rack
4 small glass test tubes
3 pipettes
Safety goggles
10 mL graduated cylinder
Triple beam balance

Procedure
1. Fill one test tube about 1/3 of the way full with red liquid, one 1/3 full with blue liquid, and one 1/3 full
with yellow liquid.
2. Now, carefully and slowly, use the pipettes to add the three liquids one at a time (fill the dropper to
just below the bulb), to the fourth test tube. Drizzle the liquids down the inside wall of the test tube
to facilitate layering.
3. Examine the test tube to see if the liquids formed three distinct layers. If not, clean out the mixture
and repeat step 2, but add the colored liquids in a different order. Continue experimenting with the
liquids until they remain in distinct layers in the test tube.
4. When you determine the correct layering sequence, deduce which of the burglars should be charged
with the most serious crime using the chart below.
Burglar

Layer reached (top, middle,

bottom)

Criminal charge (first-degree

burglary or accomplice)

Agar
Bubba
Curly
Questions
1. Draw and color code a picture of the correct sequence in the test tube to the right.
2. Describe the appearance of the contents of the three tubes containing the red, blue, and
yellow liquids. Use physical properties such as color, volume, and physical state.
Red

Blue

Yellow

3. Other than color, what are the differences among the contents of the three tubes?

4. Determine the mass of a clean 10-mL graduated cylinder using a triple-beam balance. Then fill it
with 5 mL of the yellow liquid and determine the mass of the cylinder with liquid. Finally, subtract the
mass of the graduated cylinder from the mass of the graduated cylinder with liquid to determine the
mass of the liquid alone. (For example, Mass of graduated cylinder: 5 grams. Mass of cylinder and
liquid: 9 grams. Mass of liquid: 9 g 5 g = 4 g.) Repeat these steps for each of the other two liquids
and fill out the chart below. It is very important that you measure exactly 5 mL of each liquid!
Make sure the graduated cylinder is dry before adding a new liquid to it.

It is very important that you measure exactly 5 mL of each liquid! Record the mass of 5 mL of each liquid here:

Materials
Empty graduated cylinder (GC)

Mass (grams)

GC and yellow liquid

Yellow liquid alone
GC and red liquid
Red liquid alone
GC and blue liquid
Blue liquid alone
5. You have just determined the mass for each of the three liquids. Are these quantities the same for
each liquid? Did you mass equal volumes for each of the liquids? If the mass of each liquid is
different for equal volumes, what is your explanation for the difference?

Calculations: Using the formula

calculate the

of each liquid.

_____________ is defined as

. Record

your calculation in the data table below.

Liquid

Calculation with answer

Yellow
Red
Blue
6. Do the liquids used in this investigation have the same or different densities?
7. In your opinion, why does each colored liquid have a different mass for its volume?

8. If you place three liquids of different densities into a test tube, where will they go in relation to one
another? Why do the liquids behave in this manner?