Physical vs.

Chemical Changes Stations Lab

Safety Briefing
You will be working with both acid and fire during this lab. You will need to wear goggles AT ALL TIMES. Do not look directly into a flame produced by magnesium, as this can result in blind spots or blindness Keep room well-ventilated while you work. Do not point hot test tubes at yourself or others and be careful to avoid breaking glass. Dispose of waste properly!

Acid is Corrosive!
having the quality of corroding or eating away; erosive.

Observations
Make sure you write down what the materials at the station look like before, during, and after the change. Each table will have an observation card to help you better describe what you are seeing. Use this card if you get stuck about what to write down.

Station 1: Burning Magnesium

1) Light the bunsen burner or camp stove using proper lab techniques 2) Use a pair of crucible tongs to hold a strip of magnesium metal over the flames (only use one strip for safety reasons). 3) Record your observations. 4) Turn off the burner, and clean up your station. 5) Do NOT stare at the magnesium!

1. Burning Magnesium

Before

During

After

Station 2: Instant Snow

1. Use the handle end of the plastic spoon to scoop up a VERY SMALL amount of the sodium polyacrylate. 2. Put it into the test tube. 3. Squeeze water into the test tube to fill it. 4. Wait 10 seconds, then examine tube (try holding it sideways). 5. Record your observations. 6. Place the entire test tube in the waste bin.

2. Instant snow

Video Clip

Before

During

After

Station 3: Acid (HCl) and Zinc

1) Use tweezers to place a small amount of zinc mossy into a test tube. 2) Use a pipette to place 4-5 drops of acid on the zinc mossy. 3) Record your observations. 4) Stop: Do not pour metal into the sink. Please put this mixture in the WASTE container. 5) Clean up your station for the next group.

3. HCl and mossy zinc

Before

During

After

Station 4: Boiling Water

1) Fill a beaker with about 20 mL of water. 2) Set the beaker on the hot plate and turn the dial to high or 10. (Turn off the hot plate shortly after it starts to boil.) 3) Record your observations. 4) Turn off the hot plate and clean up your station for the next group.

4. Boiling Water

During

Station 5: Combining A and B

1) Place 2 drops of solution A in one of the wells on the well plate. 2) Place 2 drops of solution B in one of the wells on the well plate. 3) Record your observations. 4) Clean up your station for the next group, making sure to rinse off your well plate.

5. Combining A & B

Before

After

Station 6: Decompressing a Gas

1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Place the balloon inside the bell jar. Connect the syringe tubing. Pump the syringe to decompress the gas. Record your observations. Clean up your station for the next group, making sure to rinse off your well plate.

6. Decompressing a Gas

Before

After

Station 7: Salt and Water

1. Fill a test tube about full of water and place it in the test tube rack. 2. Place a small amount of salt into the test tube using a scoopula. 3. Either stir the mixture with a stirring rod, or put a rubber stopper in the test tube and shake the mixture. 4. Record your observations. 5. Clean up your station for the next group.

7. Combining Water and Salt

Before

After

Station 8: Grinding Crystals (replaces breaking glass)

1) Place one crystal in your mortar and pestle. 2) Grind it. 3) Record observations. 4) Clean up area by rinsing out mortar and pestle for the next group.

8. Grinding Crystals

Before

After

Station 9: Combining C and D

1) Place 5 drops of solution C into a clean test tube. 2) Place 5 drops of solution D into the same test tube. 3) Let the test tube sit in the test tube holder and observe it again after a minute. 4) Record your observations. 5) Clean up your station for the next group, making sure to dump the liquid into the waste beaker and rinse out your test tube.

9. Combining C & D

Before

After