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Grade School Labs
- In this lab, you will construct an electromagnet and then observe its characteristics.
- In this lab, you will use the electromagnet you constructed previously to create an image of the magnetic field.
- In this project, you will construct an electroscope, and use it to observe how objects with like charges repel each other.
- In this lab, you will observe these attracting and repelling forces.
- In this lab, you will expose a fluorescent bulb to a balloon you have given a negative charge to, and observe this effect.
- In this lab, you will construct a battery from a potato, and check it for current flow with your galvanometer.
ACID BASE INVESTIGATIONS
- You will make an indicator solution from purple cabbage to test for the presence of an acid or base.
- COMPARING ACID CONCENTRATIONS
- You will observe the color effect that different acid concentrations have on the cabbage testing solution.
- You will make a paper indicator from your cabbage indicator solution that can be used to test for an acid or a base.
- ACID-BASE TESTING
- You will use cabbage indicator paper to test for the presence of an acid or base.
- ACID OR BASE
- Testing many different substances at one time for the presence of an acid or base.
- You will make a test paper that will indicate the presence of a base.
- TESTING A GAS
- In this investigation, you will produce a color change in your turmeric test paper, with an invisible gas.
- ONLY WORKS WHEN WET
- In this investigation, you will observe that dry solids must be wet to be tested with turmeric paper.
INVESTIGATING STARCH
- This lab is to determine how to test materials for the presence of starch.
- In this lab, you will test for the presence of starch in different materials.
CHEMICAL REACTIONS IN YOUR MOUTH
- You will observe that chewing is part of a chemical reaction envolving starch.
- The purpose is to write a message that will magically appear.
CARBON DIOXIDE TESTING
- The purpose of this lab is to prepare a test solution for carbon dioxide.
- CARBON DIOXIDE BREATH
- In this lab you will test for the presence of CO2 gas in exhaled breath.
- A HUNGRY PLANT
- In this lab you will observe the production of carbon dioxide by yeast.
- TESTING SODA POP FOR CARBON DIOXIDE
- In this lab you will test for the presence of CO2 gas in soda pop.
CHEMISTRY
- Elements are pure substances such as iron, oxygen, silver, and chlorine. When two or more elements combine chemically, they form compounds. When some elements and compounds come together, a chemical reaction will take place. When the copper on a penny comes into contact with acetic acid, the chemical in vinegar, the copper reacts (combines) with the acetate part of the acid to form the green colored compound copper acetate.
In this lab, you will react copper with acetic acid, and observe the formation of copper acetate.
CHEMICALLY REMOVING THE SHELL OF AN EGG
- The chemical in vinegar is acetic acid. Egg shells are made of the compound calcium carbonate. The reaction between acetic acid and calcium carbonate causes the egg shell to disappear, and carbon dioxide bubbles to form.
In this lab you will observe this chemical reaction.
REACTING TWO COMPOUNDS TO FORM A PRECIPITATE
- Some chemical compounds will dissolve in water, and some will not. Sometimes, two compounds that dissolve in water will react to form a new compound that is insoluble (does not dissolve). This new compound comes out of solution and is referred to as a precipitate.
In this lab, you will react alum with ammonia. These are both compounds that dissolve in water. Household ammonia contains ammonium hydroxide. The hydroxide part of the chemical reacts with the aluminum in the alum. One of the products of this reaction is the white, insoluble gel called aluminum hydroxide. The aluminum hydroxide will then form a precipitate, and come out of solution.
REACTING TWO COMPOUNDS TO FORM A PRECIPITATE #2
- Some chemical compounds will dissolve in water, and some will not. Sometimes, two compounds that dissolve in water will react to form a new compound that is insoluble (does not dissolve). This new compound comes out of solution and is referred to as a precipitate.
In this lab, you will react epsom salt with ammonia. These are both compounds that dissolve in water. Household ammonia contains ammonium hydroxide, and the chemical name for epsom salt is magnesium sulfate. Mixing ammonia and epsom salt causes a reaction which produces magnesium hydroxide as one of the products. Magnesium hydroxide is a white substance that does not dissolve well in water. After standing awhile, the white precipitate will settle to the bottom of the jar.
REACTING TWO COMPOUNDS TO FORM A PRECIPITATE #3
- In this lab, you will react the element iron with vinegar to produce iron acetate. You will then react this iron acetate you made, with ammonia (ammonium hydroxide). A chemical reaction occurs as soon as these two liquids combine.
DENSITY
- In this lab, you will observe the change in density of water when salt is added. Density is simply how much (mass) of something there is in how big (volume). Wood floats in water because it is less dense than the water. A rock sinks in water because it is more dense than the water.
MAGNETS
- Magnetic materials have magnetic domains. These are clusters of atoms that act like tiny magnets. When they are pointing in the same direction, magnetic lines of force can form. In this experiment, we will make a temporary magnet and observe the affect on a compass.
- All wires carrying an electric current have a magnetic field around them. Straight wires have a weak magnetic field around them. The strength of the magnetic field can be increased by coiling the wire around an iron core (nail). The iron nail becomes magnetized and will attract other objects made from magnetic materials. Unlike a "permanent" magnet, the magnetic force leaves when the electrical current is stopped.
- INVESTIGATING THE MAGNETIC FIELD AROUND AN ELECTROMAGNET
- An electromagnet, just like a "permanent" magnet, has a magnetic field around it. When iron filings align with the magnetic field, you can get a representative picture of that field.
ELECTRICITY
- An electroscope is used to detect an electrical charge. If you rub a balloon on your hair, electrons are rubbed off of your hair and onto the balloon, giving the balloon a negative charge. When the negatively charged balloon is held near the metal loop, electrons on the surface of the metal move away from the balloon and down the wire. As these electrons build up on the aluminum strips, the now negatively charged strips move apart (repel each other).
OBSERVING THE ATTRACTING AND REPELLING FORCES OF ELECTRICAL CHARGES
- Matter is composed of atoms, which have negatively charged electrons spinning around a positive nucleus. When electrons are transferred from one object to another, the object receiving the electrons becomes negatively charged while the object loosing the electrons becomes positively charged. When two objects with like (the same) charge come close to each other, they repel each other. When two objects with opposite charges come close to each other, they attract each other.
LIGHTING A FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULB WITH STATIC ELECTRICITY
- When an electrical current is applied to a fluorescent tube, electricity jumps from one end of the tube to the other. This produces ultraviolet light which is invisible to the human eye. Mercury vapor inside the tube carries electrons to the phosphor powder coating the inside of the tube. This coating changes the ultraviolet energy into visible light energy. When an object with a static electric charge is brought close to the fluorescent tube, electrons move to the tube causing the same effect, only on a smaller scale.
- A galvanometer is used to indicate electric currents. In this lab you will construct a galvanometer and test it.
- MAKING A POTATO BATTERY AND TESTING IT WITH YOUR GALVANOMETER
- When strips of two different metals are inserted into a potato, electrons move through the potato from one strip to the other. If the metal strips are connected to each other by a wire, the electrons can flow through the wire and back to the potato. You have a battery.
CRYSTALS
- Many solids are made of pieces with many small, flat sides. Such pieces are called crystals. Salt and sugar grains are examples of crystals. In this investigation, you will grow crystals in a solution.
CHROMATOGRAPHY
- In this activity we will use a simple technique to separate the colors from black ink. Because the ink is soluble in water, we will allow the solution to be absorbed on filter paper. As the solvent rises on the paper and evaporates, it leaves the colors in its path.
PENDULUMS
- Galileo studied the pendulum, and discovered the relationships of length, weight, and time of its swing. In this activity you will investigate the effect of weight and length on the time of a pendulum swing. This investigation is easier with two people working together.
JUST FOR FUN
- This is a fun activity that combines science observation with art. In this activity, you will decorate a t-shirt with images of leaves. When finished, you will have something you made to wear, that shows your study of leaf shapes and vein patterns.
- In this activity we will make clay from salt. This clay will dry hard, and can be used to make a number of things including beads for necklaces. It will take paint well and can be sanded smooth. This activity requires heating on a stove, so it requires ADULT HELP.