Physical and Chemical Changes of Matter

For the past month we have been talking about "matter".  Over the last 2 weeks we learned about ways we can change matter.  Are the changes "physical" or "chemical"?  We learned that a physical change means the "matter" is still the same ... it just might be a different shape or in a different state.  But in a chemical change, the matter changes into a new substance and cannot change back.  

We finished off the unit with 2 experiments.

In this first one, we made predictions as to what would happen when water was added to three different powders...salt, sugar, baking soda.  We made predictions - "it will melt", 'it will be sticky", "it will be gooey"!  Ms. Quon added the water and .... nothing.  The powders all dissolved.

In the 2nd part of the experiment we made predictions about what will happen when we add vinegar to the same powders.  Once we made our predictions we carried out the experiment in our teams!

First we added vinegar to the salt... not much happened.  

Next we added vinegar to the sugar - same as salt...it dissolved

Finally we got ready to add vinegar to the baking soda...

Bubbles!!

The more vinegar we added, the more bubbles we made!

Finally we added the rest of the vinegar and the bubbles overflowed the cup!  So exciting!  This is a chemical change! The baking soda mixed with the vinegar and made a new substance.

In our final experiment Ms. Quon demonstrated what would happen when we mix hydrogen peroxide, yeast, warm water, dish detergent and food colouring...

ELEPHANT TOOTHPASTE!

Watch this video if you want to try this experiment at home with an adult

Have FUN and BE SAFE!