BALLOON AND BUBBLE CHEMISTRY
…ENGAGING STUDENTS USING THE SIMPLE BALLOON AND SOAP
BUBBLES
…LET’S…BLOW STUFF UP…AND SHRINK THINGS DOWN!
PEGGY AU
WINSTON CHURCHILL HIGH SCHOOL
L E T H B R I D G E , A L B E R TA , C A N A DA
W E D N E S D AY, A U G U S T 1 , 2 0 1 2
9:30 AM TO 12:30 PM AND 2:00 PM TO 5:00 PM
M A R G A R E T. A U @ L E T H S D . A B . C A
P L AY E D U C AT E I N S P I R E . P B W O R K S .C O M
( W I K I S PA C E TO D O W N LOA D M AT E R I A L S )
PRESENTATION OBJECTIVES…
• Learn about the chemistry of gases using simple
balloons and soap bubbles
• Use multi-sensory methods to teach the properties of
gases; the Kinetic Molecular Theory, combustion of
gases, and calculations involving gases
• Relate gases and bubbles with the real world of scuba
diving, hiking and climbing, and flying.
KINETIC MOLECULAR THEORY
Physical Demonstration of the Kinetic Molecular Theory:
 Each participant blows up a balloon of any shape, size, or colour
 The size of the container is determined by the class but it can be adjusted to
become larger or smaller
 Solid state-hold balloon and vibrate, Liquid state-hold, move balloon, rotate
ballon, gas state-tap balloon upwards and keep balloon off the floor
 When “Absolute Zero” is called, all balloons are in each participant’s hands.
All molecular motion ceases.
 When the container’s temperature is “heated”, participants must move
faster around the room with their balloons
 When the container’s temperature is “cooled”, participants move slower
throughout the room
 If a door is opened, some participants move out of the room with their
balloon
DISCUSSION
•
Variety of balloons represent a mixture of gases
•
All gases behave similarly regardless of shape or size…
•
Spacing between molecules at different temperature and pressures
•
Random molecular motion
•
How pressure is related to temperature and volume
•
Diffusion of gases
Demonstrate condensation, solidification, evaporation, fusion etc. using all
balloons
Other considerations?
Students will be able to use the Kinetic Molecular Theory/Particle Model of
Matter to explain the behaviour of gases!
KINETIC MOLECULAR THEORY
MAIN POINTS OF
T H E T H E O R Y:
•
•
•
•
Volume of gas is
mostly empty space
Molecules collide
Molecules move
randomly
Gas molecules
move in straight
lines (translational
motion)
PROPERTIES OF GASES
Introduce and discuss the properties of gases
using soap “bubbles”
Temperature, pressure, volume, mass and
moles (definitions, units, measuring equipment
such as barometer, thermometer, graduated
cylinder, gas collecting tube etc.)
Surface tension in bubbles, polymer chemistry
with balloons
Recipe for Giant Bubbles: (modified David Stein)
1 cup dish soap (Joy or Dawn)
1 cup cornstarch
2 tablespoons baking powder
½ cup glycerol (optional but makes the
bubbles bigger and longer-lasting)
12 cups of water
GAS DEMONSTRATIONS
-examples and discussion of gases in everyday life
Cartesian diver bottles
Shrinking cups
The crushing can
Alkaseltzer Rockets
Hydrogen “Pop” test
GAS DEMONSTRATIONS
CARTESIAN DIVER
CRUSHING CANS
Materials:
Materials:
• Water bottle with lid
filled with water
• Aluminium cans
• Eye dropper
• Ice water
• Hotplate
• Tongs
GAS DEMONSTRATIONS
SHRINKING
STYROCUPS
Materials Needed:
styrocups
permanent markers
½ cup water
pressure cooker
hotplate
GAS DEMONSTRATIONS
A L K A S E LT Z E R
ROCKETS
Materials:
• Plastic film canisters
• Water
• Alkaseltzer
HYDROGEN POP
TEST
Materials:
• Mossy zinc
• 6.0 mol/L HCl (aq)
• Gas collecting
assembly
• Test tube
• Bbq lighter, match or
wooden splint
Indicate the balanced chemical equation for the
reaction of zinc metal with hydrochloric acid
“GASES” IN EVERYDAY LIFE…!
• The scuba diving experience and how the
equipment works
• The Cartesian Diver
• The Science behind scuba diving
• Gas Laws-Boyle’s Law
SCUBA DIVING EXPERIENCE: THE EQUIPMENT
THE CATHEDRAL AND SWIMMING WITH THE
SEA TURTLES
“GASES” IN EVERYDAY LIFE…!
F LY I N G
HIKING
Air pressure
inside/outside cabin
Change in air pressure going
up and coming down
Extreme hiking situations
like Everest
Discuss people who live at
high altitudes and how
hemoglobin levels
increase to make up for
lower oxygen amounts at
higher altitudes
Equalizing air pressure
in sinus cavities
30 000 ft above ground
AIR POCKETS AND AIR CAVITIES IN THE BODY
Sinuses are air pockets located
within the bones of the skull
and face.
They are connected to your nasal
passages by small tubes or
channels.
The channels permit air to flow
from the nose into the
sinuses and allow drainage of
mucous from sinus into the
nose.
Higher Level Science and Chemistry
 Gas Law Concept Review
 Concept map, comparison scheme
 Discussion and time to check each other’s gas concept
review
 Gas Term Cards
 Gas Stoichiometry Cards
 Use whiteboards and dry-erase markers
GAS LAW CALCULATIONS
 Boyle’s Law, Charles Law, Combined Gas Law,
Ideal Gas Law
 Gas Unit calculation cards
Gas Stoichiometry: question cards
standard conditions
CALCULATION
GAS STOICHIOMETRY: QUESTION CARDS
non-standard conditions
C A L C U L AT I O N
Let’s Blow Stuff Up!
Fossil Fuel Combustions Reactions-learning objectives
•
Gases required: fuel and oxygen gas
•
Gases produced: water vapour, carbon dioxide
•
Exothermic reactions, heat and/or light produced
•
Conversion of chemical energy into heat,
mechanical, and light energy
•
A decrease in potential energy (reactants with
higher energy than products)
LET’S BLOW STUFF UP!
Discussion“Lighting up” methane
bubbles in the science laboratory
Materials Needed:
Methane gas
Rubber tubing
Glass or plastic funnel
Bubble solution
Bbq lighter
What is the complete balanced chemical equation for the
combustion of methane gas? Use your boards.
LET’S BLOW STUFF UP!
“BLOWING UP”
P O TAT O C H I P C A N S
Materials:
• Chip cans
• Methanol (2-3 mL)
• Bbq lighter or
matches
Balanced Chemical Equation for
the combustion of methanol
LET’S BLOW STUFF UP!
E L E P H A N T TO OT H PA S T E DECOMPOSITION OF
H 2O 2( L )
Materials Needed:
30% hydrogen
peroxide
graduated cylinder
plastic pan/tub
potassium iodide
food colour
dishsoap (Dawn)
W H AT I S T H E B A L A N C E D C H E M I C A L
EQ UAT I O N F O R T H E D E C O M P O S I T I O N O F
H 2O 2( L ) ? U S E YO U R B O A R D S .
LET’S BLOW STUFF UP!
THE METHANOL CANNON !
Materials:
• ABS pipe
• Methanol (2-5 mL)
• T-shirt
• bbq lighter or
matches
What is the balanced chemical equation
for the combustion of methanol?
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND ENTHUSIASM!
I would appreciate your feedback to make things better and useful for you as
practicing teachers!
Peggy Au
margaret.au@lethsd.ab.ca
playeducateinspire.pbworks.com
(site to download, discuss, and share educational material)
(H)-403-329-8253
Contact me for supplies, electronic copies, hard copies, or to make a booking
for me to come into your classroom with or without students…!