Reactions Lab
Name _________________________________
Chemical reactions occur every day all around us. A chemical reaction is a process where one type of substance is
chemically converted to another substance. That fizzing toilet bowl cleaner is a chemical reaction. The fire in your
fireplace is another type of chemical reaction. The smoke that comes out of Dad's ears when you lose one of his favorite
golf clubs is a result of a chemical reaction. OK, so maybe that's a bad example. This experiment demonstrates a chemical
reaction that's fairly common all around us (and we don't have to touch Dad's golf clubs to make this one work).
EXPERIMENT #1:
Make Your Own Instant Cold Pack
You will need: Ammonium nitrate, tap water, ziploc bag (sandwich size), graduated cylinder
* Wear chemical resistant goggles and apron!
1. Weigh out 25 grams of ammonium nitrate directly into a one-quart size Ziploc plastic bag.
2. Using a graduated cylinder, measure out 50 mL of water.
3. Quickly, pour the water into the bag of ammonium nitrate, and seal the bag (try and remove excess air before sealing
the bag.)
4. Gently squeeze the bag to mix the solid and water.
5. Observe and record your data. (WHAT KIND OF PRODUCT WAS MADE?)
6. Was this experiment a physical or chemical reaction?
7. What is your evidence?
EXPERIMENT #2:
Boiling Water
You will need: hot plate, glove, beaker, water
1. Fill a 250mL beaker with 100mL of water.
2. Place the beaker on the hot plate and turn the hot plate to high.
3. As the water reaches boiling, observe and record your data. (WHAT KIND OF PRODUCT WAS MADE?)
4. Was this experiment a physical or chemical reaction?
5. What is your evidence?
EXPERIMENT #3:
Dissolving
You will need: plastic cup, water, kool-aid/flavored drink packet, spoon
1. Fill a plastic cup with water and pour in the flavored packet.
2. Stir and observe, record your data.
3. Taste the liquid. Observe and record your data. (WHAT KIND OF PRODUCT WAS MADE?)
4. Was this experiment a physical or chemical reaction?
5. What is your evidence?
EXPERIMENT #4
Copper (II) chloride and Aluminum Foil
You will need: Glass beaker, aluminum foil, CuCl2, tweezer, eye dropper.
CAUTION: CuCl2 IS TOXIC.
1. Place a small piece of aluminum foil in a glass beaker.
2. Using the dropper, add about 15 drops of CuCl2 to the foil.
3. Observe for 30 seconds and record your data. (WHAT KIND OF PRODUCT WAS MADE?)
4. Using tweezers, lift out foil and put in the trash can.
5. DUMP EXCESS CuCl2 INTO WASTE CONTAINER AND RINSE GLASS BEAKER IN SINK.
6. Was this experiment a physical or chemical reaction?
7. What is your evidence?
EXPERIMENT #5
CALCIUM CHLORIDE: A REACTION IN A BAG.
You will need: calcium chloride, Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda), Acid-Base indicator (BTB), Ziploc sandwich bags,
spoons, graduated cylinder
1. Place one spoonful of calcium chloride into a plastic sealable bag.
2. Place 1 spoonful of sodium bicarbonate (BAKING SODA) into the bag. Seal the bag, shake it and see if a chemical
reaction takes place. OBSERVE!
3. Measure 10 ml (or 2 teaspoons) of indicator solution. Carefully add it to the bag. OBSERVE AS THE LIQUID IS
ADDED. Flatten the bag to remove the air and seal it.
4. Tilt the bag back-and-forth to wet the entire solid. Squeezing the bag may also help in wetting the solid. Be careful not
to squeeze the bag too hard as it might break or open up.
5. Observe the reaction. If the bag gets tight due to pressure, open the seal to release the pressure then reseal it.
6. Answer the following:
a.) Did a noticeable reaction occur before the indicator solution was added?
b.) What color change did the indicator go through?
c.) Why does the bag inflate? (WHAT KIND OF PRODUCT WAS MADE?)
d.) Does the reaction get hot or cold initially?
e.) What observations did you make that tell you if a chemical or physical reaction is taking place?
f.) Was this experiment a physical or chemical reaction?
g) What is your evidence?