Name: __________________________
Score: ___________/5
Popcorn Lab
Mrs. Zalesinsky
Law of Conservation of Mass : Matter cannot be created nor destroyed. The matter that one begins with must equal the amount of matter that one ends with.
Can scientific laws be violated? Circle YES or NO
Pre-Lab Explanation: In this experiment you will try to explain the ”loss” of mass in terms of the law of conservation of matter. You will be going through the steps of the scientific method in order to prove this experiment does not violate this law.
Pre-Lab Steps:
In this experiment, you will be asked to count out 10 kernels of unpopped popcorn. You will record the mass then pop the popcorn in a beaker. Then weigh the popcorn after it is popped.
If there is a difference in the before popped mass with the after popped mass you will have to explain that how this does NOT violate the law of conservation of mass. Think about other possibilities of how the matter could have changed form to an unmeasurable amount of mass.
Hint: The matter did not turn into energy, and it was not lost.
1. Formulate a QUESTION in regards to what this lab is investigating.
2. Formulate a HYPOTHESIS about the difference in mass of the popped and unpopped kernels. Your hypothesis should include an educated guess as to why the mass would be greater or less before or after the popping.
Procedure:
Safety Precautions: Goggles must be worn at all times. Use caution when handling hot objects. Hot glass looks like cool glass, so use caution. Be careful that no kernels pop out of the beaker and on to the hot plate as they will catch on fire. Use low heat for popping kernels.
1. Obtain a clean watch glass and count out 10 unpopped kernels of popcorn from the chemicals cart.
2. Take the mass of the unpopped kernels by massing them on the watch glass then mass the watch glass after transferring the kernels to the beaker. .
3. Obtain a 400-mL beaker, hot plate, and beaker tongs. DO NOT USE A BUNSEN
BURNER!
4. Turn the hot plate on to low heat.
5. Place the ten unpopped kernels into a 400-mL beaker. If you do not have this size of beaker, see your teacher. Do NOT substitute a smaller size beaker without permission.
6. Place the watch glass on top of the beaker —curved side down. It should act like a lid for the beaker and should hold in most of the kernels. If kernels do pop out, quickly remove them from the hot plate as they will catch on fire. If such incident occurs, simply try to blow out the kernel on fire and disconnect the hot plate. Do NOT put water onto the hot plate.
Call your teacher immediately. If the flame does not go out, use the fire extinguisher. Aim at the bottom of the flame after pulling the pin.
Conservation of Mass Popcorn Lab 1

Name: __________________________
Score: ___________/5
7. Put the beaker on the hot plate. Using the beaker tongs, gently slide the popcorn on the hot plate. If you allow it to sit too long in one place it is more likely the popcorn will burn.
8. Once all or most of the kernels have popped put them on the watch glass. Remember you want the mass of the popped kernels not the watch glass, so subtract or tare out the mass of the watch glass after taking the mass of the popped kernels. Remember to use the same balance to measure your popped kernels as you did the unpopped kernels.
9. Record the mass of the popped kernels in your data table.
10. Answer the rest of the questions of the lab and finish the scientific method.
Do NOT eat the popcorn! It has been in glassware that at one point probably contained harmful chemicals. No matter how clean you think your glassware is —there is still some hazardous residue remaining behind.
1. Observations and Data:
Data Table 1: Mass of the Popcorn
Popped and Unpopped Mass of watch glass plus popcorn (g)
Mass of Corn (g) Mass of watch glass after corn has been removed (g)
Unpopped 10 kernels
Popped 10 kernels
2. Discussion: Was the mass different before the popping as compared to after it was popped? Circle YES or NO
3. Since the law of conservation of mass is always in effect, how can you explain this difference?
4. Conclusion: List a three ways that the experiment could be changed in order to capture the mass that appears to h ave been “lost” during this experiment.
Conservation of Mass Popcorn Lab 2