Name(s) _____________________ Date _______________ Period _____
__________________________________
Properties and Changes Lab
1. Purpose: The purpose of this experiment is to determine the physical and chemical
properties and changes of three substances, to observe the physical or chemical reaction
that occurs between the substances, to see a change in pH, and to test for the presence of
a gas by using the wooden splint test.
2. Research: See MSDS sheets for background information on the substances tested.
3. Hypothesis: If I mix calcium chloride (CaCl2), baking soda (NaHCO3), and
Bromothymol Blue/Phenol Red together, then the mixture will result in a physical
change/chemical change (circle one).
4. Experiment
Materials and Supplies: Zip-loc bag, 1 teaspoon of baking soda (NaHCO3), 1
tablespoon of Damp Rid (CaCl2), small test tube with rubber stopper, Bromothymol blue
or Phenol red, and Safety goggles
Procedure:
*Never open your plastic bag during this experiment!
1. The smaller granules are the baking soda and the larger granules are the calcium
chloride. Your test tube contains Bromothymol Blue or Phenol Red.
2. Make observations about the physical and chemical properties of the substances
in your bag. These have been written in your data table. It is your job to tell
which sections of the MSDS it was found in and place this in the data table as
proof that you found it.
3. Weigh the mass of the three contents in the Zip-loc bag before mixing them.
Record this information in the data table.
4. Keeping the bag closed, remove the stopper from the test tube and mix the
substances together.
5. Make observations about the physical and chemical changes the substances are
undergoing and record them in the data table.
6. Weigh the mass of the unopened Zip-loc bag after the reaction is finished.
7. With a lit wooden splint, test to see if the gas generated from the reaction was
oxygen (reignites the wooden splint) or carbon dioxide (makes the lit splint go
out).
8. The contents of the bag will be disposed of once the test tube and stopper have
been taken out of the bag. Wash the test and stopper with soap and water. If you
handled the test tube and stopper, wash your hands with soap and water.
Name(s) _____________________ Date _______________ Period _____
__________________________________
5. Data & Observations:
Bromothymol Blue or
Phenol Red
Properties/Changes
Baking Soda
Damp Rid (CaCl2)
Physical Properties
white powder or
crystals, odorless,
dissolves in water,
melting point loses
CO2 at 270˚C
White, odorless
Deep, blue (red)
powder, crystals, or liquid, odorless
flakes, water
soluble (dissolves
Section(s)
in water), melting
point at 772˚C,
deliquescent
(dissolves gradually
by absorbing
moisture from air)
(Tell what
section(s) of the
MSDS this is in.
You will have to
read it!)
Chemical Properties
(Tell what section(s)
of the MSDS this is
in. You will have to
read it!)
Section(s)
NaHCO3, reacts
with strong
oxidizers and acids,
reacts with moist
air, non
combustible
Section(s)
Section(s)
CaCl2, non
flammable, non
combustible, reacts
with strong acids
Section(s)
Non flammable,
non combustible,
used as an indicator
for pH (turns
yellow for an acid
and blue for a base)
Section(s)
Physical Changes
(after mixing)
Chemical Changes
(after mixing)
Law of Conservation of Mass- matter cannot be created nor destroyed in a chemical
reaction
Mass of substances before mixing (g)
Mass of substances after mixing (g)
Name(s) _____________________ Date _______________ Period _____
__________________________________
6. Conclusions: (Please remember to communicate in sentences.)
1. Was your hypothesis supported or refuted?
2. Was there a change in the pH of the substances after mixing? How could you
tell?
3. This equation tells us what chemical reaction happened in the bag. Identify and
count the elements on each side of the arrow (yield) sign. Hint: You will need to
use the periodic table in the back cover of your book to help you with this.
2 NaHCO3 + CaCl2 ---------- CaCO3 + 2 NaCl + H2O + CO2
5. Place a circle around the Calcium Chloride, place a square around the salt, and
place a triangle around the water in the above equation in question 4.
6. What gas was produced in this reaction?
7. Was there a change in temperature? How could you tell?