Dust in the Wind; Chemicals in the Water Laboratory Materials List by Laboratory Stations Laboratory Station #1 Laboratory Station #2 Laboratory Station #3 Laboratory Station #4 Laboratory Station #5 Laboratory Station #6 Laboratory Station #7 Laboratory Station #8 Chemical Weathering Materials List Chalk Water Vinegar 3 Jars or plastic bags Mechanical Weathering Materials List Sandpaper Assorted Rocks Chemical Weathering Materials List Sugar cubes Hot water (a hot plate might be useful) Warm Water Cold Water (water in an ice bath) 3 Jars or plastic bags Mechanical Weathering Materials List Assorted Rocks Assorted Jars Chemical Weathering Materials List Steel Wool Water Vinegar 3 Jars or plastic bags Mechanical Weathering Materials List Sugar cubes Jars Blow Dryer Chemical Weathering Materials List Sugar Cubes Water Mechanical Weathering Materials List Assorted pieces of Sand stone White Aquarium sand http://pulse.pharmacy.arizona.edu/9th_grade/culture_cycles/earth_science/erosion.htm 1 of 2 Laboratory Teacher explanation by Laboratory Station Laboratory Station #1 This is an example of chemical weathering because the chalk (which is analogous to limestone) reacted to the vinegar (acid) and has been changed into a new material. Acids (in water or rain) will dissolve many minerals. Laboratory Station #2 This is much like what occurs in a river or a sand dune. Particles of sand (the sand paper) abrade the surrounding rock turning them into sand as well. Students may also notice that the sandpaper is self has become eroded. Laboratory Station #3 The temperature of water effects chemical weathering. Hot water will erode faster because the water molecules are moving faster and there is more space to store the eroded material in the water. What about melting points, what is happening to the material? Laboratory Station #4 This demonstrates rock falls. As a rock falls onto another rock they fracture each other. The fractures split the rocks. After enough successive fractures the rocks become sand. Laboratory Station #5 Both the water and the vinegar chemically weather the steel wool. The rust is the new material that is formed from the iron in the steel wool. Laboratory Station #6 This demonstrates wind erosion. It is a slow process, gradually pushing particles off the sugar cube (which represents a rock). How do they use the jar? Laboratory Station #7 This demonstrates dissolving of minerals in water. Depending upon the make-up of the rock, some compound may actually break into their elemental components. Laboratory Station #8 This can demonstrate wind erosion or how sand in moving water erodes. The particles from the colored rock are abraded by the sand and soon become bits of sand themselves. http://pulse.pharmacy.arizona.edu/9th_grade/culture_cycles/earth_science/erosion.htm 2 of 2