Learning Experience 1.6
Carbon Dioxide
Background Information
Carbon dioxide is an important greenhouse gas that is naturally given out by
people and animals when they breathe. It is also produced when fossil fuels
are burnt.
Aim
To investigate if carbon dioxide is produced by various actions and reactions
Equipment
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Sodium Bicarbonate
Acetic Acid
Marble chips
1M Hydrochloric Acid
1cm piece of magnesium ribbon
1M Sulphuric Acid
Conical Flask
Straw
Test Tubes
Rubber Stopper with delivery tube
Limewater
Spatula
Measuring Cylinder
Method
1. Pour some fresh limewater into a test tube
2. Blow gently through it with a straw making sure you do not suck any
into your mouth
3. Record your observations
4. Pour some fresh limewater into a test tube
5. Place a spatula full of sodium bicarbonate into a test tube
6. Add 15ml of acetic acid to the test tube and quickly place the rubber
stopper in the end
7. Bubble the gas produced through the limewater in the other test tube
8. Record your observations
9. Pour some fresh limewater into a test tube
10. Place 4-5 marble chips into a test tube
11. Add 15ml of hydrochloric acid to the test tube and quickly place the
rubber stopper in the end
12. Bubble the gas produced through the limewater in the other test tube
13. Record your observations
14. Pour some fresh limewater into a test tube
15. Place a 1cm long piece of magnesium metal into a test tube
16. Add 15ml of sulphuric acid to the test tube and quickly place the rubber
stopper in the end
17. Bubble the gas produced through the limewater in the other test tube
18. Record your observations
Results
Action/Reaction
Blowing through limewater
Observation
Acetic Acid + Sodium
Bicarbonate
Hydrochloric Acid + Marble
Chips
Sulphuric Acid + Magnesium
Discussion
When carbon dioxide and limewater react, the limewater changes colour. It
changes from clear to a milky colour. Which of the reactions produced carbon
dioxide?
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There are many ways in which carbon dioxide is created, both natural and
man made. What are they?
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Carbon dioxide has always been a part of the atmosphere however the
amount that is present has increased rapidly over the last few centuries. Why
do you think the amount of carbon dioxide would have increased over this
time?
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If the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere continues to increase, the
Earth will start to warm up leading to a global climate change which could
have a massive impact on the world’s ecosystem. How does an increase of
greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide) in the atmosphere result in the
Earth getting hotter?
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Can you think of ways that carbon dioxide is being taken out of the
atmosphere naturally?
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How can the amount of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere be
reduced locally, nationally and globally?
Locally
Nationally
Globally