UC Irvine FOCUS!
5 E Lesson Plan
Title: Mystery Powders and Chemical Indicators
Grade Level and Course: 8th grade Physical Science
Materials:
1. Spatula (recommend coffee stirrers or straw cut at an angle)
2. Eyedroppers or pipettes
3. Small disposable cups
4. Toothpicks for stirring
5. Testing solutions: dilute iodine solution, vinegar, water
Note: iodine solution is readily available as a disinfectant at drug stores as a 10%
solution. This can be further diluted several times and still work fine.
6. Mystery Powders: baking soda, corn starch, baking powder, powder sugar
7. Engage demonstration materials, including potato, bread, alka-seltzer tablet
Instructional Resources Used: (concept maps, websites, think-pair-share, video
clips, random selection of students etc.)
 Demonstration materials (listed below)
 Think-Pair-Share
 Internet resources
1. http://www.middleschoolscience.com/myspow.html
2. http://www.cedarville.edu/personal/lee/project/labs/lab-whitepowder.pdf
3. http://school.apostleslutheran.net/class/LabSkills/Mystery%20Powders%2
0Lab%20Activity.pdf
4. http://teacherweb.com/TX/BoerneChampionHighSchool/drmills/IPC_Ch05.
3_Mystery_Powder_Lab.pdf
California State Standards: (written out)
 8.5.a: Students know reactant atoms and molecules interact to form products
with different chemical properties
 8.7.c: Students know substances can be classified by their properties
Common Core State Standards: (written out)
Lesson Objectives:
 Students will use three “indicators” (water, vinegar, dilute iodine solution) to
identify four unknown “mystery powders”
 Students will observe evidences of chemical reactions, such as color change
(iodine-starch reaction) and production of gas (carbon dioxide bubbles)
Differentiation Strategies to meet the needs of diverse learners:
 English Learners:

EL students will be grouped with English proficient students for “Think-PairShare” and conducting the investigation
Special Education:
Depending on the number of special education students and the nature of
this investigation, it may be recommended that this activity be done as a
demonstration, perhaps using a document camera-projector for all to see

GATE:
Students explore other powders provided by the teacher. Examples include
flour, rice powder, salt, talcum powder, cleanser, etc.
ENGAGE
 Describe how the teacher will capture the students’ interest.
Teacher will demonstrate the concept of “indicators”. For example,
1. Demonstrate iodine solution dropped on a piece of bread or potato. The
iodine will react with the starch and turn a very dark purple/black color.
The color change “indicates” the presence of starch.
2. Demonstrate an alka-seltzer tablet in water. The fizzing/bubbles
“indicates” a chemical reaction may be occurring between the water and
tablet. In this case, carbon dioxide is produced in the reaction.
3. Students participate in a think-pair-share to discuss evidences of a
“chemical reaction.”
a. possible color change
c. temperature change
b. production of gas (bubbles)
d. precipitate forms
(Note: c. and d. are not evident in this lab experience, so students may or
may not come up with them on their own)

What kind of questions should the students ask themselves after the
engagement?
1. What is meant by an “indicator”?
2. What evidence may we observe that a “chemical reaction” may be
occurring?
EXPLORE
 Describe the hands-on laboratory activity that the students will be doing.
1. Students will follow all lab safety guidelines, including safety eye wear
2. Teacher will set out four “mystery powders” in labeled cups (A,B,C,D)
3. Teacher will set out three “indicators” liquids in labeled dropper bottles or
in labeled cups with pipettes
4. Students will use spatula to place a small amount of powder “A” in three
disposable cups. Then, using a pipette,
a. add 60 drops of water to one cup and stir with toothpick
b. add 20 drops of vinegar to second cup and stir with toothpick
c. add 10 drops of iodine solution to third cup and stir with toothpick
5. Student should rinse/discard disposable cups & toothpicks
6. Students will record results of each indicator test for mystery powder “A”
7. Students repeat step 4-6 with the other three powders (B,C and D)

List the “big idea” conceptual questions that the teacher will ask to focus the
student exploration.
1. Why is it important to thoroughly rinse or discard your mixing sticks and
cups after each part of the procedure?
2. Why is it important to carefully record your results after each test?
3. What is an “indicator” in a chemical test and how can an “indicator”
help identify an unknown substance?
4. What are other examples of indicators in daily life (such as swimming
pool test kits, soil test kits)
EXPLAIN
 What is the “big idea” concept that students should have internalized from
doing the exploration?
Indicators are valuable tools scientists use to identify unknown substances.
Indicators cause a chemical reaction which results in new substances being
formed (eg: bubbles of carbon dioxide from vinegar+baking soda)
 List the higher order questions that the teacher will ask to solicit student
explanations for their laboratory outcomes, and justify their explanations.
1. What are evidences that a chemical reaction may be occurring?
2. How is a scientist similar to a detective solving a crime?
EXTEND
 Explain how students will develop a more sophisticated understanding of the
concept.
1. Other “mystery powders” may be used (see links listed above; the internet
has many very sophisticated “mystery powder labs available)
2. This activity can be used in a larger acid-base unit in which other
indicators and other substances are identified. For example, using
“cabbage juice” as an acid-base indicator. The cabbage “juice” turns “pink”
in the presence of an acid, remains purple in a neutral solution, and turns
“green” in the presence of a base.
 How is this knowledge applied in our daily lives?
Indicators are used commonly among scientists, maintaining a swimming
pool, or testing soils for planting.
EVALUATE
 How will the student demonstrate their learning?
Students will successfully identify the four unknown “mystery powders.”
 What is the learning product for the lesson?
Students will gain experience with chemical indicators, identifying unknown
materials, and 8th grade chemistry standards 8.5a and 8.7c.
Background Knowledge for the Teacher:
 There are many common indicators used by scientists to determine unknown
substances. There are dozens of acid-base indicators alone. People who
manage a swimming pool use indicators to determine bacteria and chlorine
levels. Indicators exist for testing what is needed in soils for specific plants.
 The color change in an indicator test is itself a chemical reaction with an
equilibrium shift
 It is more common to refer to the vinegar as an “identifying reagent” when

used as an indicator as in this activity.
This “Mystery Powder” activity highlights similarities between a “scientist”
and a “detective.” Both use “clues” to come to a “conclusion” and must be
able to support their inferences with evidence.
Following is a list of expected results in the indicator tests in this investigation
Mystery Powder
Baking Soda
Baking Powder
Corn Starch
Sugar
Reacts with
water
No
Yes
No
No
*Attach student pages to this lesson plan.
Reacts with
vinegar
Yes
Yes
No
No
Turns Dark with
iodine
No
No
Yes
No
Name ___________________________________________________________ Period Science ____________
Science Detective
Mystery Powder Lab
Gather Evidence to Support Your Conclusion!
This investigation has four “mystery powders” to identify. We will use three different
“indicators” and record the results of our tests. Like a detective, look for clues and find the answer!
Step One
Step Two
Step Three
Scoop a small amount of mystery powder “A” into three small cups
Add “indicator” solution to each cup then stir carefully with a toothpick
Cup 1 = 60 drops of water Cup 2= 20 drops of vinegar Cup 3= 10 drops of iodine
Look for evidence of a “chemical reaction”
Record the results of your tests on the data table below
Repeat this procedure with the other three powders. Use this chart to determine each powder!
Powder
Baking Powder
Reacts with Water?
Yes
Reacts with Vinegar?
Yes
Reacts with Iodine?
No
Baking Soda
No
Yes
No
Corn Starch
No
No
Yes
Powder Sugar
No
No
No
Mystery
Powder
A
B
C
D
Add 60 drops
water & mix
Add 20 drops
vinegar & mix
Add 10 drops
Iodine & mix
Our Prediction?
(We think this powder is …
Identity of “Mystery Powders!” Were your predictions correct?
Powder A was ________________________________________ Prediction correct?
_______yes ______no
Powder B was ________________________________________ Prediction correct?
_______yes ______no
Powder C was ________________________________________ Prediction correct?
_______yes ______no
Powder D was ________________________________________ Prediction correct?
______ yes ______no
Short Answer Questions!
1. What is meant by a “chemical reaction”? _________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What are some “evidences” that a chemical reaction may have occurred? ____________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. List three common examples of a chemical reaction (for example, burning wood, rusting iron)
a. first example ____________________________________________________________
b. second example _______________________________________________________
c. third example __________________________________________________________
4. List three ways a scientist and a police detective are alike! For example, both are trying to
solve a mystery! The scientist is trying to solve a mystery in nature and the police detective is
trying to solve a crime!
a. Scientists and police detectives both ________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
b. Scientists and police detectives both ________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
c. Scientists and police detectives both ________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________