Categorizing Matter Station Lab
Name:
Hr:
Note: All materials can be disposed of down the sink. Rinse all test tubes between each station.
Station 1a – Nail Polish: _________________________(compound, element, or mixture)
Observe the nail polish. Read the ingredients list and any warnings on the bottle.
Station 1b – Candle: _________________________(compound, element, or mixture)
Observe wax of the candle. Wax is made up of a mixture of different carbon chains/molecules.
Station 1c – Baking soda: ________________________(compound, element, or mixture)
Baking soda is made up of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and helps bread rise while baking.
Station 2a – Chalk: _________________________(compound, element, or mixture)
Observe the chalk. It is made up of calcium carbonate (CaCO3).
Station 2b – Chalk and Vinegar: ______________________(compound, element, or mixture)
1. Observe the vinegar. Vinegar is made up of acetic acid and water.
Vinegar: _________________________(compound, element, or mixture)
2. Take a small piece of chalk and grind it up with a mortar and pestle. Take the ground chalk and place it
into a test tube. Add 1 pipette of vinegar to the test tube. Label “chalk and vinegar” above.
Station 3 – Sugar and Water: _______________________(compound, element, or mixture)
1. Observe sugar. Sugar is chemically called sucrose (C12H22O11).
Sugar: _______________________(compound, element, or mixture)
2. Turn on your tap and fill a beaker half-full of water. The chemical formula for water is H2O. The beaker
you just used is made up of glass. Glass has the chemical formula (SiO2).
Water: _______________________(compound, element, or mixture)
Glass: _______________________(compound, element, or mixture)
3. Put a small scoop of sugar into your beaker and mix. Label “sugar and water” above.
Station 4a – Nail: ________________________(compound, element, or mixture)
Observe the nail. All the galvanized coating has been filed off so it is made up of iron (Fe).
Station 4b – Pencil Lead: ________________________(compound, element, or mixture)
Observe a piece of pencil lead. Even though “lead” is in the name, it is really graphite which is a soft form of
carbon (C). Diamond is another form of carbon which is very hard.
Station 4c – Sulfur powder: ________________________(compound, element, or mixture)
Observe sulfur powder. Its formula is S8 and it is often found as the active ingredient in acne medication
because it kills the bacteria that cause zits.
Station 5 – Ink: ________________________(compound, element, or mixture)
Put a large dot of black ink (with the provided Vis-a-Vis marker) half inch from the bottom of the filter paper
strip. Add 1 pipette of water to the test tube and slide the strip of filter paper inside the tube. Make sure
the dot is close to the water, but not in the water. Wait and observe. You may move on to other stations
and come back. You should see a colorful pattern emerging from the different dyes found in black ink.
Label “Ink” above.
Station 6 – Air: ________________________(compound, element, or mixture)
Take a deep breath of air. Air is made up of mostly oxygen (O2), Nitrogen (N2), Argon (Ar), and Carbon
Dioxide (CO2) gases.
Oxygen gas: _______________________(compound, element, or mixture)
Nitrogen gas: _______________________(compound, element, or mixture)
Argon gas: _______________________(compound, element, or mixture)
Carbon Dioxide gas: _______________________(compound, element, or mixture)
While you wait to rotate through the stations….
Classify each of the pictures by placing the correct label(s) in the blanks below the picture.
Label each picture with the appropriate label!
E = Element
C = Compound
M = Mixture