Name:__________________________________ Period: ______
Lab: Determining Mass of Gum
Problem/Purpose: In this activity, you will determine the mass of matter, and then
determine how that mass has changed.
Hypothesis: The mass of gum will …increase/decrease… after it has been chewed. Q1
Materials:
Triple beam balance
gum
Procedures:
1. “zero-out” a triple beam balance.
2. Determine the mass of un-chewed gum and its rapper. (Measure to nearest 0.1g).
3. Determine the mass of the wrapper. Subtract to determine the mass of the gum.
4. Chew the gum for 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Place the chewed gum on the wrapper and re-mass.
6. Calculate the mass of the chewed gum. Record all measurement in data table.
Data: Q2
Mass of unchewed gum and wrapper
Mass of wrapper
Mass of unchewed gum
________
________
________
Mass of chewed gum and wrapper
Mass of wrapper
Mass of chewed gum
________
________
________
grams
Analysis:
How did the mass of the chewed gum compare to the mass of un-chewed gum? Q3
Calculate the % of change in the mass of the gum: Q4
% change = (mass of chewed gum/mass of unchewed gum) X 100
Conclusion:
Q5: How did the mass of the gum change?
Q6: If the mass increased where did it come from; if the mass declined where did it go?
Q7: Based upon your results of this lab, could gum be considered a food?
Q8: In 4-5 sentences, answer your hypothesis and conclude what you learned in this lab.