UNDERSTANDING
PROPERTIES OF
MATTER
Carolina kit #251200 $149.95
refill #251250 $59.95
Deb Semmler
Inquiries in Science
Determining Properties in Matter
Learning Goals
•Investigate intensive and extensive
properties
•Explore differences between chemical
and physical changes
•Develop skills to design and perform
experiments
Materials Included in Kit:
enough for 30 students- 10 groups of 3
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0.1 M silver nitrate
Copper shot
0.5 M copper sulfate solution
Connecting wires w/ alligator clips
Aluminum evaporating dishes
Iron filings
5 magnets
Mossy zinc
Sand
Sodium bicarbonate
Acetic acid (vinegar)
Chalk
Hydrochloric acid
Dry yeast
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Hydrogen peroxide
Aluminum foil
Brass washers
Steel bolts
Granite chips
10 mini-lightbulbs
5 lightbulb holders
5 battery holders
Pipets
Filter paper
Metal strip sets
Metal cylinder sets
Properties of matter cards
Needed, but not supplied
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Salt (~ 100 g)
Sugar (~ 100g)
Black, water-soluble markers (10)
Water
Iron nails
Mortar and petsles (10)
Test tubes w/ racks (50)
Balances (5)
Rulers (10)
Graduated cylinders (100/1,000
mL)
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Scoops and teaspoons
Stirring rods
D-cell batteries (5)
Safety goggles, aprons, gloves
ACTIVITY 1
6 groups/5 students
Properties of Matter Study Cards
Copper shot
Iron filings
Sand/salt mixture
250 mL beaker of water
250 mL beaker of saltwater
Sugar
Salt
Granite chips
Brass washer
Steel bolt
Aluminum foil
Empty beaker (represents air)
1. Students collect the
materials.
2. Review the Properties of
Matter cards as a group to
familiarize themselves with
the materials.
3. Brainstorm together and
come up with a logical
system of organizing the
materials using the
information on the cards, the
physical characteristics of the
materials and any other
means they can think of to
group the materials.
Activity 2
same 6 groups of 5
• Students select five materials from the list
and determine the following eight
properties for each:
Uses the same materials as
activity 1.
• Mass
Copper shot
• Density
Iron filings
Sand/salt mixture
250 mL beaker of water
• Volume
• Magnetism
• Appearance( color, texture, features, etc)
250 mL beaker of saltwater
• Reactivity with acid
Sugar
• State at room temperature
Salt
• Conductivity
Granite chips
Brass washer
Steel bolt
Aluminum foil
Empty beaker (represents
air)
• They record their results in a Properties of
Matter Data Table
ACTIVITY 3
10 groups of 3
½ scoop of yeast in an
evaporating dish
Black marker
Filter paper
2- 250 mL beakers filled w/ 150
mL of water
5 copper shot in test tube or
evaporating dish
Scoop of sugar in evaporating
dish
Stirring rod
½ scoop of sodium bicarbonate
in evaporating dish
1 or 2 pieces of mossy zinc
Piece of chalk
½ scoop of iron filing in test
tube or evaporating dish
Ruler
Mortar and pestle
• Students will individually conduct the
following experiments, filling out the data
table and deciding whether it represented
a chemical or physical change.
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Yeast and hydrogen peroxide
Filter paper and marker
Silver nitrate and copper
Sugar and water solution
Sodium bicarbonate and acetic acid
Zinc and hydrochloric acid
Chalk
Iron and copper sulfate
• 1. yeast and hydrogen peroxide- add 5 drops of hydrogen peroxide to the
yeast in the evaporating dish. Record observations.
• 2. filter paper and marker- using a black marker, make a black line 3 cm from
the bottom of the filter paper. Fold the paper so that it will fit into a beaker
with 150 mL of water, keeping the line above the water mark. Allow water to
filter through the paper until it is 1 cm from the top. Remove the paper, allow
it to air dry and record observations and results.
• 3. silver nitrate and copper- put copper into a test tube and add 1 mL of silver
nitrate to it. Observe and record the results.
• 4. sugar and water solution- note the properties of sugar and water
separately. Pour the water into the sugar and mix. Observe and record the
results.
• 5. sodium bicarbonate and acetic acid- add 5 drops of acetic acid (vinegar)
into the evaporating dish containing the sodium bicarbonate. Observe and
record the results.
• 6. zinc and hydrochloric acid- add 5 drops of hydrochloric acid to the
evaporating dish containing the zinc pieces. Observe and record the results.
• 7. Chalk – place chalk in the mortar. Using the pestle, grind the chalk
thoroughly. Observe and record the result.
• 8. Iron and copper sulfate- add 1 mL of copper sulfate solution to the
evaporating dish containing the iron filings. Wait for 3 to 5 minutes noting any
changes that you observe during that time. Observe and record the results.