Objective:

Use observation and chemical reactions to identify unknown powders using only water and vinegar.

Materials (for each group):

• Small cups (for powders and liquids)

• Dropper or spoon

• 1 cup water

• 1 cup vinegar

• Paper towels

• Optional: gloves, safety goggles

Observation Chart Template:

PowderObservations with Water (Dissolve? Texture?)Observations with Vinegar (Reaction?)Final GuessABCD

You can print this chart or have participants draw it quickly on chart paper or in a notebook.

Optional Debrief Questions:

• What strategies did your group use to identify the powders?

• Which reactions were most surprising?

• How did your group communicate during the experiment?

• How can inquiry-based labs like this foster engagement and scientific thinking in your classroom?

_{Create a Literacy Survival Kit}

• ^{One Book}

• ^{One Instructional Tool}

• ^{One Must Have Strategy}

• ^{One Student Moment}

^{Your WHY}

Create a controlled experiment, add double the ingredients and observe any changes.

Describe any sensory changes you notice as the ingredients are mixed.

When we mixed :

a- with vinegar it made a mess (baking soda)

b -with vinegar made the cloudy (sugar)

c- with vinegar it dissolved (salt)

d -with vinegar is on the bottom of the cup (corn starch)

a- with water disappeared (baking soda)

b- with water disappeared (sugar)

c- water is dirty (salt)

d- corn starch (corn starch)

Question: Do you think if we allow the mixes to rest over time will their properties change?