Kids & Chemistry
Chemical Reactions
Activity #1
What is a Precipitate?

Materials needed for each group of four students:
  3 test tubes
  3 clear plastic cups for test tube holders
  1 small spoon
  2 stoppers
  1 container of water (allow 1/2 cup per group)
  1 bag of magnesium sulfate
  1 bag of calcium chloride

Materials for everyone to use and share: 
  basin of warm, soapy water
  paper towels
  clock with second hand
Activity #2
How Can You Form a Gas?

Materials needed for each group of four students:
  1 vial
  1 thermometer
  1 dropper
  1 spoon
  1 bag sodium carbonate
  1 bottle of vinegar
 

Materials for everyone to use and share: 
  basin of warm, soapy water
  paper towels
Activity #3 
What Happens When Steel Wool
is Placed in Vinegar?

Materials needed:
  1 vial of iron (II) acetate solution
  1 piece of steel wool (not placed in vinegar)
  1 toothpick

Materials for everyone to use and share:
  basin of warm soapy water
  paper towels
 
 
 
 

 
Activity #4
What Happens When You Mix
Iron (II) Acetate with Sodium Carbonate?

Materials needed:
  1 vial of iron (II) acetate solution (from Activity 
     #3)
  2 test tubes
  1 container of water
  1 dropper
  1 small spoon
  1 stopper
  1 plastic cup for test tube holder
  1 bag of sodium carbonate

Materials for everyone to use and share:
  basin of warm soapy water
  paper towels

Note:  Students should be divided into groups of four. An adult supervisor for each group would be helpful, but is not required. Adult supervisors may be other teachers, volunteers, or parents.

These are kitchen chemicals. Caution students not to eat, drink, smell, or splash chemicals of any kind. Safety goggles are recommended, but not required for this program.
 

See Chemistry Kit Booklet for activity details.

DEMONSTRATIONS


Combination Reaction using magnesium and oxygen to make magnesium oxide
2Mg + O2 ----> 2MgO


 Decomposition Reaction using hydrogen peroxide and a catalyst to break it down into hydrogen and oxygen

2H2O2 ----> 2H2 + O2

. Single Displacement Reaction using magnesium and hydrochloric acid to form magnesium chloride and hydrogen gas

2Mg + HCl ----> MgCl2 + H2

Students conducting Experiment One

If you have questions, please contact Dr. Marie Hankins through email or call 800/813-4238 (outside Evansville) or 812/464-1716.

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