Predicting and Preventing a "Dry Date" in South Central Texas

by Maria Reyes and Kenzie Yoder

Introduction

AUTHOR’S NAME:         Maria Reyes

 

TITLE OF THE LESSON:   Universal Solvent

 

DATE OF LESSON: 

 

LENGTH OF LESSON:   45-50 minutes

 

GRADE:   9-12

 

SOURCE OF THE LESSON:   University of Houston

 

TEKS ADDRESSED:

(1) Scientific processes. The student, for at least 40% of instructional time, conducts field and laboratory investigations using safe, environmentally appropriate, and ethical practices

(A) demonstrate safe practices during field and laboratory investigations; and

(B) make wise choices in the use and conservation of resources and the

disposal or recycling of materials.

 

Objectives:

Students will be able to observe which substances dissolved in water.

Students will be able to explain why those substances dissolved in water.

Students will be able to explain why water dissolves polar substances.

 

RESOURCES:

Per Group:

8 test tubes

1 test tube rack

Alcohol

Soap flakes

Cornstarch

Sugar

Salt

Vegetable Oil

Flour

Sand

 

Per each student

Goggles

Apron

Gloves

 

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS:

Students should follow laboratory rules and wear, goggles, aprons, and gloves at all times.

 

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS:

Lab Worksheet

 

Teacher Does

Probing Questions

Student responses

Engage:

 

Have two beakers filled with water in front of the class.  Show the class salt and flour.  Have them predict what will dissolve and what wont. 

 

 

 

 

Add salt to one beaker and flour to the other.  The salt will dissolve and the flour will not.

 

Hold up a model structure of water and review the polar nature of water. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today we are going to add different particles to water and see if they dissolve.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Will salt dissolve in water?  Why?

 

Will flour dissolve in water? Why?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is water polar or non-polar?

 

What makes it polar?

 

 

Is the oxygen partially negative or positive?

Why?

 

What about the hydrogen atoms?

Why?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, because it is an ionic compound.

 

No, it is non-polar.

 

    

Explore:

 

Pass out the lab worksheet and have the students do the lab.  Walk around and assist when necessary.  Make sure the students are practicing safe laboratory rules.  That they are wearing their goggles and gloves throughout the lab.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Possible questions to ask:

Is the solute polar?

 

Is the solute non polar?

 

Is salt a solute or a solvent?

 

Would water be the solvent?

 

 

                                               

Explain:

 

Go over the questions in the lab worksheet.

 

 

 

What is a polar molecule?

 

 

 

 

 

What is a non-polar molecule?

 

 

 

Will polar molecules or non polar molecules dissolve in water?  Why?

 

 

 

Which substances dissolved in water?

 

Which ones did not dissolve in water?

 

Why did they not dissolve in water?

 

Is salt polar?  Why did it dissolve?

 

 

What is a solute?

 

 

 

Based on that definition, which substances in this lab would be considered solutes?

 

 

 

 

 

Molecules that have ends that are partially charged.  The electron density isn’t equally distributed.

 

 

They don’t have ends that are partially charged.  The electron density is equally charged.

 

Polar molecules, because like dissolves like.  Water attracts the particles of other substances.

 

 

Salt, sugar, soap flakes, alcohol

 

Sand, oil, and flour

 

The ones that didn’t dissolve were non-polar.

 

 

No.  It dissolved because it is ionic and the water broke its bond.

 

Particles that dissolve in the solvent?

 

 

Salt, sugar, alcohol, and soap flakes

   

Extend:

 

Talk about how some contaminants dissolve in water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Briefly discuss water quality and water quality standards. 

 

 

 

 

 

Can water dissolve more than the five that were dissolved today?  Why?

 

Will all of the substances be safe for consumption?

 

Just by looking at a glass of water, can you tell if it is pure?

 

 

 

How can you determine if water has contaminants in it?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, because it dissolves polar and ionic molecules.

 

 

No

 

 

Yes, No

If it is saturated you can, or if there is a color change.  But sometimes you cannot tell.

 

Run tests

 

Evaluate:

 

For homework each group will research and provide three examples of contaminants that dissolve in water.  You will have to provide the chemical formula and a reason why it dissolves in water.

 

 

 


Universal Solvent Lab

 

Directions:

 

1. Copy table into your journal.

 

2.  Predict if each substance in the table will dissolve.  Put a yes or no in the appropriate column.

 

3. Place test tubes in rack.  Pour 10 ml of water in all eight test tubes.  Label test tubes 1-8.

 

4.  Pour 5 ml of alcohol in test tube 1.  Gently shake the test tube.  Record whether or not it dissolves in water.

 

5.  Place 1 ml of soap flakes in test tube 2.  Gently shake the test tube.  Record whether or not it dissolves in water.

 

4. Place 1 ml of flour in test tube 3. Gently shake the test tube.  Record whether or not it dissolves in water.

 

5.  Place 1 ml of sugar in test tube 4.  Gently shake the test tube.  Record whether or not it dissolves in water.

 

6. Place 1 ml of cornstarch in test tube 5. Gently shake the test tube.  Record whether or not it dissolves in water.

 

7. Place 1 ml of salt in test tube 6.  Gently shake the test tube.  Record whether or not it dissolves in water.

 

8.  Place 1 ml of oil in test tube 7.  Gently shake the test tube.  Record whether or not it dissolves in water.

 

9. Place 1 ml of sand in test tube 8.  Gently shake the test tube.  Record whether or not it dissolves in water.

 

 

Record and fill out in Journal.

 

Contents in Test Tubes

Prediction if substances dissolved in water (yes or no)

Dissolves in Water (Yes or No)

Alcohol

 

 

Soap Flakes

 

 

Flour

 

 

Sugar

 

 

Cornstarch

 

 

Salt

 

 

Oil

 

 

Sand

 

 

 

 

Questions:

 

1.  Which substances dissolved in water?

 

 

 

2.  Which ones did not dissolve in water?

 

 

 

3.  What is the difference between polar and non-polar molecules?

 

 

 

4. Which ones (polar or non-polar) dissolved in the water?  Why?

 

 

 

5.  If hard water contains ions, how will it affect water’s ability to dissolve polar molecules? 

 

 

Lesson 1: Credibiity of Sources

 

 

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