Teacher Portal:

Properties of Matter

Investigation 1 – Lab

Back to Investigation 1

BE PREPARED

Supplies and Equipment:

Class Materials:

1 timer
ice cubes

Group Materials:

3 white pails
1 set of tongs
2 hand lenses
1 metric ruler
1 100 ml beaker
paper towels

Individual Materials:

1 Student Data Record

Teacher Preparation:

1. The day before class, fill one to two ice cube trays with water and place in the freezer.

2. For each group, fill one bucket halfway with water.

3. For each group, fill one bucket with ice cubes.

4. The third bucket contains only air.

5. Separate the class into five cooperative groups.

Instruction:

1. Direct each student group to obtain the following necessary materials from the distribution point: one (1) set of tongs, two (2) hand lenses, one (1) metric ruler, one (1) 100 ml beaker, and paper towels.

GET FOCUSED

Investigation One introduces students to the relationship between the three states of water: solid, liquid, and gas.

INVESTIGATE

Trial 1

To begin their Investigation, direct students to examine a single ice cube. They will periodically check the ice cube to see how it changes over the course of the lab. The question students will investigate in this trial is:

Can you observe matter changing states?

a. Use the directions that follow to guide students through the trial. In this trial, students will be using a metric ruler to measure the widest part of the water spot. If necessary, briefly review the steps in the tool Metric Ruler Use and Operation. Review how to measure in millimeters.

b. Instruct students to pick up an ice cube with the tongs and place it on the table.

c. Instruct students to measure the ice cube at its widest part using the metric ruler.

d. Direct students to record their measurement in millimeters in Problem 2b in the Student Data Record.

e. Instruct students to pick up the ice cube with the tongs and place it in the 100 ml beaker.

f. Tell students they will be checking on the ice cube again later in the lab.

Trial 2

To continue their Investigation, direct students to examine the ice cubes in the white bucket. The question students will investigate in this Trial is:

What are the properties of ice?

a. Use the directions that follow to guide students through the Trial.

b. Instruct students to pick up an ice cube with the tongs.

c. Instruct students to examine the ice cube closely using the hand lens. If necessary, briefly review the steps in the tool Hand Lens Use and Operation.

d. Ask students: Does the ice have a color? Does it have a smell? Direct students to record their answers in Problems 3c and 3d in their Student Data Record.

e. Instruct students to hold an ice cube in their hands.

f. Ask students: How does the ice cube feel? Direct students to record their answers in their Student Data Record. Students should return the ice to the bucket and use paper towels to dry their hands.

g. Ask students: Which state of matter is ice? Direct students to record their answer in Problem 3f in their Student Data Record.

3. Direct students to use the tongs to remove the ice cube from Trial 1 from the 100 ml beaker.

a. Instruct students to measure the widest part of the ice cube as they did before. Direct students to record their measurement in millimeters in Problem 4b in their Student Data Record.

b. Direct students to return the ice cube to the 100 ml beaker.

Trial 3

For this part of the investigation, students will continue to explore water in different states. Direct students to examine the water. The question students will investigate in this Trial is:

What are the properties of water?

a. Use the directions that follow to guide students through the Trial.

b. Instruct students to examine the water closely using the hand lens. If necessary, briefly review the steps in the tool Hand Lens Use and Operation.

c. Ask students: Does the water have any color? Does it have a smell? Direct students to record their answers in Problems 5b and 5c in their Student Data Record.

d. Instruct students to touch the water with their hands.

e. Ask students: How does the water feel? Direct students to record their answer in Problem 5e in their Student Data Record. Students can use paper towels to dry their hands.

f. Ask students: Which state of matter is water? Direct students to record their answers in Problem 5f of their Student Data Record.

5. Direct students to use the tongs to remove the ice cube from Trial 1 from the 100 ml beaker. a. Instruct students to measure the widest part of the ice cube as they did before. Direct students to record their measurement in millimeters in problem 6b in their Scientist Data Record. b. Direct students to return the ice cube to the 100 ml beaker.

Trial 4

For this part of the investigation, students will continue to explore states of water. Direct students to examine the water vapor (bucket with only air). The question students will investigate in this Trial is:

What are the properties of water vapor?

a. Use the directions that follow to guide students through the Trial.

b. Inform students that the third bucket (empty bucket) contains water vapor.

c. Instruct students to examine the water vapor closely using the hand lens. If necessary, briefly review the steps in the tool Hand Lens Use and Operation.

d. Ask students: Does the water vapor have any color? Does it have a smell? Direct students to record their answers to Problem 7b and 7c in their Student Data Record.

e. Instruct students to place their hands inside the bucket to touch the water vapor.

f. Ask students: How does the water vapor feel? Direct students to record their answer to Problem 7e of their Student Data Record.

g. Ask students: Which state of matter is water vapor? Direct students to record their answers in Problem 7f of their Student Data Record.

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7. For this part of the Investigation, students will explore melting by revisiting the ice cube from Trial 1.

a. Direct students to use the tongs to remove the ice cube from Trial 1 from the 100 ml beaker.

b. Instruct students to measure the widest part of the ice cube with the metric ruler as they did before. Direct students to record their measurement in millimeters in Problem 8b in their Student Data Record.

c. Direct students to return the ice cube to the 100 ml beaker.

d. Ask students: What was the measurement of the widest part of the ice cube at the beginning of the investigation? Refer students to measurement 1 in Problem 2 of their Student Data Record. Direct students to record the answer in Problem 8d of their Student Data Record.

e. Ask students: What was the measurement of the widest part of the ice cube at the end of the Trial? Refer students to measurement 4 in Problem 6 of their Student Data Record. Direct students to record the answer in Problem 8e of their Student Data Record.

8. Ask students to share their beginning and ending diameters with the class.

a. Ask students: How did the size of the ice cube change during the lab? Students should indicate that the ice cube got smaller or shrinking. Discuss with students that their numbers may have been different, but that all of the ice cubes got smaller over time.