Lab Reports: States of Matter

Observing a Candle

     In this lab we were seeing the chemical and physical changes of a unlit candle and a lit candle. We observed that the unlit candle was a cylinder, a solid, had a bumpy texture and was yellow. There were no chemical changes occurring when the candle was unlit. We used our sight and touch to observe this. When we lit the candle we noticed that the candle started to melt. That meant it was getting smaller and smaller. Some of the chemical changes was that it was burning and creating Carbon Dioxide. The process of a burning candle or burning any other substance is called combustion.


Pouring a Gas

     During this lab we learned about what a fire needs to keep burning and that Carbon Dioxide "kills" a fire. So we lit a big candle and put vinegar in a beaker. We then added baking soda and a chemical reaction started to occur. The vinegar and baking soda were creating Carbon Dioxide. We then slowly tipped over the beaker above the fire and it extinguished the flame. The reason behind this is because the Carbon Dioxide didn't let the flame get oxygen which is one of the components that the fire needs for it to be able to burn.


Marshmallow Fun

     In this lab we had both a small and a large marshmallow. We first took the first marshmallow and ripped it in half. That was a physical change because it still has the same chemical makeup as when it wasn't ripped. We then ate the small marshmallow and had to write down what it tasted like. To me the marshmallow tasted sweet and sugary. We then got the bigger marshmallow and had to roast it with a Bunsen burner and burn a small part of the marshmallow. We then had to taste the burnt black part. What it tasted like was bitter, dry and it lost its sweet taste. The reason behind this is because we burned the marshmallow causing a chemical change which changes taste. We then had to see what state of matter is the marshmallow in. What i came up with is that it was a solid because it had a definite volume and shape.


Observing Changes in Matter

     During this lab we had sugar cubes. We first picked up one of the cubes and described it. Like its size was small its shape was a cube, its color was white and sparkly, it had a sweet taste and a rough texture. Then we used a mortar and pestle to crush one of the cubes into powder. We created a physical change and we mixed it with a glass of water. We then had to taste it and describe it. It had a sweet taste and we were able to see the sugar when it is disturbed. Then we took 2 other sugar cubes and put them in a test tube. We held the test tube over the Bunsen burner and heated the sugar. As we heated it up the sugar started turning into a caramel color and then started creating a yellow smoke. When we took the tube off we placed it on the table and let it cool off. As it was cooling off it started to grow and the liquid grew in volume. We then shattered the tube and felt the substance. We saw that the size and shape was indefinite due to it being stuck to the glass and the glass was shattered. The color was a brownish black. It was hard and had a smooth texture. The sugar went through a chemical change because we burned the sugar.


Overview

     I learned from these experiments how to use a Bunsen burner, chemical reactions and physical reactions. Also I learned how we can use these skills in future labs. I had fun with these labs and thought that i learned a lot from them.