Home Lab Project – Quarter 1
Directions: Pick one (just one!) lab from the list below for your quarter project. You will do the
experiment and the lab write up at home.
The project is due by __________________________________.
The project will be broken into 4 parts and each will be due at a certain point during the quarter. (See
Science Home Lab Schedule).
The project is worth 100 points.
Measurement and Density
- Predict and find the densities of several boxes (at least 5)
- Predict and find the densities of equal size boxes of cereal (at least 5)
- Predict and test floating lines of several objects. How far in cm will they sink into the water?
- Using a very small container to predict/test how much of (sand, rice, dirt, salt, marbles, etc) must be put into
the container to make it sink halfway.
- How much salt is needed to float an egg at the half way mark and the top of a column of water?
- Predict and measure average volume of 12 large eggs compared with extra-large or medium eggs.
- Predict if raisins will dance using regular and diet soda.
- Predict if the raisins will dance using baking soda and vinegar vs. carbonated soda
- Predict if other items will dance (cooked spaghetti, popcorn, grapes or bird seed) using regular soda and diet
soda.
- Predict whether salt or sugar will make water more or less dense?
Solubility
- Add 5 drops of soap to a known volume of water and shake for a known amount of time. Record the suds
levels.
- Add 5 drops of different shampoos to a known volume of water and shake for a known amount of time. Record
the suds levels. (use 3 or more)
- Add 5 drops of different dish soaps to a known volume of water and shake for a known amount of time. Record
the suds levels. (use 3 or more)
- Add 5 drops of different hand dish soap compared to machine dish soap to a known volume of water and
shake for a known amount of time. Record the suds levels.
- Add 5 drops of different dry laundry detergent compared to liquid laundry detergent to a known volume of
water and shake for a known amount of time. Record the suds levels.
- Add salt to each of the following waters: distilled, tap and bottled water to compare how each one makes suds.
- Is there a soap saturation point where different amounts of drops (5, 10, 15) does not make more foam?
- Which can more sugar be dissolved in – hot or cold water – how much in each?
- Compare the solubility of salt and sugar
- What substances are soluble in water?
- What substances are soluble in another substance (oil, vinegar, polish remover)
-
Compare amounts of different substances can be dissolved in same quantity of water. Test (4-6)
various substances (sugar, flour, powdered drink, cornstarch, instant coffee, baby powder, soap
powder, gelatin, etc) See how much can be dissolved in a set quantity (1/4 to ½ cup)
-
Test and compare what dissolves in water and what does not. Test many things around the house.
Record rates and quantities that dissolve.
Test gas solubility –Place a balloon over the bottle of soda as soon as it is opened.
Record the circumference. Shake the bottle and note any changes in circumference.
Gently heat the bottle in a pan of hot water. Note any changes in circumference.
Chemical Reactions
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Test how long it takes for a nail to rust in water, salt water, sugar water? (it is over two weeks – start
early)
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Test how long it takes for an egg to tarnish a silver spoon.
Compare commercial tarnish remover to ketchup for effectiveness (rate as poor, ok, good, great)
What substances are acids? Bases? (make a cabbage juice indicator) –look up on-line for directions
What substances will bubble when mixed with vinegar? (choose at least 3 substances)
What substances will turn black (like bread) when tested with drops of iodine? (test for starch)
How big will a balloon become when over a bottle of various amounts of vinegar and baking soda?
How does temperature affect the ability of yeast in water to blow up a balloon?
How long does it take for vinegar to dissolve an eggshell off a hard-boiled egg? 50% Diluted vinegar?
How long does it take steel wool to rust in air (control) Half covered with water? Totally covered?
-What cleaning products are best for getting out stains? Pick one type of stain and try several products
Which brand of laundry tablet dissolves the fastest? (choose 3 kinds)
Which brand of powdered detergent dissolves the fastest? (choose 3 kinds)
Phases of Matter
- How much water can be added to 250ml of sand? Try several dry substances and several liquid substances.
- How long will bubble gum bubbles stay inflated? (choose 3 kinds)
- How long does it take to freeze water/salt water? Or vinegar?
- How long does it take cold pop and warm pop to go flat?
- Evaporate salt and sugar solutions- how long did equal amounts take to make crystals?
- What substance can be smelled the furthest away? (choose at least 3 substances)
- How long does regular water and salt water take to boil? (or freeze)
- How long does it take regular water and sugar water to boil? (or freeze)
- How much dish soap is needed in a cup of water to make blowing bubbles?
- Which dish soap makes the best bubbles? (choose at least 3 kinds of dish soap)
- How many pennies or marbles can be placed in different size glasses of water before it overflows?
- How long does it take salt to melt an ice cube comparing with just melting?
- How long does it take for a string to melt through a cube with different weights on the strings?
- Drop food coloring into hot, tap, and cold pans of milk. Record the rates and patterns the dye moves.
- Write on paper with lemon juice. How long before the word turns brown at different temperatures.
- Put a jar of water in the hot sun or window sill. How long before bubbles appear?
- Place equals amounts of vinegar, water, and soap in 3 cups. Record how much evaporated after a week.
- Place equal amounts of water in three containers with different size openings. Record evaporation rates after
a week.