De La Salle Santiago Zobel School

First Term AY 2014 2015

Science 6 Experiment No. 1 CHANGES IN MATTER


Name: _________________________________________________________________ CN: ____
Date: _________________ Grade 6-___Teacher: Ms. W.Y. Diola/Ms. J.C. Pe Benito/Ms. C.B. Tungul

As you study the changes in matter, keep in mind the particle nature of matter, i.e., matter is
made up of molecules that are in turn made up of atoms. Then, when you take up each kind of
change in matter, ask the question: What happens to the molecules of the material? In this activity,
you will see what takes place in physical changes. Youll also find out what pieces of evidence
indicate that chemical changes are taking place.

Materials:
test tube
test tube rack
test tube holder
graduated cylinder (10 mL)
beaker (250 mL)
protective eye glasses or goggles
bottle cover (Note: remove the lining)
stirring rod
watch glass
iron filings (0.5 g)
sulfur powder (0.29 g)
mossy zinc
diluted hydrochloric acid
corn starch (1 g)
silver nitrate crystals
sodium chloride (salt)
alcohol lamp
matches
tongs

Procedure:
Note: As you perform the procedure, write down your observations right away in the section on
OBSERVATIONS/DISCUSSION.

PART I.
Cornstarch and water
1. Place 1 gram of cornstarch in a small beaker.
2. Add 1 mL of water and stir well.
3. Using a stirring rod, get some of the mixture and touch it with your fingertips.

Observations/Discussion

1. Is the product a liquid or a solid?



2. Did you observe a physical or chemical change?





PART II.

REMINDERS:
Wear your lab coat or apron.
Put on protective eye glasses or goggles. Keep this protective eyewear on during the
experiment.
Keep away from the fumes!
Avoid direct contact to any chemicals especially the hydrochloric acid and silver
nitrate solution. The former can burn the skin while the latter can stain your skin and
clothes.
Use the fume hood if necessary.

A. Iron filings and Sulfur Powder
1. Your teacher has prepared for you 0.5 g of iron filings and 0.29 g of sulfur powder.
Describe the two materials.
2. Put the materials in a bottle cover and mix them thoroughly. See if you can still recognize
the iron and sulfur.
3. Using a pair of tongs to hold the bottle cover, heat the mixture over the flame of an alcohol
lamp until you observe a change in the materials. Describe it.

B. Zinc and Hydrochloric acid
1. Put some hydrochloric acid (about 5 mL) into a test tube. Be careful not to spill the acid on
your skin, dress or anything.
2. Add a small piece of zinc into the test tube. Observe the setup.

C. Sodium chloride and Silver nitrate
1. Using graduated cylinder, measure 5 mL of salt solution and label it as Test Tube 1.
2. For this part of the activity, your teacher has prepared 5 mL silver nitrate solution labelled
as Test Tube 2.
3. Pour the contents of Test Tube 1 into Test Tube 2. Observe carefully what happens. Set
aside Test Tube 2 to allow the substance formed to settle. Record your observations.

Observations/Discussion
A. Iron filings and Sulfur Powder
1. a. Characteristics of iron filings


b. Characteristics of sulfur powder


2. a. Describe the mixed iron filings and sulfur powder.


b. Can you still recognize the iron filings and sulfur powder in the mixture? Explain your
answer.




3. Describe what happens when you heat the iron and sulfur mixture.



B. Zinc and Hydrochloric acid
1. a. Describe hydrochloric acid before the reaction.



b. Describe the zinc metal.



2. What happens when zinc is dropped into the acid?




C. Sodium chloride and Silver Nitrate
1. Describe the appearance of sodium chloride or salt solution.



2. Describe the appearance of silver nitrate solution.



3. What happens when salt solution is added to silver nitrate solution?



List down signs that a chemical change is taking place.

1.

2.

3.


Reference: Rabago, L.M and Ferrer, D. L. (1999). Science and Technology (General Science) Laboratory Manual. Quezon City: Vibal Publishing House, Inc.
http://www.easthampton.k12.ma.us/webpages/J Bucs/files/Lab%20-%20Physical%20or%20Chemical%20Change.pdf