Is there a reaction? How do you know?

Apparatus
• Bunsen burner
• Eye protection
• Heatproof mat
• Spatula
• Test tubes
• Test tube holder
• Test tube rack
• Chemicals

Make sure you are wearing eye protection for all these experiments.
Be careful in the way you handle chemicals.

Year 8 Science 2018-2019 REACTIONS

Method
1 Carry out the experiments described in the table, and look carefully at what happens.
2 Write your observations in the table ‘What happened?’ column.
3 Put a tick in the right column of the table if you think a reaction has taken place.

Experiment What to do Diagram What happened? Is there a chemical

reaction? (✔ or X)
1 • Half fill a test tube with acid (vinegar or
lemon juice).
• Add a spatula of bicarbonate of soda.
• Watch what happens.
• Feel the tube.

2 • Half fill a small test tube with water.

• Add a spatula of baking powder.
• Watch what happens.
• Feel the tube.

4 • Put two spatulas of zinc oxide in a test

tube.
• Heat the tube. Watch what happens.
• Leave the hot tube in a rack to cool down.

5 • Half fill a test tube with copper sulphate

solution.
• Put a little iron wool into the copper
sulphate solution.
• Watch what happens.

Year 8 Science 2018-2019 REACTIONS

6 • Put about 3cm depth of water into a test
tube.
• Add a spatula of white copper sulphate
powder. Watch what happens.
• Feel the tube.

Reaction or no reaction? Follow up.

1 Choose the correct words to complete these sentences.

No new substances are formed when a ________________________ (chemical/physical) change happens.

Physical changes are _______________________ (irreversible/reversible/permanent) changes.

New substances are formed when a _______________________ (chemical/physical) reaction happens.

You can tell a _______________________ (chemical/physical) reaction has happened if something changes ______________________

(hardness/colour) or if a ______________________ (gas/solid) is given off.

Sometimes there is a change in _______________________ (energy/softness) in a chemical reaction.

Year 8 Science 2018-2019 REACTIONS

2 Complete the following sentences.

a If you put some water into a freezer, it turns to ice. You can tell that this _______________________ (is/is not) a chemical reaction

because ______________________________________________________________________________________

b Bananas turn black if you leave them in a warm cupboard for a week. You can tell that this _____________________ (is/is not) a chemical

reaction because ____________________________________________________________________________________

c Some white powder from your kitchen fizzes when you put it into vinegar. You can tell that this _____________________ (is/is not) a

chemical reaction because ________________________________________________________________________________

d When you boil water in a kettle, some of it turns to steam. You can tell that this _____________________ (is/is not) a chemical reaction

because ________________________________________________________________________________________

e When you fry an egg it turns white and goes solid. You can tell that this _____________________ (is/is not) a chemical reaction because

__________________ ______________________________________________________________________

Year 8 Science 2018-2019 REACTIONS