Physical/Chemical Change Lab

Instruction Sheet
November 2020

You will be partaking in a laboratory exploring physical and chemical changes. Follow the
instructions to complete each reaction and record your observations. Using your evidence,
determine whether the reaction was chemical, physical or both played a role in the
reaction. ALL pieces of evidence that support your conclusions should be listed.

STATION 1: RITZ CRACKER REACTION

1. Wash/sanitize your hands
2. Chew and swallow your cracker
3. Record your thoughts and observations. You
may not be able to see the reaction in this one,
but based on what you know about what
happens to your food during digestion, you can
guess some observations.

Hint: Think about what happens when you chew and

swallow food. Does the substance change? Is there any
evidence of a chemical change during digestion? What
about physical?

STATION 2: MAGNESIUM RIBBON REACTION

1. Take a small amount of magnesium ribbon
2. Using the eye dropper, dispense about 4 full droppers of copper II sulfate into the
plastic bag
3. Drop the magnesium ribbon into the bag, and zip it shut.
4. Record your observations.

STATION 3: AMMONIA REACTION

1. First of all, make sure you use two separate eyedroppers, and do not mix them up
once used. Put one on one side of the desk, and the other on the other side, with
chemicals adjacent. Do NOT mix up the eyedroppers!
2. Place three droppers full of ammonia into the test tube.
3. Using the other eyedropper, drop one drop of copper sulfate at a time into the
ammonia while swirling the test tube gently. Keep going until you notice changes.
4. Record your observations.

STATION 4: PAPER SNOWFLAKE REACTION

1. Cut a circle out of the sheet of paper
2. Fold the circle in half, and then in half again
3. Cut different designs along the edges to make a snowflake
4. Record your observations.
 STATION 5: VINEGAR AND BAKING SODA REACTION
1. Pour about an inch of vinegar into the flask. Measure the initial temperature with a
thermometer and record it.
2. Use the funnel to fill the balloon with 2 scoops of baking soda
3. Stretch the open end of the balloon over the neck of the flask
4. Hold onto the balloon neck on the flask, and flip the balloon upright so the baking
soda falls into the vinegar.
5. Record your observations.
6. After the reaction calms down, take and record the final temperature of the mixture.

STATION 6: BUNSEN BURNER REACTION

1. Carefully light the Bunsen burner with the starter.
2. Take a wooden skewer and break it in half.
3. Dip the frayed end of the skewer into the strontium chloride solution.
4. Place the wet end of the skewer into the flame.
5. Record your observations.
6. Repeat steps 1-5 with the copper II sulfate solution.

STATION 7: ACID BASE REACTION

Note: Phenolphthalein is an indicator that turns pink in the presence of a base. If the mixture
is acidic (pH<7), it will be clear. If it is basic (pH>7), it will be pink.
1. Put some water in a test tube (about 2-3 cm).
2. Add in a few drops of phenolphthalein solution.
3. Add in one dropper of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution.
4. Record observations in your chart.
5. Then add about a dropper of hydrochloric acid (HCl) to this. Add one more dropper
and see what happens.
6. Record observations in your chart.

Complete your reactions and your observations chart. Clean up your station and ensure
there are no safety hazards.