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Mystery Liquids

Key Words: Particle, Phase, Physical Change, Vapor

Getting Started:
1. In this activity, you will observe two mystery liquids that look exactly alike. In order to distinguish
between the liquids, you must run a series of tests on them. You will take both qualitative data (data
that describes characteristics people can perceive without making measurements and quantitative
data (data that uses measurements).

Procedure:
1. Read the introduction and Challenge to Activity 35 “Mystery Liquids,” in your Student Book.

2. Water is by far the most common liquid substance on earth and the only one also commonly found
in solid (ice) and gaseous (water vapor) phases.

3. Read “Part A: Observing and Predicting” of the Procedure for “Mystery Liquids,” in your Student
Book. You will record your data on Student Sheet 35.1 “Comparing Physical Properties of Liquids,”
that is attached to this packet.

4. Watch the LABsent video (found here: https://vimeo.com/152313889). Your classmates

performed this experiment to try to identify the substances. Watch the video to see the procedure
being performed. Record the results in your data table. Not all of the Procedure is in the video. You
will have to obtain any missing data from a lab partner or your teacher when you return to class.
You will need this missing data to complete the Analysis Questions.

5. Read “Part B: Taking Measurements” of the Procedure for “Mystery Liquids,” in your Student Book.
Each of your classmates measured different volumes of the liquids. The measurement for 10 mL are
shown on Student Sheet 35.1 in Data Table 2. Calculate the “Mass of the liquid sample” and the

© 2014 The Regents of the University of California

“Density of liquid” and fill in the correct data.

6. Your teacher melted and boiled each liquid for the class. The data for each is listed in the table.
Note: Liquid B will not solidify in the freezer therefore no melting point was measured.

Analysis Questions:
1. Review the data table “Some Properties of Five Liquids” in your Student Book.
a. Based on your data and the table “Some Properties of Five Liquids”, what could Liquids A and
B be?
b. Why do you think so?
c. How certain are you?

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IAPS Water: Activity 35 Absent Work

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2. In this activity you compared two liquids.

a. What properties and measurements were the most helpful in identifying the two liquids?
b. Explain your answer.

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3. A liquid forms rounded droplets because of its degree of cohesiveness.

a. Which of the two liquids was more cohesive?
B Explain the observations that support your answer.

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© 2014 The Regents of the University of California

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4. Why should you keep liquid samples capped or covered while studying them?

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IAPS Water: Activity 35 Absent Work

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5. Which do you predict would evaporate more quickly at room temperature: methanol or acetone?
(Refer to the data table “Some Properties of Five Liquids” in your Student Book.) Explain why.

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List 1 List 2 List 3 List 4
liquid density odor property

solid boiling point feel cohesive

gas quantitative property color liquid

cohesive color temperature comparison

phase melting point qualitative property clear

6. Look at the lists of words. Then, for each list, follow steps a, b, and c.

a. Look for a relationship among the words in List 1. Cross out the word or phrase that does
not belong.
b. In List 1, circle the word or phrase that includes the other three.
c. Explain how the word or phrase you circled is related to the others.
d. Repeat steps a-s doe each of the remaining lists.

© 2014 The Regents of the University of California

Explanation for List 1

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Explanation for List 2

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Explanation for List 3

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Explanation for List 4

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© 2014 The Regents of the University of California

Comparing Physical Properties of Liquids

IAPS Water: Activity 35 Absent Work
Name _____________________________________________ Date_______________

Be sure to include the units for the quantitative data you record in the data tables below.

Data Table 1: Observations of Two Unidentified Liquids

Property Liquid A Liquid B

Qualitative data (observations)

Appearance

Smell

Feel on fingers

Behavior of a drop on plastic

Evaporation

Possible identities

Quantitative data (measurements)

Density

Boiling point 100 °C 78 °

Melting point 0 °C Not measured

Possible identities

© 2014 The Regents of the University of California

Data Table 2: Density Calculations
Liquid A Liquid B

Volume of liquid sample 10mL 10mL

Mass of graduated cylinder 8.0 g 8.0 g

Mass of cylinder plus liquid 18 g 16.1 g

Mass of liquid sample

Density of liquid

Issues and Physical Science - Student Sheet 35.1

IAPS Water: Activity 35 Absent Work