PERFORMANCE TASK

Directions: Perform the Equilibrium Straw activity and answer the following questions.
EQUILIBRIUM STRAW ACTIVITY
The Equilibrium Straw Activity is a demonstration of two systems reaching
equilibrium. In the first part, forward and reverse reactions are equally favored. In the
second part, the forward reaction is more favored than the reverse reaction. In both
cases, there is a point where there are no longer any volume changes between the
two containers. This indicates that the equilibrium has been reached.
Materials
- 2 improvised graduated cylinders (you may make use of drinking glasses or
mineral bottles of the same size and just estimate the volume)
- 2 regular-width drinking straws
- 1 large-width drinking straw
- Tap water or colored water

Procedure
Part I
1. Mark the improvised graduated cylinders as A and B. Place 50 mL of tap water into
cylinder A and keep cylinder B empty.
2. Assign regular-width straw to each cylinder.
3. Immerse the assigned straw in cylinder A, close its upper tip with a finger, and
transfer the water contained in its lower portion to cylinder B.
4. Using the assigned straw in cylinder B, transfer the water in a similar manner from
cylinder B to cylinder A. Ensure that the straw is touching the bottom of the cylinder
and be careful not to let any water spill.
5. After transferring the water from cylinder B to cylinder A, record the new volumes
of water in each cylinder. This will serve as transfer 1 or T1 in data table 1 below.
6. Keep on transferring water using the straws from cylinder A to cylinder B and from
cylinder B to cylinder A till the level of water in both cylinders becomes equal.

Part II
7. Repeat part I but this time using a large-width straw for cylinder A and a regular-
width straw for cylinder B. Record your data in table 2 below.
8. Plot a graph for each table. The number of transfers should be shown on the x-axis,
and the volume in mL should be shown on the y-axis. Note: Graph both cylinders
on the same graph.
Data Table 1
T0 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 T9 T10 T11 T12 …
A (mL) 50
B (mL) 0

Data Table 2
T0 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 T9 T10 T11 T12 …
A (mL) 50
B (mL) 0
(Note: You may add more columns if necessary.)

1
Questions:

1. What can you say about the volume of water in the cylinders if the volume of
water transferred from A to B is the same as the volume of water transferred
from B to A?
2. If you continue transferring water from A to B and B to A, what do you think will
happen to the volume of water in A and B?
3. How will you relate the concept of equilibrium in the activity?
4. Provide an example of an “equilibrium” you encountered in everyday life. How
do the processes involved oppose each other?

Scoring Rubric
Excellent Good Fair NI
(4pts) (3pts) (2pts) (1pt)
Content (x2) Very Somewhat Gives some Gives no
informative informative information but relevant
and well and organized. poorly information
organized. organized. and poorly
organized.
Grammar and No spelling Has 1-2 Has 3-4 Has 5 or more
Spelling and grammar spelling and spelling and spelling and
(x2) errors. grammar grammar grammar
errors. errors. errors.
Neatness of Paper is neat Paper is neat Paper lacks Papers shows
paper (x1) and no but with neatness. no effort for
erasure. erasure. neatness.