CHAPTER 4 CHEMLAB
Procedure
1. Using the medicine dropper, add 25 to 30 drops of
vanilla extract to the first balloon.
2. Inflate the balloon so its walls are tightly stretched,
but not stretched so tightly that the balloon is in dan-
ger of bursting. Try to keep the vanilla in one loca-
tion as the balloon is inflated. Tie the balloon closed.
3. Feel the outside of the balloon where the vanilla is
located and note the temperature of this area rela-
tive to the rest of the balloon. Record your obser-
vations in the data table.
4. Use only air to inflate a second balloon to approxi-
mately the same size as that of the first, and tie it
closed. Feel the outside of the second balloon.
Make a relative temperature comparison to that of
the first balloon. Record your initial observations.
5. Place the inflated balloons in a small, enclosed
area such as a closet or student locker.
6. The next day, repeat the observations in steps 3
and 4 after the vanilla has dried inside the balloon.
Record these final observations.
7. To avoid splattering your clothes with dark brown
vanilla, do not deflate the balloon until the vanilla
has dried inside.
Cleanup and Disposal
1. After the vanilla has dried, deflate the balloon by
puncturing it with a sharp object.
2. Dispose of the pieces of the balloon as directed by
your teacher.
Analyze and Conclude
1. Observing and Inferring How did the relative
volumes of balloons 1 and 2 change after 24
hours? Explain.
2. Observing and Inferring By comparing the
relative temperatures of balloons 1 and 2, what can
you conclude about the temperature change as the
vanilla evaporated? Explain.
3. Observing and Inferring Did the vanilla’s odor
get outside the balloon and fill the enclosed space?
Explain.
4. Predicting Do you think vanilla will leak more
rapidly from a fully inflated balloon or from a half-
inflated balloon? Explain.
5. Hypothesizing Write a hypothesis that explains
your observations.
6. Comparing and Contrasting Compare your
hypothesis to Dalton’s atomic theory. In what ways
is it similar? How is it different?
7. Error Analysis What factors might affect the
results of different groups that performed the
experiment? What types of errors might have
occurred during the procedure?
Real-World Chemistry
1. Explain why helium-filled, Mylar-foil balloons can
float freely for several weeks, but latex balloons
for less than 24 hours.
2. How are high-pressure gases stored for laboratory
and industrial use to prevent loss?
CHEMLAB 109