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Science Launch G5 / Week 04 / Wednesday
3/6
Week 04 · Something New

Wednesday

Investigation: Which powder fizzes more?
// Mixing can make a new substance
⏱ about 15 min

Wednesday: Investigation: Which powder fizzes more?

Rocket sets two white powders on the tray: baking soda and baking powder. They look almost the same.

"For my rocket engine, I want the most gas," he says. "So which powder wins?"

Raven hands him safety goggles. "Goggles first," she says. "Then a fair test."

Nova hovers above the cups. "Same amount of powder, same amount of vinegar," she says. "Watch the speed and the height of the bubbles."

Rocket snaps his goggles on. "Ready," he says. "Prediction first this time."

What you need

  • Safety goggles or glasses for everyone
  • Two clear plastic cups on a tray
  • Baking soda and baking powder
  • White vinegar and a measuring spoon
Safety first
A grown-up must help with this whole investigation.
Everyone wears goggles. Vinegar can badly irritate eyes.
Keep hands away from your face. Wash hands when you finish.
Nothing is tasted. Work on a tray to catch spills.

Steps

  1. Put half a teaspoon of baking soda in one cup.
  2. Put half a teaspoon of baking powder in the other cup.
  3. Make your prediction below.
  4. The grown-up pours 1 tablespoon of vinegar into the baking soda cup.
  5. Watch closely. Notice how fast and how high the bubbles rise.
  6. Now the grown-up pours 1 tablespoon of vinegar into the baking powder cup.
  7. Compare the two cups.
MAKE A PREDICTION
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Which powder do you predict will make more bubbles with vinegar?
CupHow fast did it bubble?How high did the bubbles rise?
Baking soda and vinegar
Baking powder and vinegar

Scientists who ran this test found that baking soda reacts faster and makes more bubbles than baking powder.

Both cups bubbled, so both made carbon dioxide gas. That gas is a new substance.

What kind of evidence did both cups show? Type one word.
WHY THIS EXERCISEBubbles show a gas was produced, which is evidence that a reaction formed a new substance.

Reading your fizz results

Both cups bubbled, so both made carbon dioxide.

Compare how fast and how high the bubbles rose in each cup.

Scientists found baking soda reacts faster and makes more bubbles. Check if your results matched.

FIZZ THINKING
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Why did both cups get the same amount of vinegar?
Why does everyone wear goggles?
StatementTrue or false?
Baking soda reacts faster than baking powder with vinegar.?
Only one cup made carbon dioxide.?
Bubbles are evidence that a gas was produced.?
WHY THIS EXERCISEBoth made gas, but baking soda reacted faster.

You ran a careful, safe chemistry test. Tomorrow we will learn why baking powder fizzes even in plain water.

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