Today we did a lab where we conducted a combustion reaction and learned about the periodic table. First Andrew walked us through what a chemical reaction is and the atomic structure of atoms. We learned how to read the periodic table, and be able to look at an element and know the number of electrons that element has. Once, you know that, you can predict the outcome of what will happen if you put those two elements together. Then we learned about water, or H20, since that is what we were going to try to make. Since H20 is created with 2 hydrogens and 1 oxygen, our goal was to combine those elements.
First, we got a flask filled about 1/3 of the way with tap water. Then we dissolved citric acid into the water. The purpose of this was to dissolve small magnesium film, which produces hydrogen when mixed with an acid, like citric acid. Then we quickly put the magnesium into the solution and put a balloon over the top of the flask to capture the hydrogen produced with the magnesium dissolved. When the magnesium was dissolving the flask got really warm, which is normal for that reaction. Once all of the magnesium dissolved our balloon was full of pure hydrogen. The next step is to put the balloon on an open flame. We lit a candle on the table and put the balloon, then slowly lowered the balloon onto the flame. Once the balloon reacted with the flame, we felt the balloon and it was wet, which was the water created when the balloon combusted.
This lab was important because it helped me understand the periodic table a little more, as well as teach me how combustion reactions take place. I liked having a facilitated lab, because I feel that I learned a lot and I understood what was going on. It was also nice having an actual teacher, teaching me about the subject rather than just researching it all.
I worked with Genevie when for this mini lab. Since, I have worked with her in the past, I know that we work very well together and we can share the jobs that need to be done. We took turns doing different things, so this lab worked out really well.
I think that this lab definitely helped me learn more about rockets. Since we are designing our own motors it was very helpful to learn about combustion reactions since that is exactly what will be happening inside the motor when we set the rocket off. By understanding how combustion reactions work we can use that knowledge to figure out how to construct our motors.
If we were to continue this lab, we could further work with hydrogen and different combustion reactions. If you research the periodic table more so you understand it a little better, you can predict the outcome of mixing two elements together and finding out what happens when actually do the experiment.
First, we got a flask filled about 1/3 of the way with tap water. Then we dissolved citric acid into the water. The purpose of this was to dissolve small magnesium film, which produces hydrogen when mixed with an acid, like citric acid. Then we quickly put the magnesium into the solution and put a balloon over the top of the flask to capture the hydrogen produced with the magnesium dissolved. When the magnesium was dissolving the flask got really warm, which is normal for that reaction. Once all of the magnesium dissolved our balloon was full of pure hydrogen. The next step is to put the balloon on an open flame. We lit a candle on the table and put the balloon, then slowly lowered the balloon onto the flame. Once the balloon reacted with the flame, we felt the balloon and it was wet, which was the water created when the balloon combusted.
This lab was important because it helped me understand the periodic table a little more, as well as teach me how combustion reactions take place. I liked having a facilitated lab, because I feel that I learned a lot and I understood what was going on. It was also nice having an actual teacher, teaching me about the subject rather than just researching it all.
I worked with Genevie when for this mini lab. Since, I have worked with her in the past, I know that we work very well together and we can share the jobs that need to be done. We took turns doing different things, so this lab worked out really well.
I think that this lab definitely helped me learn more about rockets. Since we are designing our own motors it was very helpful to learn about combustion reactions since that is exactly what will be happening inside the motor when we set the rocket off. By understanding how combustion reactions work we can use that knowledge to figure out how to construct our motors.
If we were to continue this lab, we could further work with hydrogen and different combustion reactions. If you research the periodic table more so you understand it a little better, you can predict the outcome of mixing two elements together and finding out what happens when actually do the experiment.