Background Research:
Silicates: combinations of silicon(si) and oxygen (o)
- 95% of earth's crust and 97% of earths mantle is made of silicates
Core: Made of solid iron and nickel
Outer Core: Made of liquid iron and nickel
Mantle: Made of molten rocks (silicates) - as well as lots of different metals
The earths mantle can be related to the skin on an apple since when brought down to scale they are about the same size.
The earth also creates a lot of its own thermal energy that is created and stored in the earth inner and outer core.
There is so much pressure at the center of the earth that it makes the core solid as well as creates a magnetic field that protects the earth from solar winds and the sun's radiation. The interaction between the outer core and mantle in where the crust begins to form. Convention currents in the earths mantle bring up the crust as well as create tectonic plates and volcano's.
When looking at the periodic table we can use the electronegativity line the goes down the side of the periodic table to predict how and if elements will react with each other. Electrons and negatively charged atoms either gain or lose electrons. When you mix an element and silicate you basically create a rock. A silicate is slightly negatively charged
The Lab:
First we rinsed out a clean beaker to mix the sodium silicate and dilute it with water. We used distilled water which is pure and contains no minerals, which could mess up the experiment.
Then we mixed a few different metals that were already mixed with chloride. First we did calcium chloride. This reaction happened fast and is the white solution that you see in the pictures below. It turned into almost like a stringy substance that continued to grow over the next few minutes.
We also did cobalt chloride. This the blue solution you see below. This one was a little more reactive and actually began to change colors as the times passed.
Silicates: combinations of silicon(si) and oxygen (o)
- 95% of earth's crust and 97% of earths mantle is made of silicates
Core: Made of solid iron and nickel
Outer Core: Made of liquid iron and nickel
Mantle: Made of molten rocks (silicates) - as well as lots of different metals
The earths mantle can be related to the skin on an apple since when brought down to scale they are about the same size.
The earth also creates a lot of its own thermal energy that is created and stored in the earth inner and outer core.
There is so much pressure at the center of the earth that it makes the core solid as well as creates a magnetic field that protects the earth from solar winds and the sun's radiation. The interaction between the outer core and mantle in where the crust begins to form. Convention currents in the earths mantle bring up the crust as well as create tectonic plates and volcano's.
When looking at the periodic table we can use the electronegativity line the goes down the side of the periodic table to predict how and if elements will react with each other. Electrons and negatively charged atoms either gain or lose electrons. When you mix an element and silicate you basically create a rock. A silicate is slightly negatively charged
The Lab:
First we rinsed out a clean beaker to mix the sodium silicate and dilute it with water. We used distilled water which is pure and contains no minerals, which could mess up the experiment.
Then we mixed a few different metals that were already mixed with chloride. First we did calcium chloride. This reaction happened fast and is the white solution that you see in the pictures below. It turned into almost like a stringy substance that continued to grow over the next few minutes.
We also did cobalt chloride. This the blue solution you see below. This one was a little more reactive and actually began to change colors as the times passed.
Reflection:
Honestly, I didn't predict what would happen. When Andrew told us that we were making rocks, I thought that he meant literal rocks and I wasn't even sure that was possible. I liked this lab and think that I learned a lot about the earths layers, how rocks are made, and the actual reaction that takes place when rocks are made.
I think that we did get desirable results. The reaction that Andrew predicted did take place and we saw the change in the substances.
Since this was a large group activity I didn't work with any one person in particular, but overall I think we worked well as a group. Everyone took turns in doing things for the experiment and we asked each other and Andrew questions about the experiment and background research.
I think that this stuff is important to know because everyone needs to learn about our earth, also if you ever plan on doing other experiments about earth this is a basic thing to know and understand.
Some of the concepts that we learned are the electronegativity line on a periodic table and how you can use that to predict if and how a reaction between two elements will take place. We also learned the earths different layers, how they work, and a basic overview of what they actually are.
If I could continue this lab I would try to mix different metals into the sodium silicate and see what happens. I would predict what I think will happen using the periodic table and then try the reaction to see what actually happens.
Honestly, I didn't predict what would happen. When Andrew told us that we were making rocks, I thought that he meant literal rocks and I wasn't even sure that was possible. I liked this lab and think that I learned a lot about the earths layers, how rocks are made, and the actual reaction that takes place when rocks are made.
I think that we did get desirable results. The reaction that Andrew predicted did take place and we saw the change in the substances.
Since this was a large group activity I didn't work with any one person in particular, but overall I think we worked well as a group. Everyone took turns in doing things for the experiment and we asked each other and Andrew questions about the experiment and background research.
I think that this stuff is important to know because everyone needs to learn about our earth, also if you ever plan on doing other experiments about earth this is a basic thing to know and understand.
Some of the concepts that we learned are the electronegativity line on a periodic table and how you can use that to predict if and how a reaction between two elements will take place. We also learned the earths different layers, how they work, and a basic overview of what they actually are.
If I could continue this lab I would try to mix different metals into the sodium silicate and see what happens. I would predict what I think will happen using the periodic table and then try the reaction to see what actually happens.