POSITIVELY SCIENTIFIC

Today was all science, all day.  This morning we did elephant toothpaste with Mr. G. 
This afternoon we made the rock cycle out of starbursts with, scientist of the week, Edy!

PROBLEM:

What happens when you mix strong hydrogen peroxide and the sandy chemical manganese dioxide?

PROCEDURE:

Get a 1 liter bottle.  Place it on a plate.  Add two squirts of hydrogen peroxide.  Add four drops of food coloring.  Add four small squirts of dish soap.  Shake the bottle to make soap bubbles.  Add 1/8 teaspoon of magnesium dioxide.  Give the bottle a quick shake.  Observe.

MATERIALS:

1 liter bottle        plate        hydrogen peroxide     
food coloring        dish soap       magnesium dioxide

HYPOTHESIS:

(a) Liquid will shoot out of the bottle. 4
(b) Foam will shoot out of the bottle. 0
(c) The mixture will totally disappear. 12
​(d) The mixture freezes and turns into a solid. 2

CONCLUSION:

The hydrogen peroxide and manganese dioxide mix together to create an exothermic chemical reaction (just like in Boti's elephant toothpaste).  The reaction creates a lot of oxygen, which makes the bubbles and causes the liquid to expand.  It also puts off a lot of heat.  The bottles were hot to touch after the foam formed.  Thanks Mr. G!  See you in second grade.

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Edy showed us how to make the rock cycle using Starbursts!  Another yummy science experiment in the books.  First we squished them up to make sedimentary rocks.  Then we added more heat (our hands) and pressure (books and body weight) to make metamorphic rocks.  Finally, we melted them with a hot plate to make magma and cooled them to make igneous rocks.  Thanks Edy!

In case you need a reminder...here's the rock cycle!