Science Experiments

 Pop Test 
Testing for Hydrogen Gas

Aim To show that hydrogen gas is produced when a metal reacts with acid.

Equipment A test tube, a boiling tube, Bunsen burner, wooden splint, a bottle of acid, a piece of metal, safety glasses.

Method 

1. Light your Bunsen Burner.
2. Add your sample of metal to your test tube. Add 2 mL of acid.
3. Carefully invert the boiling tube above the test tube containing the metal and acid.
4. Hold the test tubes together for a few minutes, allowing time for the inverted boiling tube to fill with gas.
5. When you think the tube is full, your lab partner should light a wooden splint. 
6. Carefully, but quickly, tilt the boiling tube full of gas upwards and insert the burning splint into the mouth of the test tubes.

Observations

Bubbles formed in the Acid + Metal tubes. Gas was forming into the big tube. We put the wooden flint in there and there was a big pop.

Making a Metal Oxide

Aim To make a metal oxide and observe the difference in properties of the product compared to the reactants. 

Equipment A piece of magnesium, Bunsen burner, safety glasses, metal scissor tongs.

Method

1. Light your Bunsen burner.
2. Hold your piece of magnesium in the scissor tongs. Ensure you are holding onto the very tip of the magnesium.
3. Place the other end of the magnesium into the Bunsen flame (at the top of the flame).
4. When the magnesium begins to burn, do not look directly at it, as the light emitted can permanently damage your eyes.

Observations

When the magnesium was exposed to the blue flame, the piece of magnesium was bending and let off a bright white light.