Name:___________________________

Evidence for Chemical Reactions

Purpose:
1. To become familiar with the types of evidence which verify that a chemical reaction has occurred.
2. To appreciate the everyday occurrence of chemical reactions.
3. To practise observation skills and other laboratory-related skills
4. To introduce precipitation and endothermic and exothermic reactions.

Prelab Information
Chemical reactions involve a rearrangement of atoms or ions through the breaking and forming of bonds
to create new and different substances. The rearrangement of atoms through the breaking and forming
of bonds cannot be directly observed. Any evidence for a chemical reaction must come from observing
the formation of new substances.

Some of the easy-to-observe clues for recognizing a chemical reaction are:

1. formation of a precipitate
2. formation of a gas
3. colour change
4. energy change

Procedure:
In the experiments which follow, look for evidence of a chemical reaction. The description of the reaction
will be important in the lab report and in the discussion of what was observed.

At each station, follow the directions given on the lab sheets and/or the instructions given at the station.
When you are done at a station, clean up. Solutions and soluble materials go down the drain with lots of
water. Insoluble materials are disposed of according to the directions given by the teacher.

1. Add a scoop of baking soda to a drop plate and add a drop or two of vinegar
Precipitate Formed:__________ Colour Change:__________
Energy Change:__________ Gas Formed:__________
Observations:______________________________________

2. Chemicals are used to relieve an upset stomach.

Add a small amount of Bromo Seltzer, Eno or a small piece of an alka seltzer tablet to a beaker
half-full of water. Do not get the scoop wet.
Precipitate Formed:__________ Colour Change:__________
Energy Change:__________ Gas Formed:__________
Observations:______________________________________

3. Cobalt (II) chloride is used to test for the presence of water.

Put a small piece of the blue cobalt (II) chloride treated paper in a drop plate spot and add 1 drop
of water.
Precipitate Formed:__________ Colour Change:__________
Energy Change:__________ Gas Formed:__________
Observations:______________________________________

4. Hydrogen peroxide (known for its effect on hair) decomposes rapidly when a catalyst is added.
Add a small amount of hydrogen peroxide to a drop plate and then sprinkle in a few grains of
manganese (IV) oxide. Do not get the scoop wet.
Precipitate Formed:__________ Colour Change:__________
Energy Change:__________ Gas Formed:__________
Observations:______________________________________
 Name:___________________________

5. Pour a few mL of sodium carbonate into a test tube (to a depth of 2 cm). Pour a few mL of
calcium chloride into another test tube. Pour the contents of the first test tube into the second
test tube.
Precipitate Formed:__________ Colour Change:__________
Energy Change:__________ Gas Formed:__________
Observations:______________________________________

6. Litmus paper may be used to test for the acidity of an aqueous solution.
Add a drop of test solution to the blue litmus paper in the drop plate.
Precipitate Formed:__________ Colour Change:__________
Energy Change:__________ Gas Formed:__________
Observations:______________________________________

7. Foods may be tested for starch using iodine.

Add a few drops of iodine test solution to the starchy food sample provided. Use the drop plate.
Precipitate Formed:__________ Colour Change:__________
Energy Change:__________ Gas Formed:__________
Observations:______________________________________

8. Teacher demo: Perform in a fume hood. Solutions may be tested for their aqueous ions.
Observe the demonstration that the teacher has set up.
Precipitate Formed:__________ Colour Change:__________
Energy Change:__________ Gas Formed:__________
Observations:______________________________________

9. Teacher demo: Perform in a fume hood. Pour granulated sugar into a 250 mL beaker to a
depth of 2 cm. Pour several mL (less than 10) of concentrated sulphuric acid into the beaker.
Observe
Precipitate Formed:__________ Colour Change:__________
Energy Change:__________ Gas Formed:__________
Observations:______________________________________
 Name:___________________________

Questions:
1. What is the difference between an observation and an inference? (Use examples to illustrate the
answer.

2. What is the test for starch?

3. What is the test for water?

4. What is the test for an acidic solution?

5. What is a precipitate?

6. What is an exothermic reaction?

7. What is an endothermic reaction?

8. Use the observations from this lab and from everyday life to develop an argument for the value of
chemistry to society.