In this issue:

 Candy Coating Science Project

 Fun Facts
 Silly Science
 Way Cool Websites

This time of year, many families in the U.S. end up with a whole haul of
Halloween candy. Part of scientific investigation involves looking at things in
new ways. This year, instead of eating all that candy, use some of those sweet
treats in an easy science experiment.

Candy Coating Science Project

Liquids that can dissolve solids are called solvents. Things dissolved in a
solvent are called solutes. In this experiment, you’ll use a solvent (water) to
dissolve the colored coating on candy (solute).

What You Need:

 M&Ms® or Skittles®
 Petri dish, paper plate, or another shallow container
 Hot and cold tap water
 Stopwatch

What You Do:

1. Fill the petri dish with enough cold water to fully cover one M&Ms or
Skittles.
2. Carefully drop the candy in being sure not to disrupt the water too
much. If you can, drop the candy so it lands with its letter facing up.
3. Start your stopwatch and notice how the candy looks after 30-second
intervals.
4. Write down or draw your results.
5. Repeat the experiment with hot water.

What Happened:

Water is often called the universal solvent because, given enough time, it will
dissolve just about anything. What happened when you used hot water versus
cold water in the experiment? You probably found that hot water dissolved the
candy coating faster. That’s because the molecules in hot water move faster
than those in cold water. Since faster-moving molecules have more energy,
they can dissolve the solute more quickly.

For further study, try using different candies and/or different solvents, like
milk, saltwater, or vinegar. How do your results change? What about if you stir
your solvent after you drop the candy in? How does agitation affect your
results?
Bonus:

If you dropped your candy very carefully and didn’t disturb the water
afterward, you may have noticed the white “M” or “S” floating in the water.
That’s because the ink used to stamp the letter on the candy is not water-
soluble. So although it’s safe to eat, it’s a solute that doesn’t dissolve in water.

Way Cool Websites

 Identify the candy bar by its cross-section in this fun online game.
 Find out how different candies are made with the Candy-o-matic from
Exploratorium.
 Watch a slideshow of Halloween candy through the years.