UNIT THREE: ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES 30 minutes in length (2 sessions)

THE CAUSTIC POWERS

OF COLA
PURPOSE: MATERIALS:
Discover how cola White/chalk board, chart or paper
affects certain objects Activity – Caustic Powers of Cola
Materials for experiment
(see experiment sheet)

WHOLE GROUP:
1. Ask students to share what they have learned about
soda. Record their answers on the board.
2. Pass out the activity Caustic Powers of Cola and
follow the procedures. This is a two-part experiment so
allow some time to lapse between Part I and Part II.
3. Bring the class back together and discuss the results
of the experiment.

FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS:
1. What has this experiment taught you about soda?
2. Will you change any behaviors related to drinking soda?
NOTE TO TEACHER:
Before conducting this experiment, start collecting
objects you would like to test in the cola solution.
Examples of items are listed on the experiment sheet.
NOTE TO TEACHER:
If digital scales are not available, conduct the
experiment without weighing the initial and final
mass of each object. Instead, visually observe the
objects before and after they are submerged in
the soda. Better results will be observed the longer
the objects stay in the soda. Two to three days is a
good starting point. You may choose to leave some
objects in the soda jars longer than others. Adjust
the activity to fit your needs.

FIT PLAN: LIVING HEALTHY UNIT 3: ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES THE CAUSTIC POWERS OF COLA
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 ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES:

THE CAUSTIC
POWERS OF COLA

INTRODUCTION: MATERIALS:
There are many rumors that cola is acidic enough to do a variety of ○○ Two liters of cola ○○ Paper
tasks like remove freeway spills and stains, and clean corrosion and ○○ Galvanized nail ○○ Clear jar with lid
car engines. Are the acids found in soda really powerful enough to do ○○ Uncooked meat ○○ Graduated cylinder
just about anything? The following experiment will help put some truth ○○ Boiled eggs ○○ Digital scale
behind rumors and demonstrate what the acids in soda can really do. ○○ Dirty penny ○○ Paper towels
○○ Bone (from a chicken) ○○ Paper plates


PROCEDURE: PART I - EXPERIMENTATION

1. Using the digital scale, obtain the mass of the galvanized nail, uncooked meat, boiled egg, dirty penny and the bone or other pre-
determined objects. Record the initial masses and appearance in the table below.

INITIAL FINAL INITIAL FINAL

SUBSTANCE:
APPEARANCE: APPEARANCE: MASS: MASS:

2. Measure 600ml of cola and pour it into the container. Make sure the substance you have been assigned to test is submerged in the
cola. Seal the container tightly with the lid.
3. Allow the cola and various substances to react for 48 hours or longer.


FIT PLAN: LIVING HEALTHY UNIT 3: ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES THE CAUSTIC POWERS OF COLA
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 ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES:

THE CAUSTIC
POWERS OF COLA
PREDICTIONS:
1. What do you think will happen to your item? Why do you think this?


2. Which item do you think will produce the most interesting results?



PART II - CONCLUSION
1. Remove the items from the container of cola. If possible, rinse the items off and dry them with a paper towel.
2. Place a paper plate onto the digital scale. Then zero the scale. Place the assigned items onto the plate and record their mass in the
Final Mass column in the table.
3. Record your information on the board and then record your classmates’ data on your table.

FURTHER THINKING:
1. Which item lost the most mass? What happened?


2. Which item changed the most in appearance? Why did this happen?


3. Were your predictions correct or incorrect? Did anything surprise you?


4. Will you continue to drink cola or other soda after completing this experiment?



FIT PLAN: LIVING HEALTHY UNIT 3: ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES THE CAUSTIC POWERS OF COLA
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