Lab 2.1: Physical vs.

Chemical Changes Name: ___________________

Guiding Questions:
How do you know a reaction has taken place? How can you prove chemical or physical changes?
Purpose:
To practice identifying evidence that proves whether a chemical or physical reaction has occurred.

Materials:
• Sodium bicarbonate
• Balloons
• Vinegar
• Empty bottles
• Funnels
• Plastic spoons
• Optional additional materials: lemon juice, water, sugar, ketchup, cornstarch, salt,
thermometer, graduated cylinder, scale.
PART 1:
Procedure:
1. Collect the following from your instructor: sodium bicarbonate, a plastic spoon, 1 balloon,
vinegar, an empty bottle, and a funnel.
2. Use the plastic spoon to measure out a spoonful of sodium bicarbonate.
3. Place the funnel inside of the ballon and pour the sodium bicarbonate into the ballon.
4. Put the balloon filled with sodium bicarbonate off to the side.
5. Now place the funnel into the bottle and pour the vinegar into the bottle.
6. Carefully wrap the opening of the balloon around the opening of the bottle. Make sure not to
spill any of the sodium bicarbonate into the vinegar yet. The top of the balloon should be
hanging over the side of the bottle, make sure the ballon is sealed.
7. Lift the balloon so it is straight up so the sodium bicarbonate can fall into the vinegar. Lightly
shake the balloon and bottle a little bit to try to make sure that all the sodium bicarbonate has
mixed with the vinegar.
8. Make observations and record your responses to the questions below:

Question: Response:
Gathering evidence – Record your observations:

Addressing the purpose - Has a reaction occurred?

How do you know?

Digging deeper – Why type of reaction (chemical or

physical) has occurred? How do you know?

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Part 2: Create your own experiment
Goal:
To create an experiment that will help you prove a physical or chemical change has occurred.
Directions:
1. Analyze the additional materials given.
2. Talk with your group to predict chemical or physical reactions with the extra given materials
3. Pick what materials (and measurements) you want to use for your experiment.
The materials are
Vinegar Baking soda
Water Sugar
Lemon juice Cornstarch
Ketchup Salt
4. The materials chosen should include 1 powder or solid, and 1 liquid, please circle 1 from each
column above.
5. Think “how will my experiment prove a physical or chemical change?” Do you need a
thermometer to measure temperature change or a ballon to measure gas production?
6. Write out your own procedure below listed in steps…
7. Get your procedure checked with your teacher before starting your experiment.

Procedure for your experiment:

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Part 3: Conduct your Experiment

Directions:
1. Follow your approved procedure exactly as written above
2. Take notes of your observations during the experiment and fill in the chart below..

Question: Response:
Q1: What two materials are you using?

Q2: How will you measure or observe the

change that is occurring?

Q3: What are your observations during the

experiment?

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Part 4: Post Lab Questions
Please answer the following questions in complete sentences.

Question: Response:
Q1: Did your experiment undergo a physical or
chemical change?

Q2: How do you know this was a physical or

chemical change? Provide evidence from your
experiment.

Q3: If you used a ballon in your experiment, how

did the size of the ballon compare to size of the
first experiment we did? Why do you think it was
the same/ different?

Q4: Jonny mixed blue food coloring into his

water and the water turned blue. Is this an
example of a physical or chemical change? Why?

Helpful Pre-lab Information

Chemical changes are defined by the following:

• Permanent Color Change
• Formation of a gas
• Formation of a precipitate
• Odor change
• Temperature change
Physical changes are defined by the following:
• When a change has occurred but no new substances are formed
• Mixtures can be separated back into their parts by using physical methods such as heat.
• Examples include: mixing salt and water.