Chemical Reactions With Vinegar

Lucille Denmark                Rudyard Kipling School
                               9341 South Lowe Avenue
                               Chicago IL 60620
                                (312) 535-3151

Objectives:

Second Grade Level
To determine whether vinegar creates a chemical reaction
To make an active and a dormant volcano
To label the parts of a volcano

Materials Needed:

   1 narrow-neck bottle (25 oz./750ml)
   a mound of dirt
   1 tablespoon liquid detergent
   a few drops of food coloring
   1 cup of vinegar (acetic acid)
   warm water
   2 tablespoons of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)

Strategy:

 Activity I:
Step 1. Set the bottle on the ground and build up a mound of dirt around it 
        so that only the neck of the bottle shows a little.
Step 2. Put 1 tablespoon of liquid detergent in the bottle.
Step 3. Add a few drops of food coloring.
Step 4. Add 1 cup of vinegar.
Step 5. Add warm water, enough to fill the bottle almost to the top.
Step 6. Very quickly add 2 tablespoons of baking soda that has been mixed
        with a little water (mixing it with water makes it easier to add it
        quickly).

 Activity II:
Step 1. Place a candle on a plate or in a bowl standing up.
Step 2. Combine in the glass jar 1 tbs of baking soda with 3 oz of vinegar.
Step 3. As the bubbles begin to form, hold the jar over the lit candle, tipping
        the jar as if you were pouring out its contents, but do not pour out
        the mixture.
Step 4. Observe what happens to the flame and give your best explanation.
Step 5. Complete the attached activity sheet and return it.

Performance Assessment:

Student will orally define chemical reaction (a chemical reaction breaks 
materials apart and makes new materials from the original parts) and how the 
volcano is seen as a chemical reaction.  Student will use the science kit 
containing the materials for activity I to create a model of an active and a 
dormant volcano.  Students will label the crater, crust and the lava of the 
volcano.