Mixing vinegar and baking soda

Mixing vinegar and baking soda

Pencil and paperOnline interactive
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Further Resources
This task is about using sight, smell and touch to make observations.

Question 1Change answer

How to do this task

  • Use your four senses of sight, smell, touch, and hearing (NOT taste) to make observations about vinegar and baking soda. Write these in the chart below.
  • Then pour the vinegar into the baking soda, and make observations about vinegar added to baking soda.
mixing vinegar and baking soda
a) Complete this table of all your observations. Include the key words, solid, liquid, and gas when writing your observations.
Substance(s) Observations
Vinegar
 
 

Baking soda
 
 

Vinegar added to baking soda
 
 

Question

b)  i)  Is it possible to get the vinegar and baking soda back after they have been mixed? 

    • Yes

    • No

ii) Explain your answer.
Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pencil and paper or online.
 
Equipment:
White vinegar; baking soda; 2 × test-tubes.
  • Use only a small amount of baking soda, e.g., 1/4 of a teaspoon.
Levels:
3, 4
Curriculum info: 
Science, Investigating in science, Material World
Keywords: 
permanent changes, observation, vinegar, baking soda
Description of task: 
For this practical task students complete a table of observations for the following substances: vinegar, baking soda, and vinegar and baking soda mixed together.
Curriculum Links: 
Science capabilities
The capabilities focus is brought about by the conversations you have and the questions you ask.
 
Capability: Gather and interpret data
This resource provides opportunities to discuss when we look very carefully and notice lots of things it helps us describe how things are similar and different.
 
Science capabilities: 
Gather and interpret data
Making Better Sense: 
Permanent and Temporary Change
Answers/responses: 
a) Vinegar
  • Clear
  • Liquid
  • Has a smell/describes smell
  • Flows easily
  • A description of the feel of vinegar
Baking soda
  • White
  • Solid
  • Soft/smooth/powder like
  • No smell
Vinegar added to baking soda
  • Frothy/bubbles of gas
  • Bottom of test-tube feels warm
  • Has a smell/describes smell
  • Makes a fizzing noise
b) i) No
ii) There has been a permanent change/new substance(s) have been formed.