Mystery Mixture

Materials Tin foil Tweezers Cornstarch Sugar Baking Soda Dropper Vinegar Candle Plate Matches

Problem/Question: How can the compounds in an unknown mixture be identified by experimentation? Hypothesis: My hypothesis is... because...

To be testedVinegar fizzes Iodine turns blue Compound melts Cornstarch Sugar Baking Soda Mystery mix

Procedure 1.Place a small scoopful of cornstarch on your plate. Do the same for sugar and baking soda. 2.Add a drop of vinegar to each. 3.Wash and dry your plate. 4.Place another small scoop of each compound on the clean dry plate.

Procedure continued.. 5. Add a drop of iodine to each. 6. Wash and dry your plate and return it to the materials counter. 7.Place a small scoopful of each compound on a separate sheet of tinfoil.

Procedure Continued Hold the tinfoil with the tweezers. 9. Gently heat the bottom of each tinfoil square over a lighted candle. 10. Now use steps 2 – 9 to test your mystery mixture and find out which of these compounds it contains.

Conclusion Questions 1.Use your observations to form a hypothesis about which compounds are in your mystery mixture. 2.How would you be able to tell if all three compounds were not in your mystery mixture sample? 3.What other possible combinations could there be? How would each combination react when tested?