1. Investigation I: Defining Matter
Alchemy Unit
Investigation I: Defining Matter
Lesson 1: Penny for Your Thoughts
Lesson 2: Whatsa Matter?
Lesson 3: Tools of the Trade
Lesson 4: All That Glitters

2. Alchemy Unit – Investigation I
Lesson 1:
Penny for Your Thoughts

3. ChemCatalyst
Long ago, early scientists tried to turn ordinary things into gold. This pursuit was called alchemy and the people who engaged in alchemy were called alchemists.
Do you think the alchemists were successful in turning things to gold? Explain your thinking.
Unit 1 • Investigation I

4. The Big Question Can we turn a penny into gold?
Unit 1 • Investigation I

5. You will be able to:
Follow a procedure using lab equipment and describe your observations.
Unit 1 • Investigation I

6. Activity
Purpose: In this activity you will be transforming a copper penny and discussing what happens.
Safety Note: You must weat safety goggles at all times. DANGER! Sodium hydroxide will burn skin, eyes, and clothing.
(cont.)
Unit 1 • Investigation I

7. (cont.)
Unit 1 • Investigation I

8. Making Sense Do you think you made real gold? How could you find out?
Unit 1 • Investigation I

9. Check-In
No Check-In
Unit 1 • Investigation I

10. Wrap-Up
No Wrap-Up
Unit 1 • Investigation I

11. Alchemy Unit – Investigation I
Lesson 2:
Whatsa Matter?

12. ChemCatalyst Modern chemistry is defined as the study of matter.
What do you think matter is?
Name two things that are matter and two things that are not matter.
Unit 1 • Investigation I

13. The Big Question
What is matter?
Unit 1 • Investigation I

14. You will be able to:
Describe some properties of matter and classify things as "matter" or "not matter."
Unit 1 • Investigation I

15. Activity
Purpose: In order to study matter, it is important to understand what matter is and what qualities all matter possesses. In this lesson you will work to come up with a definition for matter.
(cont.)
Unit 1 • Investigation I

16. (cont.)
Matter
Unsure
Not Matter
Unit 1 • Investigation I

17. Making Sense
Pick one of the items that you consider to be “not matter”.
State why you believe that particular item is something other than matter.
Show how it doesn’t fit your definition of matter.
Unit 1 • Investigation I

18. Notes Here are some textbook definitions of matter:
Matter is anything that has mass and volume.
Matter is anything of substance in the known universe.
Matter is anything that takes up space.
(cont.)
Unit 1 • Investigation I

19. Energy is the ability of a system to do work or supply heat.
(cont.)
Energy is the ability of a system to do work or supply heat.
Energy is not considered to be matter because it does not take up space nor does it have mass.
Unit 1 • Investigation I

20. Check-In
Which of the following can be classified as matter according to our definition?
a) a beam of sunlight
b) an autmobile
c) an idea
d) your breath
e) rain
f) sadness
Unit 1 • Investigation I

21. Wrap-Up Matter is everything that takes up space.
Matter exists in many forms.
Unit 1 • Investigation I

22. Alchemy Unit – Investigation I
Lesson 3:
Tools of the Trade

23. ChemCatalyst
Matter is defined as anything that has mass and occupies space. Make a list of at least 4 tools or pieces of equipment you think a chemist might use in order to measure the mass and volume of some matter.
Unit 1 • Investigation I

24. The Big Question What tools do chemists use when studying matter?
Unit 1 • Investigation I

25. You will be able to:
Name and explain the uses of some of the equipment used in studying chemistry.
Unit 1 • Investigation I

26. Activity
Purpose: In this lesson you will be introduced to the many different laboratory tools that chemists use. You will become acquainted with the layout of your lab and with the location and use of safety equipment within your lab.
Unit 1 • Investigation I

27. Making Sense
What tools did you use in the penny lab on the first day of class?
Unit 1 • Investigation I

28. Check-In
Where are these items located in your classroom? (Sketch or describe)
graduated cylinder
test tube rack
eye wash
Erlenmeyer flask
scale or balance
fire extinguisher
Unit 1 • Investigation I

29. Wrap-Up
Chemists have a set of tools that are useful for studying matter.
Chemistry laboratories have a number of potential hazards. It is important that you behave responsibly and know how to use the safety equipment.
Unit 1 • Investigation I

30. Alchemy Unit – Investigation I
Lesson 4:
All That Glitters

31. ChemCatalyst
In the year 1 B.C., King Hiero commissioned the creation of a golden crown. However, he didn’t believe that the goldsmith used all gold. He asked Archimedes to determine if the crown was solid gold.
(cont.)
Unit 1 • Investigation I

32. (cont.)
Do you think Archimedes can determine if the crown is solid gold by putting it under water? Why or why not?
What happens to the level of the water if you submerge a crown in the water?
Unit 1 • Investigation I

33. The Big Question
How can we use mass and volume to prove whether or not a substance is gold?
Unit 1 • Investigation I

34. You will be able to:
Find the mass, volume, and density of solid objects.
Unit 1 • Investigation I

35. Notes
Mass is the amount of stuff or substance. We measure mass by measuring weight on a scale or balance.
Volume refers to the amount of space occupied by a substance.
Unit 1 • Investigation I

36. Activity
Purpose: It is not always easy to tell one form of matter from another. This activity will show you how to differentiate between different forms of matter by examining density, one of the physical properties of matter.
density = mass ÷ volume
(cont.)
Unit 1 • Investigation I

37. (cont.) (cont.) Data and Calculations Metal Mass (g)
Volume of water (mL)
Volume of water with metal (mL)
Volume of metal (mL)
2-inch long gold-colored rod
2-inch long silver-colored rod
4-inch long silver-colored rod
(cont.)
Unit 1 • Investigation I

38. (cont.) Densities of metals copper zinc gold aluminum brass 9.0 g/mL
Unit 1 • Investigation I

39. Making Sense
Could you use density information to determine if the golden penny you made in class is gold? Why or why not?
Unit 1 • Investigation I

40. Notes
Density is defined as the mass per unit volume or how much “stuff” there is in a certain space.
d = m  v
The intrinsic property of a substance is a property that doesn’t depend on size and shape (for the same temperature).
It is generally not possible to deduce the density of a substance from its appearance.
Unit 1 • Investigation I

41. Check-In
In 1999 the United States Mint produced a coin called the Golden Dollar. It features an image of Sacagawea, the famous Native American guide for Lewis and Clark. It has a mass of 9.8 g and a volume of 1.1 mL.
What is the density of this coin?
The density of gold is 19.3 g/mL. Is this coin truly gold? Explain.
Unit 1 • Investigation I

42. Wrap-Up
Density is an intrinsic physical property of matter. It is a measure of the mass per unit of volume of a substance.
One substance can be distinguished from another by examining its intrinsic physical properties.
Unit 1 • Investigation I