OUR STUDY OF MATTER

ICE…SALT…WATER

 

Last week, scientists had a firsthand experience with learning why ICE turns to WATER (H2O) when it comes in contact with SALT (sodium Chloride). Initially, when scholars were presented with blocks of ice and a salt solution they predicted the salt would MELT the ice. Their prediction seemed to be correct as scientists witnessed large chunks of ice form crevasses and holes and eventually turned to a puddle of water. However, after learning about the molecular structure of ICE and WATER students are beginning to understand that SALT really doesn’t MELT ICE, it actually breaks apart the organized MOLECULAR structures in ICE. An easy way to understand this concept is to visualize the above SOLID green and blue SALT STRUCTURE bumping into the hexagon shaped ICE molecules with many air pockets… it breaks the ice molecules that are spread apart with ease.

BELOW, students join hands to create an ICE MOLECULE (the MOLECULE is spread apart leaving an air pocket in the middle). Another student pretends to be a strong, BIG, BAD SALT MOLECULE and breaks the student made ice structure apart!

Scientists observe ice turning to water after applying a salt solution

Scientists observe the results of adding a SALT solution and SUGAR solution to a block of ice… the salt solution leaves large holes in the ice and the sugar solution carves teeny tiny holes.

Scholars also experimented with ICE by using ice cubes to write! First, students were given a NAME CARD and after reading their names and identifying each letter in their first name, they traced the letters with an ICE CRAYON!

Interesting things started to happen!

Letters started to move!

Letters got wider!

Colors started to mix!

Names disappeared!

Hands got wet and cold!