Lesson Support Material for the Particle Theory

Lessons 1 and 2

Whoosh Bottle

Equipment: water bottle, safety screen, meter ruler, splint, matches, methylated spirits (40 ml)

1. Pour the methylated spirits into the container and shake it well. Ensure the liquid coats the

inside of the container. Repeat this several times.

2. Pour the methylated spirits into a beaker and dispose of safely.

3. Place the whoosh bottle on the floor, behind the safety screen. Ensure you are wearing

goggles and the children are 2m away. Check risk assessment sheet for further advice.

4. Attach a splint at 90o to the end of a metre stick.

5. Light the splint and insert into the top of the whoosh bottle.

6. Watch the reaction!

Remember to watch the videos on the website for further guidance.

Lesson Support Material for the Particle Theory

Lessons 3 and 4

Gallium Spoon

Equipment: Gallium Spoon, spoon mould, 50ml beaker, 250ml beaker, 5ml syringe, gloves, access to fridge

1. Look at the spoon - what do you see? (Silvery metallic spoon which sounds metallic when you

tap it.) Allow pupils to feel the spoon - tap it.

2. Get some children to put their fingers in the water and feel that it's not very hot.

3. Mark the level of the water with a fine felt tipped pen.

4. Ask one pupil to stir the water with the spoon – Observe and discuss what happens.

5. Has the water and metal mixed? Is the liquid metal heavier than the water? How do you know?

Has the water level changed?

6. Carefully pour the water away - this is called ‘decanting’.

7. Pour the liquid Gallium into the 50ml beaker. (Notice how some of the metal ‘sticks’ to the

sides.)

8. Pour some hot (not boiling) water back into the 250ml beaker and leave for about 5 minutes for

the Gallium to heat up.

9. Use the syringe to pour the liquid Gallium into the spoon mould.

10. Give the mould a little shake to settle the Gallium and place the mould in a fridge for about

20 minutes.

11. Remove the reformed spoon from the mould.

12. Repeat steps 1-11

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Ensure you are wearing gloves.

Lesson Support Material for the Particle Theory

Lessons 5 and 6

Elephants Toothpaste

Equipment: hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), 2 x 100 ml measuring cylinders, large measuring cylinder, washing up liquid, potassium iodide crystals, food colouring, splint, bowl and bin bag.(Please note the reaction will not be as effective if the hydrogen peroxide has not been kept in the fridge)

Please ensure you have read and signed the Risk Assessment 1. Place 20 ml of the 30% hydrogen peroxide into the large measuring cylinder. Place the cylinder

into the large bowl, with an open black bin bag around it.

2. Add about 5 ml of washing up liquid to the cylinder containing the 30% hydrogen peroxide.

3. Add a few drops of food colouring

4. Finally add 5 ml of concentrated potassium iodide solution (or 1 heaped spatula of potassium

iodide powder).The reaction takes place quickly, so it is important to stand back.

5. You will notice that the foam has a brown tint. This is due to the presence of free iodine produced

by the extreme oxidizing power of the 30% hydrogen peroxide.

6. Quickly light a splint, when the flame has caught, gently blow the flame out and insert the glowing

splint into the foam. The splint should relight. This is the test for oxygen, the oxygen relights the

splint.

Lesson Support Material for the Particle Theory

Lessons 7 and 8

Foaming Endothermic Reaction

Equipment: Citric Acid (C6H8O7), sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO3), food colouring, 5 litre beaker, washing up bowl, 2 litre jug Please ensure you have read and signed the Risk Assessment 1. Place about 200 ml of the sodium hydrogen carbonate and 100 ml of the citric acid into the large

plastic jug.

2. Add a little food dye and give the dry mixture a really thorough by swirling the mix around for a

few moments.

3. Stand the jug in a washing up bowl and ask your pupils to roll their sleeves up.

4. As the reaction takes place very quickly you will need to ensure that those students who wish to

participate are close at hand.

5. From another large plastic beaker /basin quickly pour about one litre of water into the powder,

the reaction is instantaneous and pupils can stick their hands in it!

Lesson Support Material for the Particle Theory

Lessons 9 and 10

Icing Sugar Explosion

Equipment: metal paint tin with lid, rubber tubing, icing sugar, 3x tea-light candles, matches,

heatproof mat

Ensure Risk Assessment has been read and signed.

1. Completely clear a table at the front of the class.

2. Push one end of the plastic tubing into the hole near the base of the tin. Place the icing sugar tin

on a heat proof mat on the table.

3. Turn the lights down low in the class room.

4 Ensure that that pupils are sitting down at least four metres away.

5. Light the candles in the tin and place directly opposite the hole near the base of the tin.

6.Place about 5 – 6 tbs of icing sugar in the base of the tin in front of the tube hole, and push the lid

down fairly tightly on the tin.

7. Take a deep breath, fully extend the rubber piping and, gripping the tube in your hand, give a

‘strong’ puff of air into the tube.

8. There should be a loud bang as the tin lid shoots off and an orange flame appears briefly as the

icing sugar powder catches fire.

Lesson Support Material for the Particle Theory

Lessons 11 and 12

Disappearing Plastic

Equipment: large tea mug, 50 ml propanone/acetone and polystyrene chips/blocks

Please ensure you have read and signed the Risk Assessment

1. Place about 5 ml of acetone into the bottom of the mug without the class seeing you do so and

‘casually’ place small handfuls of the foam into the mug from a significant volume on your desk

during an unrelated discussion with the class.

2. The polystyrene will quickly ‘dissolve’ in the propanone and a quite staggering quantity will

‘disappear’ into the mug.

Please ensure you return the acetone at the end of the unit.