This Week in School ...

This week we have been demonstrating scientific experiments to classes at YCES.  We are studying "Scientific Method in the Kitchen."  Thanks so much to our teachers for adjusting their schedules to make this happen.

Have you attended a session yet?  

They've been so much fun!

We wanted to share the experiments with you so that you can try them at home if you like.  Also, maybe these experiments will give you an idea of what you can do for your own entry in the Science Fair!  Please remember to ask your parents for help.

Also - remember that registration forms are due in the office THIS FRIDAY!

Scientific Method in the Kitchen

*** Fizzy Lemonade ***

Materials

2 drinking glasses

1 teaspoon of baking soda per glass

2 T of lemon juice

Water

Sugar (to add to taste)

Measuring cup(s)

Experimental Procedure

1. Gather material over waterproof surface.
2. Pour 1/4 c of water in glass - add 1 tsp baking soda.
3. Mix well and observe.
4. Pour lemon juice into 2nd drinking glass.  Add the same quantity of water to the drinking glass.
5. Mix well and observe.
6. While stirring add 1 teaspoon of baking soda to the drinking glass.
7. Mix well and observe.
8. Add sugar to sweeten if desired

Why does this work?

Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3) is base. Citric Acid (C6H8O7 ) is an acid. When these two chemicals come together (in what’s called a chemical reaction) they change into a salt, some water, and carbon dioxide. That carbon dioxide is the stuff that makes our cupcakes super fluffy or makes our baking soda volcanoes blow. Or makes our sodas fizzy.

Here's another acid-base reaction experiment you can do at home with the help of an adult!  Click on this link:
Steve Spangler Science - Acid Base Rocket

*** Ivory Soap Souffle ***

Materials

Bar of Ivory soap

Various bars of another brand of soap

Deep bowl of water (or a plastic tub)

Paper towel

Microwave oven

Experiment

1. Fill the bowl with water.
2. Drop the bars of soap in the bowl of water.  Notice how all of the bars of soap sink except for the Ivory brand soap.  Why?
3. Remove the Ivory soap from the water and break it in half to see if there are any pockets of air hiding in the middle of the bar. If there are, that would make the soap float, right? But ... there are no pockets of air. Hmm ...
4. Place the bar of Ivory soap in the middle of a piece of paper towel and place the whole thing in the center of the microwave oven.
5. Cook the bar of soap on HIGH for 2 minutes. Don't take your eyes off the bar of soap as it begins to expand and erupt into beautiful puffy clouds. Be careful not to overcook your soap souffle.
6. Allow the soap to cool for a minute or so before touching it. Amazing... it's puffy but rigid. Don't waste the soap. Take it into the shower or bath. It's still great soap with a slightly different shape and size.

Why does this work?

Take a look at this great explanation:
Steve Spangler Science - Soap Souffle

*** Apple Juice Caviar ***

Materials

For the caviar

300ml apple juice

3g sodium alginate

20g caster sugar

For the calcium bath

500ml water

5g calcium chloride

10 drops green food coloring

For storage

250ml apple juice

A few drops green food coloring

Method

1. Pour the apple juice into a bowl. Mix the sodium alginate and sugar together in another bowl, then slowly add it into the juice a little at a time while whisking it (do this in an electric mixer if you have one) trying to avoid it making lumps. Add the food coloring and whisk gently for 5 minutes on the slowest setting, then leave the mixture to stand for 10 minutes as it thickens into a lump free gel.
2. Make up the calcium bath in a bowl by mixing the calcium chloride and food coloring into the water and stirring until dissolved. Pour the 250ml apple juice (for storage) into a bowl and set aside.
3. Draw the syrup into a syringe and, holding the tip of the syringe 10cm above the bowl, squeeze it slowly to drop regular, steady drops into the calcium bath. Gently stir the water as you do this to help the drops turn into spheres.
4. The little balls of "caviar" shouldn't stay in the calcium bath for more than 3 minutes or they will solidify too much. After each syringe-full, scoop them up using a sieve or tea strainer, rinse in a little cold water, then store in a bowl of fruit juice, adding a few drops of the food coloring to match the color of the caviar (otherwise the color will slowly fade). The caviar will keep for 2-3 days in the fridge.

Why does this work?

“Just as a teaspoonful of water dropped into a bowl of vegetable oil forms a little bubble of water in the oil, each drop of the alginated liquid tends to form into a small sphere in the calcium solution. Then, during a reaction time of a few seconds to a few minutes, the calcium solution causes the outer layer of each alginated liquid sphere to form a thin, flexible skin. The resulting 'popping boba' or artificial 'caviar' balls are removed from the calcium-containing liquid bath, rinsed in a bowl of ordinary water, removed from the water and saved for later use in food or beverages.”

Spherification, Wickipedia, the free encyclopedia

Here's a great link that has step by step photos of this process: 
How to Make Spherified Fruit Juice