Apologia Exploring Creation with Physical Science Module 1 Experiment 1.1

Apologia Exploring Creation with Physical Science 

Module 1: The Basics

Experiment 1.1: Atoms and Molecules

We had all the things we needed already, which made things easy.

Black/gray line to positive side of pattery

White line to Negative side of battery

As we hooked each wire to each side of the battery, we placed a piece of black electrical tape to keep the wire in place.

After we got the battery and wires completed, we got our glass of water and then added the baking soda.

Stirred the baking soda together and separated the wires, so they wouldn't ever touch/connect.

As soon as we put the wires into the water bubbles started rising up.  We left the wires in the water for 10-15 minutes.  We could see the black/gray wire was turning green in the water, while the white wire didn't change.

After we removed the wires from the water, we could really see the color change on the wire that had been on the positive side.

So, why did the wires, when hooked up to the battery create bubbles?  The water in the glass was full of billions (and billions...) of water molecules.  When the electricity ran through the water it separated the molecules into atoms...it borke the water molecules down into hydrogen and oxygen ... which are actually gases, and those gases rose through the water and went into the air.  A water molecule is composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom that are linked together, combined they create what we know of as "water."  So two different atoms can combine and create something totally new and unique...in this case, water!  And a little electricity can break down their connection and return them to their original form (a gas in this case).

Fun Experiment!

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