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Middle School | Formative Assessment Probe

Burning Paper

By Page Keeley

Uncovering Student Ideas in Science, Volume 4: 25 New Formative Assessment Probes

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Assessment Physical Science Middle School

Sensemaking Checklist

This is the new updated edition of the first book in the bestselling Uncovering Student Ideas in Science series. Like the first edition of volume 1, this book helps pinpoint what your students know (or think they know) so you can monitor their learning and adjust your teaching accordingly. Loaded with classroom-friendly features you can use immediately, the book includes 25 “probes”—brief, easily administered formative assessments designed to understand your students’ thinking about 60 core science concepts.

Access this probe as a Google form: English

Download this probe as an editable PDF: English

The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about conservation of matter during combustion. The probe is designed to find out if students think the mass changes as paper burns inside a closed system.

Type of Probe

Familiar Phenomenon

Related Concepts

chemical change, closed system, combustion, conservation of matter

Explanation

The best answer is C: The total mass before and after burning is the same. Burning is an example of combustion—a chemical change in which a substance containing hydrocarbons combines with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water. It also releases energy in the form of heat and light. When the carbon and hydrogen of the hydrocarbon-containing substance (i.e., the paper) chemically combine with the oxygen, the remaining materials may appear as ash, the solid remains of a fire. Although the hydrocarbons appear to “vanish” during the reaction with oxygen to form gaseous carbon dioxide and water vapor, the total mass or weight of the reactants (hydrocarboncontaining substance and oxygen in the air) and products (carbon dioxide, water, and ash) remain the same. In a closed system containing air, a piece of paper, and a match, no mass or weight is added or lost as the paper burns.

Gases play a big part in the interaction that occurs inside the jar. Many students have observed wood burning in a fireplace or other structure and they see that many pounds of wood seem to “disappear” with only ash left. What they do not see are the many pounds of gas given off that leave through the chimney. It is important for students to think about the interaction of all materials inside the jar.

Curricular and Instructional Considerations

Elementary Students

In the elementary grades, students begin developing ideas about changes in objects and materials. They can recognize the formation of soot or ash as a change in the appearance of the paper. Upper-elementary students begin to distinguish between physical and chemical changes on the basis of changes in observable properties. Conservation of matter in the elementary grades focuses on parts and wholes of objects and changes of state. Although the chemical details are too sophisticated to be addressed at this age level, the probe can be used to find out elementary students’ intuitive ideas about the conservation of matter in a closed system.

Middle School Students

In the middle grades, students link ideas about chemical change with formation of new substances. Burning (combustion) is commonly used as an example of a chemical change that results in a new substance with properties that differ from the original substance. These basic ideas about chemical change are included as grade-level expectations in the national standards. However, the mechanism of that change, explained by the interaction among hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen atoms, is a more sophisticated idea developed in high school. The probe is useful in determining students’ initial ideas about what burning and the combustion process are.

By the end of middle school, all students should know that matter or mass is conserved in a closed system as well as in chemical reactions. Conservation ideas about objects begin in elementary grades and increase in cognitive sophistication as the ideas of atoms, interactions, transformations, and closed systems are considered. Transformation of matter is addressed in middle school, although it remains a difficult concept and one in which students may have difficulty applying conservation reasoning. The notion that gases are involved in the interaction may be missing, and the “disappearance” of the paper may influence students’ thinking that the paper is breaking down and losing mass. Knowing the ideas that students hold prior to learning that oxygen combines with substances in the paper during a combustion reaction is useful in designing learning experiences that challenge their intuitive notions influenced by observation.

High School Students

Students at the high school level make a transition from a basic understanding of types of chemical changes, including composition, decomposition, and single and double replacement reactions, to understanding the mechanism for the reaction. Conservation of matter or mass at the high school level is an idea applied to other matter-related ideas in biological, physical, and geological contexts. The probe is useful in determining whether students recognize a closed system as justification for matter or mass being conserved during a chemical change. The probe is also useful in determining whether students still hold on to preconceived ideas about burning, even after they have received middle school instruction targeted toward the idea that in a combustion reaction, oxygen combines with certain materials to form carbon dioxide and water.

Administering the Probe

Be sure students understand that the air, paper, and match are contained in a sealed jar and nothing can enter or escape from the jar. It may help to have visual props for this probe. Light a match and seal it in a jar containing a crumpled wad of paper. Have students observe the paper as it burns. Ask students to consider what happened to the total weight or mass of the system. Note: You may wish to substitute the word mass with the word weight if using this probe with elementary school students.

The probe “Nails in a Jar” (p. 31), along with several probes in Volume 1 of this series (Keeley, Eberle, and Farrin 2005), can be used to further probe students’ ideas about conservation of matter or chemical changes involving oxygen.

6–8 PS1.B: Chemical Reactions

The total number of each type of atom is conserved, and thus the mass does not change.

K–4 Properties of Objects and Materials

Objects have many observable properties, including size, weight, shape, color, temperature, and the ability to react with other substances.

5–8 Properties and Changes in Properties of Matter

Substances react chemically in characteristic ways with other substances to form new substances (compounds) with different characteristic properties. In chemical reactions, the total mass is conserved.*

9–12 Structure of Atoms

Matter is made up of minute particles called atoms.

9–12 Chemical Reactions

Chemical reactions occur all around us.

*Indicates a strong match between the ideas elicited by the probe and a national standard’s learning goal.

Note: Benchmarks revised in 2008 are indicated by (R). New benchmarks added in 2008 are indicated by (N).

K–2 Structure of Matter

Objects can be described in terms of the materials they are made of (e.g., clay, cloth, paper) and their physical properties (e.g., color, size, shape, weight, texture, flexibility).
Things can be done to materials to change some of their properties, but not all materials respond the same way to what is done to them.

3–5 Structure of Matter

When a new material is made by combining two or more materials, it has properties that are different from the original materials.
No matter how parts of an object are assembled, the weight of the whole object made is always the same as the sum of the parts, and when a thing is broken into parts, the parts have the same total weight as the original object. (R)*

6–8 Structure of Matter

An especially important kind of reaction among substances involves the combination of oxygen with something else, as in burning or rusting.*
No matter how substances within a closed system interact with one another, or how they combine or break apart, the total mass of the system remains the same. (R)*
Substances react chemically in characteristic ways with other substances to form new substances with different characteristic properties.
The idea of atoms explains chemical reactions: When substances interact to form new substances, the atoms that make up the molecules of the original substances combine in new ways. (N)*

9–12 Structure of Matter

Atoms often join with one another in various combinations in distinct molecules or in repeating three-dimensional crystal patterns. An enormous variety of biological, chemical, and physical phenomena can be explained by changes in the arrangement and motion of atoms and molecules.

Related Research

Studies of 11- and 12-year-olds’ ideas about the role of air in burning suggest that most know that air is needed for burning, but the function of air is not generally understood (Driver et al. 1994).
Students may realize that oxygen is necessary for combustion but may not understand how it interacts with the material. Some combustibles are said to have “melted” or “evaporated,” or the combustible substance is thought to be made up of the substances that eventually appear as products (Driver et al. 1994).
More than half of a group of 15-year-olds considered to have “above average ability” predicted loss of mass on the combustion of a sample of iron wool (Driver et al. 1994).
Many students do not recognize the quantitative aspects of a chemical change and the conservation of overall mass (Driver et al. 1994).
Middle and high school students’ thinking about chemical change tends to be dominated by the obvious features of the change. Some students think that when something is burned in a closed container, it will weigh more because they see the smoke that was produced (AAAS 1993).
For chemical reactions that evolve gas, mass conservation is more difficult for students to grasp (AAAS 1993). If a chemical reaction results in the apparent disappearance of some materials, students may not know that mass is conserved (Driver et al. 1994).

Related NSTA Resources

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). 2007. Atlas of science literacy. Vol. 2. (See “The Chemical Revolution” map, pp. 80–81.) Washington, DC: AAAS

Cobb, C., and M. L. Fetterolf. 2005. The joy of chemistry: The amazing science of familiar things. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.

Keeley, P. 2005. Science curriculum topic study: Bridging the gap between standards and practice. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Keeley, P., F. Eberle, and L. Farrin. 2005. Uncovering student ideas in science: 25 formative assessment probes. Arlington, VA: NSTA Press.

National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). 2005. Properties of objects and materials. NSTA SciGuide. Online at http://learningcenter. nsta.org/product_detail.aspy?id=10.2505/5/ SG-01.

Robertson, W. 2007. Chemistry basics: Stop faking it! Finally understanding science so you can teach it. Arlington VA: NSTA Press.

Suggestions for Instruction and Assessment

This probe can be followed up as an inquiry-based demonstration. Ask the question and encourage students to commit to a prediction. Test it by finding the total mass of a jar, lid, paper, and match and then burning the paper in the jar with the match inside and the lid tightly sealed. Have students discuss the evidence and connect the results to the scientific principle of conservation of mass during a chemical reaction: Mass is not created or destroyed in a chemical reaction, but atoms and molecules are rearranged to form new products. However, be sure students are finding the mass within the limits of precision of the scale that is used.
Reinforce the idea of conservation of mass during a chemical reaction in which a gas is a reactant by exploring additional reactions in closed systems. For example, clean a Ping-Pong-ball-size piece of iron wool (commonly called “steel wool”) by dipping it in vinegar and then drying it. Place it in a flask and stretch a deflated balloon over the top of the flask. Record the mass of this system before and after the wool “rusts” and the balloon gets “sucked in” to the flask. Discuss the observations and connect the results to the scientific principle of conservation of mass during a chemical reaction, placing particular emphasis on the phenomenon of “disappearing gas.”
Reinforce the idea of conservation of mass during a chemical reaction in which a gas is produced by exploring reactions of everyday substances in closed systems. For example, record the mass of an effervescent tablet in a balloon that is sealed over a flask of water before and after the tablet is dropped into the water. Discuss the observations and connect the results to the scientific principle of conservation of mass during a chemical reaction, placing particular emphasis on the evidence of gas production.
Help students draw parallels between the types of chemical change that involve combination with oxygen, such as oxidation and combustion reactions.
With older students, connect this probe to the history of science by sharing how Antoine Lavoisier’s idea of conservation of matter became the centerpiece of the modern science of chemistry. Recount Lavoisier’s careful measurement of substances involved in burning to show that there was no net gain or loss of weight.

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). 1993. Benchmarks for science literacy. New York: Oxford University Press.

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). 2008. Benchmarks for science literacy online. www.project2061.org/publications/ bsl/online

Driver, R., A. Squires, P. Rushworth, and V. Wood- Robinson. 1994. Making sense of secondary science: Research into children’s ideas. London: RoutledgeFalmer.

Keeley, P., F. Eberle, and L. Farrin. 2005. Uncovering student ideas in science: 25 formative assessment probes. Vol. 1. Arlington, VA: NSTA Press.

National Research Council (NRC). 1996. National science education standards. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

Is Burning Paper a Chemical Change?

Every day, we witness several changes happening around us. The sunsets in the East, while the moon shines during the night. A flower turns into a fruit, and a child grows into a man. However, changes are quite different from one another in many aspects.

Is Burning Paper a Chemical Change? Yes, burning paper represents a chemical change as it forms a new substance with different properties ie; ash. Paper is a combustible substance and catches fire easily. After it catches fire, it burns, and the residue left behind is called ash.

Why do you think burning paper represents a chemical change? But first, what do you know about changes in general? How are physical and chemical changes different from one another? This article has all your questions answered.

What is Paper?

Paper is a sheet-like substance that is made from plant materials.

It is a heterogeneous mixture of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and filling material such as calcium carbonate and china clay. Additionally, chemical additives such as starch, rosin, alum, etc., are also a part of this mixture, used according to the quality of the paper.

Paper is one of the most remarkable inventions of humankind. It has aided in documenting and preserving information for thousands of years.

Back in the past, before the paper was invented, people used to write on either bamboo or pieces of silk clothes. And although silk was light in weight and convenient, it was too expensive for everyone to afford.

On the other hand, bamboo was cheap and readily available but was inconvenient to use and store. And because the paper was both economical and practical, it was better than both older writing substitutes.

Different types of Paper

Following are the different varieties of paper we use in our day-to-day lives:

Writing Paper

It is used in stationary requirements such as notebooks, documents, letters, etc. They have a smooth texture and are made from good-quality pulp.

Drawing Paper

Artists and designers mainly use drawing papers for making their drawings and designs. These papers are a little rough in texture but good in quality.

Newspapers have traditionally been published usually on cheap, low-grade paper. It is a source of written information about current events and is often printed in black ink on a grey background.

Tissue Paper

The soft paper maintains our hygiene in the form of tissues. People make use of them when they consume food, mostly in restaurants and cafes. People also love the flowers, paintings, and decorative items made up of tissue paper.

Tissue papers are highly popular due to their soft texture, lightweight, and easy-to-store nature.

Book papers are off-white papers used in the books. They are opaque to minimize the see-through of text from one side of the page to the other.

Toilet Paper

All of us are well aware of the importance of toilet paper in our daily lives. Tissue papers are made from the pulp of virgin trees and come in a roll and help us wipe the dirt from our bodies.

Physical and Chemical Changes

All of you must know how change is one true law of the universe. Everything, from a small molecule to fully-grown multicellular organisms like humans, is destined to change in some way or the other.

Change is an integral part of our lives. Every day, we witness millions of changes taking place around us. Some changes involve two substances, while others need more. Some of these are reversible, while the others are more permanent.

To understand these changes more deeply, we’ve divided them into two groups: Physical and Chemical changes.

If you want to learn more about what each change means and how they differ from one another, keep reading:

Physical Change

A change in which no new substance is formed is referred to as a physical change. There is no change in the composition of the substance undergoing a physical change.

When ice melts, it changes into water. Only the rearrangement of the water molecules takes place. The chemical composition of water molecules does not change; they are still made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Hence, no new substance is formed.

Physical change is a temporary change and can be reversed. It does not last for a long period. Ice that changes into the water due to the process of melting can be frozen again when kept at a low temperature, so melting is a temporary and reversible process.

There may be a few changes in size, shape, physical state, etc. The amount of energy required in a physical change is too little.

Chemical Change

A change in which a new substance is formed is referred to as a chemical change.

There is a change in the chemical composition of the substance undergoing a chemical change. When milk changes to curd, its chemical composition changes.

The chemical change is a permanent change and cannot be reversed. A grown adult cannot turn back into a small child.

The properties of the new substance formed are different from the original substances. The rusted iron does not possess any magnetic properties, while the iron possesses magnetic properties.

A large amount of heat and light energy is absorbed or given out in a chemical change. Cooking food requires a lot of heat energy, and in the process, a lot of heat is absorbed by the vessel and food.

How does Burning Paper represent a Chemical Change?

The process of combustion burns paper. Combustion is a chemical reaction between a Hydrocarbon and Oxygen. When the reaction occurs, it releases heat and light energy.

Let’s conduct an experiment of burning some pieces of paper and watch the changes that take place. Under an adult’s presence and with utmost care of personal safety, follow these steps:

Step 1 : Take some pieces of paper. Weigh it and note down its weight.

Step 2 : Light a match stick and use it to set these pieces of paper on fire.

Step 3 : After the papers are burnt, collect all the ash left behind by them.

Step 4 : Weigh the ash and note down its weight.

You may be able to observe the following changes:

1. When the pieces of paper are set on fire, they give out a lot of heat and light.

2. During the burning process, the papers release smoke and water vapor.

3. The papers have transformed into a new substance called ash.

4. The weight of ash collected afterward is lesser in comparison to the original weight of paper.

All these observations conclude that burning paper represents a chemical change for the following reasons:

Paper is mostly made up of carbon compounds. When it is burnt, the carbon compounds react with oxygen to give out carbon dioxide and water. The smoke and water vapors released are mostly composed of carbon dioxide and water. They get drifted away and cannot be brought back. A new substance is formed.

The leftover ash cannot be converted back into paper. The change is permanent and irreversible. One can write on paper but not on ash.

The properties of the ash formed are different from the original paper. Ash is made up of carbon and is almost black, whereas the paper was white.

The ash has an indefinite shape and size, whereas the paper had a definite shape and size.

A large amount of heat and light energy are released during the process of burning paper. One may feel the warmth and see the bright flames during the reaction.

Hence, Burning Paper is a Chemical Change.

Interesting facts about paper

Before we come to the end of this article, let’s have a look at some amazing facts about the paper:

1. The paper and pulp manufacturing industry is the fourth-largest emitter of greenhouse gases.

2. Paper is one of the largest contributors to solid waste in landfills, with about 16% solid waste.

3. About 45% of all print-outs and photocopies are discarded in the trash bin before the end of the day.

4. The number of junk mails collected throughout a year is equivalent to 100 million trees.

Burning Paper is an irreversible change. Paper once burned cannot be recovered from ashes. Plenty of resources are used for manufacturing paper and its products.

Every day, trees are cut down on a massive scale to fulfill the ever-increasing demand for the enormous amount of paper required.

Burning the paper destroys its ability to be reused and recycled. Additionally, it also produces smoke and dust. Therefore, before burning any paper, one must ensure it is utilized as many times as possible.

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Educational Innovations Blog

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Great Balls and Fire! Smashing Steel Spheres with Video

When two 1-pound, 2-inch diameter, chrome steel spheres are smashed together, enough heat is generated at the point of contact to burn a hole in ordinary paper! This dramatic demonstration has been a favorite of students in every grade for as long as I have been teaching!

The Procedure for Smashing Steel Spheres:

Explanation:.

This demonstration graphically illustrates how kinetic energy is transformed to heat energy. Though some sound energy is produced, the force centered at the small where the spheres collide generates enough heat energy to burn the paper. According to Newton, F=MA. The amount of force between the two spheres is a function of the mass (which is constant) and the acceleration (which is controlled by the person moving the steel spheres). The faster one smashes the spheres together, the greater the force.

A note from Ron Perkins:

Some time around 1996, the Smashing Steel Spheres demonstration was presented to a group of teachers in Dr. Larry Peck’s, AP summer program at Texas A&M, taught by Kristen Jones and Lisa McCaw. One enterprising teacher tried the demonstration later that evening with some old spheres that he had around the house. Imagine his surprise when he obtained sparks after colliding the rusty spheres together with a piece of aluminum foil held in between. He had rediscovered the thermite reaction: Fe 3 O 4 + Al -> Fe + Al 2 O 3 + Heat and Sparks.

Since then, there has been a frantic search for rusty spheres. It is possible to rust the Educational Innovations’ spheres, but it is usually a very slow process. Dr. David Shaw, MATC in Madison, Wisconsin, has reported that a few months in the presence of fumes from the chemical storage closet works well…

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 13th, 2010 at 2:47 pm and is filed under College level , Elementary level , energy , experiments , High School level , Middle School level , Physics . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response , or trackback from your own site.

2 Responses to Great Balls and Fire! Smashing Steel Spheres with Video

If you use large enough spheres or collide them at a fast enough speed, is it possible for the paper to actually ignite?

Saved as a favorite!, I enjoy it!

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All Burned Up: Where Does Burnt Paper Go?

By -->jeremy watt -->, posted september 21, 2011.

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Have you ever burnt a stack of papers? Maybe a few exams you didn't do so well on in that high school history class and you thought you'd avoid a load of grief from your folks by just burning the evidence?

Well, if you weren't doused with water by a parental unit hiding in the bushes, what happened to those papers when you lit them up?

Smoke And Ash And...

Of course burning paper turns it to smoke and ashes and from our everyday experience, whether it's burning old exams or firewood, we typically experience burning in a similar way: when we burn something it gets lighter or, in other words, it loses mass. But this is not true in general!

For example, when metals are burned, they actually gain mass!

This is because combustion, another word for burning, is actually a chemical reaction which produces heat via a reaction between an oxidant, like oxygen, and some other substance.

For example, when paper is burned oxygen from the air combines with carbon and hydrogen in the paper turning some of it into carbon dioxide and water vapor, which waft away with carbon particulates in the smoke. This, not surprisingly, leaves the solid ash leftover lighter than the original paper .

Producing Smoke

However, burn a common metal such as steel, copper, or aluminum and the oxygen from air actually sticks to the metal forming an oxide instead of producing heavy smoke, making the whole mass heavier.

When iron, or any other metal for that matter, rusts a similar process is taking placethat is, oxygen from the air is bonding to the metal, increasing its mass.

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A Moment of Science is a daily audio podcast, public radio program and video series providing the scientific story behind some of life's most perplexing mysteries. Learn More »

Flying Tea Rocket

Launching an empty tea bag reveals the power of density differences and convection currents.

Print this Experiment

The Flying Tea Rocket is an adaptation of a classic science demonstration called the “Ditto-Paper Rocket.” * Each two-page Ditto master had a sheet of tissue paper separating the two pages. It was this discarded tissue paper that teachers used to make the “rockets.” Since Ditto paper is – thank goodness – a thing of the past, science enthusiasts have found a simpler, albeit smaller, replacement: an empty tea bag.

* Ditto paper was used in schools many years ago (ask your grandparents). It printed purple ink on paper and produced an unforgettable smell from freshly printed copies. Come to find out later, however, that both the Ditto machine solvent and the ink were highly toxic to humans.

Experiment Videos

Here's What You'll Need

Tea bag (full to begin with), nonflammable surface (a dinner plate or shallow pan), matches or lighter, safety glasses, magnifying glass (optional), adult supervision, let's try it.

Use scissors to cut off the top of the tea bag. You don’t need the string and label or any staples on it but you do need to be able to empty the bag.

Empty the contents of the tea bag into the trash. They probably smell pretty good depending on the tea.

Unfold and straighten the empty bag. Open it so that it looks like a cylinder and is pretty straight. It doesn’t need to be perfectly round but it does have to be opened up. Place it upright on the plate or pan.

Light the top rim of the bag on fire all the way around the edge. As you watch it burn, think about what the heat is doing to the air both around and inside the burning bag.

Let the bag burn completely to ash and watch it liftoff the pan and rapidly rise into the air. You should be able to watch it rise quickly and then descend slowly as it cools. If there are any remains, look at them closely to determine what’s in them.

How Does It Work

There are actually three principles at work on the burning paper cylinder that make this activity happen.

First: There’s the density difference between the air inside the cylinder compared to the air outside of the cylinder. As the flames move down the bag, they heat the air trapped in the cylinder. The heat causes the molecules to move very quickly and to spread out inside and above the cylinder. These molecules are much farther apart than those outside the cylinder. That means the air inside the cylinder is less dense than the air outside the cylinder. Warmer, less dense air rises above cooler, denser air.

Second: The burning bag generates hot, less dense air inside it and above it. This leads to a “thermal” or a convection current of rapidly rising hot air above the flames. The larger volume of space generated by the hot rising air inside the cylinder needs to be filled. The cooler denser air outside of the burning cylinder moves in from the bottom to fill the space under the heated air.

Third: As the bag burns, it becomes both ash and smoke. The hot smoke rises, lifts away, and dissipates into the air. A delicate ash frame of the bag is all that remains but since the ash frame is so lightweight, the force of the rising, hot air is strong enough to quickly lift it upward. As it rises, it cools and then falls back into the dish… if you’re lucky.

Real World Connection

While NASA launch vehicles use rocket propulsion engines to achieve an incredibly powerful vertical “liftoff,” hot air balloons are way more subtle. They use a method similar to your burning tea bag to launch into the cool, morning air. Hot air balloons use a burner to rapidly heat and expand the air inside the balloon. This creates the same air density differences you made with your burning bag. However, in a balloon, there is no mass change like there was in the bag when it turned to ash. That would not be a good thing in a hot air balloon. Instead, the air inside the balloon is heated much hotter than the outside air which creates an envelope of trapped, less dense air within the denser morning air. As a result, the balloon lifts off the ground and rises.

Check out our Solar Bags to see first hand the power of hot, rising air on a large, very visible scale. Two types of the Solar Bag expand to either 25 or 50 feet (7.6 to 15 m) when inflated. Both harness solar energy to expand and then float into the air. It’s truly a sight to behold as a giant, black “solar sausage” slowly lifts off of the ground powered by nothing but sunshine and controlled by you!

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Riena's Science Blog

Tuesday, november 22, 2011, burning paper lab.

State of Paper:	Time it Takes to Burn (seconds):	Other Observations:
Regular	78	Had to re-light
Wet and Dried	31	Much wind
Crumpled	67
Crumpled, Wet and Dried	105

Graph

2 comments:

I really liked your further inquiry section and agree that you fully understood the design of your experiment. Good job! Including multiple trials and repeating your experiments could also enhance the precision of your results.

Thank you very much this time im gonna make my assignment😬😬

3 Awesome Science Experiments With Fire!

Introduction: 3 Awesome Science Experiments With Fire!

Please be careful when you will be performing these fire experiments at home or at school. All of these fire tricks can be extremely dangerous so again, please be careful. Always use safety glasses or face-shield, gloves, well-ventilated areas and adult supervision. Its good to have prepared fire extinguisher.

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3 Awesome Science Experiments with Fire!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlVNs-yHm04

Step 1: Fire Bubbles Experiment

Fill a kitchen plate with ordinary tap water. Add a little of dish soap to the water. Submerge the open end of the butane gas tube in the soapy water and press. Butane gas will create bubbles which you can catch by hand.

Before catching the bubbles and light them with lighter or match, make sure that every part of your hands and wrists are covered with water to protect them from a burn and don't forget to put a plate with bubbles a bit far from the place where you will make an experiment. I was using lighter refill with butane gas , you can use same or methane gas.

Step 2: Fire Hands Experiment

Hand Sanitizer contains water, ethyl alcohol which is highly flammable and can contain some perfume. Ethanol, also called alcohol, ethyl alcohol, and drinking alcohol, is a chemical compound, a simple alcohol with the chemical formula C2H5OH. It also has medical applications as an antiseptic and disinfectant.

Gels that contain ethanol produce a relatively cool flame with the blue color because of a high percentage of the water in the product.

But keep in mind, that the flame is still hot enough to burn you if you hold it too long and can ignite paper, fabrics, etc. Use care to perform this experiment in a safe location, away from flammable material. As we recommended before, it's a good idea to have a fire extinguisher or at least a glass of water.

I recommend using this Hand Sanitizer.

Burning up the Paper with a Magnifying Glass

Safety

materials list .

Magnifying glass
Paper
Sunglasses
A sunny day

Burning up the Paper with a Magnifying Glass

Instruction

Troubleshooting

question to ask , scientific description , extensions .

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Burning Money Science Trick

The burning money science trick involves lighting a real bill on fire, but it doesn’t burn and isn’t damaged. The trick demonstrates combustion , alcohol flammability , the high specific heat of water, and the special qualities that distinguish currency from ordinary paper.

All you need for the burning money trick is a genuine bill, either isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) or ethanol (grain alcohol), water, and a lighter or a match. If you don’t want to hold a burning bill, grab your tongs. Add a pinch of salt to make the normally colorless-to-blue alcohol flame visibly yellow, or any other flame colorant you like.

Dollar bill (or higher denomination if you’re confident)
Mixture of 50% alcohol and 50% water (mix equal parts)
Matches or a lighter
Salt or other flame colorant (optional)

Mix 95%-99% alcohol in equal parts with water. If you have 70% alcohol, add a splash of water, just to be safe.

Burning Money Without Damaging It

Here’s how to perform the burning money science trick:

Prepare the alcohol and water solution. You can mix 50 ml of water with 50 ml of 95-100% alcohol.
Add a pinch salt or other colorant to the alcohol/water solution, to help produce a visible flame.
Soak a bill in the alcohol/water solution so that it is thoroughly wet. The denomination doesn’t matter, but I tested the trick using $1 before risking $20.
Use tongs to pick up the bill. Allow any excess liquid to drain. Move the damp bill away from the alcohol-water solution.
Light the bill on fire and allow it to burn until the flame goes out. The end result is a slightly damp bill. If you’re holding the money and it gets too hot, wave it to extinguish the flame or drop it in water. If you like, soak the bill again and repeat the demonstration.

Real Money vs Paper Money

If you repeat the trick using a piece of regular paper, the paper will burn. Can you guess why?

How the Burning Money Trick Works

There are a few scientific principles at work in this trick:

Alcohol has a high vapor pressure. While it appears you’re lighting the bill on fire, it’s really the alcohol that’s burning. The high vapor pressure means alcohol quickly evaporates around the bill. What’s left inside the material is surrounded by water. The combustion reaction for alcohol produces carbon dioxide, water, heat, and light: C 2 H 5 OH + 3 O 2 → 2 CO 2 + 3 H 2 O + energy
Alcohol burns at a relatively low temperature. While the flame is hot enough to burn you, it doesn’t reach a high enough temperature to burn the bill because of the insulating effect of the water. If you just doused money with pure alcohol and lit it, it would burn.
Water has a high specific heat capacity. In other words, water insulates the bill from a temperature change. The alcohol burns off before the temperature gets high enough to burn the money. The flame vaporizes some of the water, but when alcohol burns, it forms even more water.
The bill is a porous material, more like fabric than paper. Because of its composition, U.S. bills readily absorb liquid (as you know if you’ve ever accidentally washed one). The soaked bill holds a lot of water. On other hand, paper isn’t very porous. A mixture of alcohol and water mainly sits on top of paper, so when you ignite it, it burns.
Salt colors a flame yellow. Alcohol burns blue, so it isn’t very visible. Adding salt makes the flame more visible, so the trick is dramatic.

Safety Information

This project involves real fire, so it should only be performed by responsible adults. As with any fire project, it’s wise to keep a container of water handy. While you can hold the bill, the fire is hot and can burn you. For safety, it’s better to handle the burning money using tongs. Don’t burn the money over a flammable surface, in case you drop it.

Keep in mind, your mileage may vary depending on your country of origin. The trick works great with U.S. currency, but if your bills are paper or plastic, they might not survive the experience.

Chemistry Practicals
CBSE Class 9 Chemistry Practical
Practical Experiment on Burning of Magnesium Ribbon in Air

Experiment on Burning of magnesium ribbon in air

A physical change occurs when there is no change in the composition of a substance and no change in the chemical nature of the substance.

The interconversion of state occurs during physical change.

SOLID ⇄ LIQUID ⇄ GAS

A chemical change is a change that causes a change in the chemical properties of matter, resulting in the formation of a new substance. As an example, consider the burning of oil or fuel.

Heat is evolved or taken in, the formation of bubbles, gas, and fumes, as well as a change in the colour of the reactants, can take place when they form a product.

Reactants → Products

A + B → C (Chemical reaction)

Materials required, observation table, precautions.

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

To carry out the Burning of magnesium ribbon in air and classify it as physical and chemical changes.

Magnesium Ribbon, Burner, Tongs, Watch Glass, pH paper Strip/Red Litmus Paper.

Magnesium is an extremely active metal. Magnesium oxide is formed when it reacts with oxygen.

During this process, two elements, magnesium and oxygen, react to form the compound magnesium oxide. Such reactions are referred to as combination reactions.

Magnesium oxide is basic in nature because it forms magnesium hydroxide when dissolved in water.

Magnesium oxide changes the colour of the red litmus solution to blue.

1. Impurities are removed from a piece of magnesium ribbon by rubbing it with sandpaper.

2. Use a pair of tongs to hold the magnesium ribbon over the watch glass or china dish.

3. Light the magnesium ribbon on the bunsen burner. Gather ash in a watch glass or china dish.

4. Bring the ash with moist red litmus paper.


1.	Rub magnesium ribbon with sandpaper.	It looks silvery white.	The colour of magnesium ribbon/metal is silvery white.
2.	Burn magnesium ribbon.	It burns with a dazzling white flame.	Magnesium burns in the air to form magnesium oxide.
3.	Bring moist red litmus paper in contact with the ash of the magnesium ribbon.	Red litmus paper turns blue.	MgO is basic is nature.

Magnesium is a silver-white metal.
Mg burns in the air, emitting a bright white flash, and then combines with oxygen to form basic magnesium oxide. 2Mg + O 2 → 2MgO
MgO is a basic element.
The experiment shows that burning magnesium ribbon in air is a direct combination reaction.
The formation of magnesium oxide is a chemical change.

1. The sandpaper should be used to clean the magnesium ribbon.

2. Hold the magnesium ribbon with tongs while it burns.

3. Avoid looking directly at the bright light associated with burning Mg. Wear sunglasses.

4. Do not come into contact with white powder or magnesium oxide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the colour of the flame when magnesium burns in the air.

Magnesium burns with a dazzling white flame.

Does Magnesium hydroxide have any effect on litmus paper?

Yes, on testing Magnesium hydroxide with litmus paper, it turns red litmus to blue.

Note down the observations for the experiment.

Some of the observations of the experiment are-

Magnesium burns with dazzling white flame.
A white powdery mass of magnesium oxide is formed.

What is the equation for the reaction?

The equation for the reaction is as follows-

Mg + O 2 → MgO

What type of reaction is the burning of magnesium ribbon?

The burning of magnesium ribbon is a combination reaction. This is because magnesium reacts with oxygen to form a single product magnesium oxide

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Experiment with Paper Burning Techniques

Find out how you can repurpose old collage papers by adding beautiful holes for a new artistic touch.

In this video, I share how to create unique organic holes in collage papers using simple tools like coffee stirrers, skewers, and incense sticks. No need to buy fancy equipment.

We will explore a variety of collage papers, how the different weights of paper respond to burning, and what tools to use for each. The holes add interest to your papers, while also providing a perfect layering element to your collages.

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Supplies Used

Wood coffee stirrers Wood burner Incense stick Wooden skewer Teabag collage papers Coffee filters Reject collage papers Homemade watercolor paper

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