Name: Lee Arthur Date: 11 December 2021
Student Exploration: Mystery Powder
Analysis
Vocabulary: Biuret solution, iodine solution, litmus paper, vinegar
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions andprompts in
the orange boxes.
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
A white powder is found spilled on the kitchen floor of a crime scene. A similar powder is found on the shoes ofa suspect
in the crime.
1. What are some powders that you might find on the kitchen floor?
Salt, flour, sugar, baking soda, garlic powder, ajax.
2. How could you tell if the powder was salt, sugar, flour, or baking soda?
You can take samples of the powders and then taste them.
Gizmo Warm-up
The Mystery Powder Analysis Gizmo allows you to use a variety of tests to identify
unknown substances. To start, drag the Baking soda test tube into the“Place tube
here” area.
1. Under Appearance, click Test. Is baking soda a fine powder (no visible
grains), or is it coarse (visible grains)?
Baking Soda is a fine powder.
2. Litmus paper is an indicator of acids and bases. Under Litmus test, click Test. Which of the followingresults
occurred? (highlight the answer.)
A. Both strips red (acid) C. One red, one blue strip (neutral)
B. Both strips blue (base)
3. Some substances react with vinegar to produce carbon dioxide, visible as bubbles.
Under Vinegar test, click Test. Does the vinegar bubble? Yes, the vinegar does
bubble
4. The blue Biuret solution turns bright purple in the presence of proteins. Iodine solution turns darkpurple in
the presence of starch. Try each of these tests.
Does baking soda contain protein? No Does baking soda contain starch? No
, Activity A: Get the Gizmo ready:
Known ● Click Reset.
substances ● Be sure the Known substances are selected.
Question: What are the properties of baking powder, baking soda, corn starch, gelatin, and salt?
1. Collect data: Use the Gizmo to test the five known substances. Fill in the results below.
Litmus
Appearance (coarseor Vinegar Biuret Iodine
Substance (acid or
fine?) (bubbles?) (protein?) (starch?)
base?)
Baking powder Fine Base Yes No No
Baking Soda Fine Acid and base Yes No Yes
Corn Starch Fine Acid and base No No Yes
Gelatin Coarse Acid No Yes No
Salt Coarse Acid and base No No No
2. Analyze: Look at the results of your tests.
A. Which substance(s) are acids? Baking Soda, Corn Starch, Gelatin and Salt
B. Which substance(s) are bases? Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Corn Starchand
Salt
C. Which substance(s) react with vinegar? Baking powder and Baking Soda
D. Which substance(s) contain protein? Gelatin
E. Which substance(s) contain starch? Baking Soda and Corn Starch
3. Apply: Suppose you find a mystery powder. It is coarse in appearance, has a neutral pH, and does notreact with
vinegar, Biuret solution, or iodine.
Of the five substances listed here, which is it most likely to be?
Salt
4. Challenge: Baking powder is a combination of three substances. One is an acid salt, and the other two areother
“known” substances in the Gizmo. What are these two substances?
Baking Soda and Corn Starch
Reproduction for educational use only. Public sharing or posting prohibited. © 2021 ExploreLearning™ All rights reserved
Student Exploration: Mystery Powder
Analysis
Vocabulary: Biuret solution, iodine solution, litmus paper, vinegar
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions andprompts in
the orange boxes.
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
A white powder is found spilled on the kitchen floor of a crime scene. A similar powder is found on the shoes ofa suspect
in the crime.
1. What are some powders that you might find on the kitchen floor?
Salt, flour, sugar, baking soda, garlic powder, ajax.
2. How could you tell if the powder was salt, sugar, flour, or baking soda?
You can take samples of the powders and then taste them.
Gizmo Warm-up
The Mystery Powder Analysis Gizmo allows you to use a variety of tests to identify
unknown substances. To start, drag the Baking soda test tube into the“Place tube
here” area.
1. Under Appearance, click Test. Is baking soda a fine powder (no visible
grains), or is it coarse (visible grains)?
Baking Soda is a fine powder.
2. Litmus paper is an indicator of acids and bases. Under Litmus test, click Test. Which of the followingresults
occurred? (highlight the answer.)
A. Both strips red (acid) C. One red, one blue strip (neutral)
B. Both strips blue (base)
3. Some substances react with vinegar to produce carbon dioxide, visible as bubbles.
Under Vinegar test, click Test. Does the vinegar bubble? Yes, the vinegar does
bubble
4. The blue Biuret solution turns bright purple in the presence of proteins. Iodine solution turns darkpurple in
the presence of starch. Try each of these tests.
Does baking soda contain protein? No Does baking soda contain starch? No
, Activity A: Get the Gizmo ready:
Known ● Click Reset.
substances ● Be sure the Known substances are selected.
Question: What are the properties of baking powder, baking soda, corn starch, gelatin, and salt?
1. Collect data: Use the Gizmo to test the five known substances. Fill in the results below.
Litmus
Appearance (coarseor Vinegar Biuret Iodine
Substance (acid or
fine?) (bubbles?) (protein?) (starch?)
base?)
Baking powder Fine Base Yes No No
Baking Soda Fine Acid and base Yes No Yes
Corn Starch Fine Acid and base No No Yes
Gelatin Coarse Acid No Yes No
Salt Coarse Acid and base No No No
2. Analyze: Look at the results of your tests.
A. Which substance(s) are acids? Baking Soda, Corn Starch, Gelatin and Salt
B. Which substance(s) are bases? Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Corn Starchand
Salt
C. Which substance(s) react with vinegar? Baking powder and Baking Soda
D. Which substance(s) contain protein? Gelatin
E. Which substance(s) contain starch? Baking Soda and Corn Starch
3. Apply: Suppose you find a mystery powder. It is coarse in appearance, has a neutral pH, and does notreact with
vinegar, Biuret solution, or iodine.
Of the five substances listed here, which is it most likely to be?
Salt
4. Challenge: Baking powder is a combination of three substances. One is an acid salt, and the other two areother
“known” substances in the Gizmo. What are these two substances?
Baking Soda and Corn Starch
Reproduction for educational use only. Public sharing or posting prohibited. © 2021 ExploreLearning™ All rights reserved
