Intro: In this experiment, Maia, Morgan and I decided to try the exploding snow lab. The goal was to create artificial 'snow' using, shaving cream and baking soda then making it explode using vinegar. We wanted to test this simple and fun experiment and see if it actually felt like snow. After we finished the lab we would do independent research about why when these household objects react the way they do when they are combined.
What Happened: First we got a glass tray and added the baking soda and shaving cream together in no specific proportion. We mixed them together with our hands and felt to see if the mixture would get colder. I did feel a slight degrease in the temperature the more we mixed but it was not as dramatic as I thought it would be. The texture was kind of smooth but a bit powdery like oobleck or snow. We messed a bit with the constancy like adding a bit more shaving cream with a little bit of baking soda to see if we could make it more snow like. After we got the consistency as best as we could we put sprayed some white vinegar into the mixture it did erupt and fizz a lot like those volcanos that you make in elementary school. The vinegar seemed to make the temperature a little colder but I'm not sure. The shaving cream seemed to make the snow fizz more then if the experiment was just with baking soda. We sprayed the snow as much as we could until the baking soda seemed to be completely worn out.
On a Molecular Level: I think that before I can fully understand what is happening on a molecular level I need to know what the basic chemical structure of the three ingredients we used are. A standard shaving cream is made up of 8.2% of stearic acid, 3.7% triethanolamine, 5% lanolin, 2% glycerin, 6% polyoxyethylene sorbitan, and 79.6% water. When this mixture comes out of a aerosol can it becomes into a thick but light foam. Vinegar is a pure chemical expect it is usually watered down with 98% water. Baking sodas chemical structure is NaHCO3.It is a chemical salt that occurs in its natural form as the mineral nahcolite. The science that goes into this erupting snow is not that complex. Baking soda is an amphoteric compound, which means it may react as an acid as well as a base. The chemical reaction that happens in this experiment is when the baking soda, which is a bicarbonate (NaHCO3), and vinegar, which is an acetic acid (HCH3COO), react together. One of the products this reaction creates is carbon dioxide In other words, baking soda is acting as a base and taking protons from the vinegar. The RXN from the vinegar touching the baking soda creates bubbles that release carbon dioxide which what creates the fizzy look. What makes the snow cold is the process of the liquid in the shaving cream evaporating.
Research:
http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/men/shaving-tips/shaving9.htm
http://weirdsciencekids.com/instantsnow.html
https://bibliobrien.wordpress.com/2015/01/29/winter-science-experiments/
Reflection: Looking back I had a good time during this lab. ALthough this is a pretty stereotypical science experiment I still learned more from it then I have in the past. Working with Morgan and Maia is always fun and productive. This experiment was a bit too simple though I would like to try something more challenging in the future.
What Happened: First we got a glass tray and added the baking soda and shaving cream together in no specific proportion. We mixed them together with our hands and felt to see if the mixture would get colder. I did feel a slight degrease in the temperature the more we mixed but it was not as dramatic as I thought it would be. The texture was kind of smooth but a bit powdery like oobleck or snow. We messed a bit with the constancy like adding a bit more shaving cream with a little bit of baking soda to see if we could make it more snow like. After we got the consistency as best as we could we put sprayed some white vinegar into the mixture it did erupt and fizz a lot like those volcanos that you make in elementary school. The vinegar seemed to make the temperature a little colder but I'm not sure. The shaving cream seemed to make the snow fizz more then if the experiment was just with baking soda. We sprayed the snow as much as we could until the baking soda seemed to be completely worn out.
On a Molecular Level: I think that before I can fully understand what is happening on a molecular level I need to know what the basic chemical structure of the three ingredients we used are. A standard shaving cream is made up of 8.2% of stearic acid, 3.7% triethanolamine, 5% lanolin, 2% glycerin, 6% polyoxyethylene sorbitan, and 79.6% water. When this mixture comes out of a aerosol can it becomes into a thick but light foam. Vinegar is a pure chemical expect it is usually watered down with 98% water. Baking sodas chemical structure is NaHCO3.It is a chemical salt that occurs in its natural form as the mineral nahcolite. The science that goes into this erupting snow is not that complex. Baking soda is an amphoteric compound, which means it may react as an acid as well as a base. The chemical reaction that happens in this experiment is when the baking soda, which is a bicarbonate (NaHCO3), and vinegar, which is an acetic acid (HCH3COO), react together. One of the products this reaction creates is carbon dioxide In other words, baking soda is acting as a base and taking protons from the vinegar. The RXN from the vinegar touching the baking soda creates bubbles that release carbon dioxide which what creates the fizzy look. What makes the snow cold is the process of the liquid in the shaving cream evaporating.
Research:
http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/men/shaving-tips/shaving9.htm
http://weirdsciencekids.com/instantsnow.html
https://bibliobrien.wordpress.com/2015/01/29/winter-science-experiments/
Reflection: Looking back I had a good time during this lab. ALthough this is a pretty stereotypical science experiment I still learned more from it then I have in the past. Working with Morgan and Maia is always fun and productive. This experiment was a bit too simple though I would like to try something more challenging in the future.