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To become scientists we must tap into our 

curiosity. We must think like scientists and ask 

questions, using the scientific method as our 

guide!

Let's start our 

experiments!

The scientific method is a way to ask and answer scientific 

questions by making observations and doing experiments. 

Using the scientific method will help you on your journey to 

discover the mystery and magic of science!

We will 

remember to 

use the 

Scientific 

Method!

1. Observe an activity in the world around you and ask a 

question. Tip: ask yourself what do I want to learn?

2. Research the question! Find information about the 

topic.

3. Make a possible explanation for that activity, an 

educated guess, called a hypothesis. Use your 

hypothesis to make predictions!

4. Test those predictions.

5. Write down your findings.

6. Come to a conclusion about your hypothesis. 

In this book we will use the scientific 

method to explore chemical changes 

and reactions!

Hi! I'm Rusty I. 

Ern, but you can call 

me Rusty! I'll be 

your tour guide!

In chemistry, a reaction happens when two or 

more molecules interact and the molecules 

change. What molecules are they? How do they 

interact? What happens? The possibilities are 

infinite. 

When you are trying to understand reactions, 

imagine that you are working with the atoms. 

Imagine the building blocks are right in front of 

you on the table, instead of billions of reactions 

in your beaker. Sometimes we do this using our 

chemistry materials to help us visualize the 

movement of the atoms.

1. A chemical change must occur. You start with one 

compound and turn it into another. That's an example of a 

chemical change. A steel garbage can rusting is a chemical 

reaction. That rusting happens because the iron (Fe) in the 

metal combines with oxygen (O2) in the atmosphere. 

2. A chemical reaction can happen with anything, just as 

long as a chemical change occurs (not a physical one). A 

reaction could include atoms, ions, compounds, or 

molecules of a single element. If you put pure hydrogen gas 

(H2) and pure oxygen gas in a room, they might be 

involved in a reaction to form water (H2O).

1) Combustion: A combustion reaction is when oxygen combines with another compound 

to form water and carbon dioxide. These reactions are exothermic, meaning they produce 

heat. 

2) Synthesis: A synthesis reaction is when two or more simple compounds combine to form 

a more complicated one. 

3) Decomposition: A decomposition reaction is the opposite of a synthesis reaction - a 

complex molecule breaks down to make simpler ones.

4) Single displacement: This is when one element trades places with another element in a 

compound. 

5) Double displacement: This is when the anions and cations of two different molecules 

switch places, forming two entirely different compounds.

6) Acid-base: This is a special kind of double displacement reaction that takes place when 

an acid and base react with each other.

In this book, we will complete two lab 

experiments to explore chemical 

properties and reactions :

1) Acid and Bases Lab

2) Tie Dye Lab

I'm ready to be a scientist 

and use the scientific 

method to explore 

chemical reactions!

Introduction

In this lab you will learn about acids and bases. Every liquid 

you see will probably have either acidic or basic traits. So 

what makes an acid or a base? A chemist named Svante 

Arrhenius came up with a way to define acids and bases in 

1887. He saw that when you put molecules into water, 

sometimes they break down and release an H+ (hydrogen) 

ion. At other times, you find the release of an OH- 

(hydroxide) ion. When a hydrogen ion is released, the 

solution becomes acidic. When a hydroxide ion is released, 

the solution becomes basic. Those two special ions 

determine whether you are looking at an acid or a base.

Properties of acids include the following:

React with most metals to form hydrogen gas

Taste sour (like lemons)

Frequently feel "sticky"

Usually gases or liquids

Properties of bases include:

Feel "slippery".   (FYI:   The slippery feeling is caused because your 

skin dissolves a little when you touch them.)

Taste bitter (like baking soda)

React with oils and greases (that's why they're used as drain and window cleaners)

Frequently solids (though ammonia is a gas that's usually dissolved in water)

When an acid and a base are placed together, they react to neutralize the acid and 

base properties, producing a salt. The H(+) cation of the acid combines with the 

OH(-) anion of the base to form water. The compound formed by the cation of the 

base and the anion of the acid is called a salt. The combination of hydrochloric acid 

and sodium hydroxide produces common table salt, NaCl:

Here we will write our lab 

together using the 

scientific method. Fill in as 

you complete the lab.

Purpose/Research Question: What do acids and bases tell 

us about chemical properties and reactions? 

__________________________________________

Hypothesis: What do you predict will happen to each 

solution?____________________________________

__________________________________________

Materials: 

- Test Substances

- Red and Blue Litmus Paper

- Goggles

- Small beakers or cups

Safety Precaution:

The first thing we do before any chemistry experiment is 

gear up. We put on gloves and goggles to make sure we are 

not harmed by any acids. No one wants to accidentally squirt 

of citric acid (lemon juice) in their eye! Ouch!

Procedure: 

1. Put on gloves and goggles and prepare 

lab station. 

2. Arrange the solutions in order (1,2,3...). 

There should be 7 separate solutions total. 

Predict the outcome of each solution.

3. Get your red and blue litmus paper. Test 

each solution by dipping one blue strip and one red strip into each 

solution. Make sure not to get any on your hands! The litmus acts as an 

indicator by turning red in an acidic solution or turning blue in a basic 

solution or remaining the same colors if it is neutral.

4. Indicate the color change or lack of color change in your data table.

5. Clean up your lab area completely.

Data Table:

Red - indicated red litmus paper was tested

Blue - indicated blue litmus paper was tested

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