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Blog week 13

 This week in lab we looked at the questions: How can a particle model of matter help explain why colors spread out?

To address this question we set up a particle model using M&M's. We had 4 groups that included a control group. Our group variables that were only different were the control group (cold water), hot water, salt water, and sugar water. Besides the water substance, everything was the same. We observed the M&M's for 1 minute, 3 minutes, and 5 minutes. 

 Salt waterHot water

Sugar water
 Control group

From our experiment and observations from the particle model, we learned what caused these colors to separate at different times. The reason the Hot water and the control group moved faster was that particles spread faster in hotter water since the heat warms up the molecules. When molecules are warmed up, it provides energy to the molecules which makes these move faster compared to the other water substances. 

Remaining questions:
* If the salt water was warmed up would it have melted faster? Or does salt not play a role in melting the M&M's at all?
*Do different colors dissolve at before others? If so why?
*What is we did not use any water substance, and we use something like hydrogen peroxide or vinegar, what would happen?

Comments

  1. Julia MikkelsenApril 19, 2023 at 11:36 AM

    Great post Amber! I also think that the salt water warmed up would cause the M+M's to melt much faster, but I'm still not sure what the salt does to make it colder.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ali McDermottApril 19, 2023 at 7:39 PM

    Hi Amber! I enjoyed reading your post. I am also curious if certain colors dissolve faster than others. I think this would be hard to research because the water would have to hit each M&M at the same time.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Abby BorthApril 20, 2023 at 1:48 PM

    Amber,
    Great post! This lab really helped me better understand density and how different particles affect each other. It was interesting to see the differences between the different groups. I also have a few questions still. I am curious how fast the color would melt if the salt and sugar waters were hot as well. I am also wondering why the colors did not mix together.

    ReplyDelete

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