Instruction
Follow the instructions in the attached file.
-Use a clear baking dish for your container – a loaf pan actually works perfectly for these activities. You can also use a book rather than a wooden block. You can use other types of containers if you don't have a clear baking dish, but it must have smooth sides and be large enough that you can see the experiments develop.
-You will need to be creative about how you complete the first set-up for activity 1. You need to have your tank elevated, but you need to be able to move another cup under the tank. -You can do this with cups that are of different sizes. I was able to do it at home by putting my loaf pan on a raised cooling rack, but not everyone has one of those. I also used larger and smaller plastic cups my kids have.
-You don’t need to make your own blue ice cup. You can try to do it with just a regular ice cube, but it will be difficult to see what happens. Just do your best. Previous students have used popsicles.
-Instead of 25 mL of water, it is convenient to use 1/8 Cup (2 Tablespoons)
-You can also add extra food coloring if you want to make the colors easier to see.
-The drawings show that solutions are slowly poured into the tank, but the effects are easier to see if you slowly add your solutions with a transfer pipette - if you don't have your lab kit yet, do your best. The pipettes can be re-used. Add each of the solutions as directed. Do NOT discard your water until you have observed all of the layers that develop.
In the past, people have drawn their results and scanned them. In other cases, people have used drawing programs to create simple diagrams of the results. Some people have even inserted pictures they took with their smart phone. Be creative about how you present your results, but make sure you include the results.