8th Graders get their feet wet

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The 8th graders got their first taste today of what the labs will be like this year. For starters, one must be very quick on their toes! In order to finish on time, one really needs to have the pre-lab already written when they walk in the door. If it has already been safety-approved, that’s certainly icing on the cake. Today’s lab was 1.1: Distillation of baking soda.

The classroom was a beehive of activity as students collected the materials they would need – wash basins, a distillation apparatus, an alcohol burner, some fresh baking soda in a pyrex test tube, and of course, goggles. As those old MG car clubs like to say, “Safety First!”*

So, what exactly happens when one heats baking soda to high temperatures? Hmm, now that would be telling! We have one more step to complete on Thursday, when we compare a sample of baked baking soda with a fresh sample to see how both powders react to a test tube full of tea. That will provide some clues as to any possible chemical changes within the NaHCO3.

Both groups really had to scramble to finish on time, and they will get feedback next class as to how they did, as they plot a course for further work. It was a good day in the lab.

(* Would you believe that Mr. Stoffregen once drove an MGB as his daily driver? That was the car he had when he started at Quest Academy almost 25 years ago. It was painted a sassy british racing green, and it was a real hoot to drive!)