Secret to my heart experiment

In this experiment, you will determine the solubility of candy hearts in different solvents or liquids. Solubility is the amount of a substance that will dissolve in a solvent at a certain temperature. The solvents in these experiments are water, Sprite, Coca-Cola, vegetable oil and vinegar.

You may have seen a pH scale when a lifeguard tested the chemicals in a swimming pool. The pH scale measures the acidity of liquids with a scale that ranges from 0-14. On the scale, zero indicates the most acidic liquid and fourteen is the most basic. In this experiment, the most acidic liquids and the least acidic liquids differ in their ability to dissolve the candy. Let's see how.

Experiment 1:

1. Place 1 cup of various liquids into several different cups.

2. Then put a candy heart into each cup of liquid.

3. Start the timer for 20 minutes.

4. Observe what happens to each of the candy hearts and record your results.

Conclusions:

Experiment 2:

1. Pour 1 cup of water into three cups. In cup #1, add ¼ cup sugar. In cup #2, add ¼ cup salt. Stir both until the substances are dissolved.

2. Pour 1 cup of hot water into three cups. Add ¼ cup sugar to cup #1. Add ¼ cup salt to cup #2. Stir until dissolved.

3. Add 1 candy to each cup.

4. Set your timer for 2 minutes and then record your results.

The pH and the temperature of the liquids in your experiment are sure to impact your results. Which liquids caused the candy to dissolve faster? Which liquids were slower to dissolve? What do you think caused the candy to dissolve quicker? The temperature of the water or the substance that was added?

HOO’s learning

Materials

• Candy Hearts

• Various liquids (water, Sprite, Coca-Cola, vegetable oil, vinegar)

• Glass cups or bowls

• ½ cup sugar

• ½ cup salt

• Timer

• Measuring cup

Wise Choices for You & Your Family