Activity
Chocolate Thunder
A student with visual impairments tested how dish soap affects the way in which chocolate dissolves during a baking soda and vinegar reaction.
This science experiment by students at Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired examines how dish soap affects the way in which chocolate dissolves during a baking soda and vinegar reaction.
Question:
Will dish soap cause chocolate to dissolve during the vinegar and baking soda reaction?
Hypothesis:
Adding dish soap to the reaction will cause the chocolate to dissolve more.
Materials
- 4 pieces of milk chocolate: 3 g each
- 4 small bowls
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
- Dish soap
- Stopwatch: iPad or iPod can be used
Procedure
- Gather all materials
- Label 2 of the bowls – No soap
- Label 2 of the bowls – with soap
- Prepare the timer
- Measure 30 mL baking soda into each bowl
- Put one piece of chocolate in each bowl
- Add 5 mL of dish soap to 2 of the bowls
- Prepare timer
- Add 10 mL of vinegar to each bowl
- Time 3 min
- Compare the 2 bowls with dish soap with the 2 bowls without dish soap
Data
- The 2 bowls with dish soap turned light brown as the chocolate melted
- The liquid in the 2 bowls without dish soap remained clear
Conclusion
The dish soap caused the chocolate to dissolve. The hypothesis was correct.
NGSS Standards:
- Plan and conduct an investigation individually and collaboratively to produce data to serve as the basis for evidence, and in the design: decide on types, how much, and accuracy of data needed to produce reliable measurements and consider limitations on the precision of the data (e.g., number of trials, cost, risk, time), and refine the design accordingly. (HS-ESS2-5)
By Laura Hospitál
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