This module explores chemical and physical changes! Things change. Ice melting, your body changing oxygen to carbon dioxide, and iron turning to rust are all examples of things changing. Some of these changes are physical, like breaking a rock into smaller pieces. Some are chemical changes that give you a new product different from your starting materials, like burning a piece of paper. Today, you’ll be working with common household ingredients to learn about chemical and physical changes. You’ll be making your own chemistry laboratory in your kitchen and learning how to tell the difference between what makes a change chemical vs. physical!

After this module you will be able to:

• Differentiate between physical and chemical changes and properties.
• Perform physical and chemical change experiments.
• Analyze what makes a physical and chemical change.

Materials

• Print materials
  • Kitchen Kemistry Cookbook
  • Dig Deeper Worksheet
• Containers & Ziploc bags needed for all experiments
• Mixing utensils
• Measuring cups/anything to measure with
• Ingredients for salad
• Salt
• Sugar
• Water
• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• Mentos
• 2-liter Coke bottles (2)
• Heavy whipping cream
• Coffee or hot chocolate powder
• Ice

Safety

• Do all experiments with adult supervision and/or permission.
• Read all instructions carefully before attempting any experiment.
• Wear lab coats (aprons are fine) and goggles or glasses to prevent splashing in your eyes.
• While adding any substance together, carefully pour and avoid spilling. If you spill, be sure to clean it up and ask an adult for help.
• Tie long hair back.
• Waft (don’t smell directly, wave to your face) any smells to you.
• Do not mix anything that is not in the instructions.
• With any broken glass, ask an adult to help clean it up.

Activity

Put on your apron or lab coat, grab some safety glasses, and let’s do some chemistry! Try doing some of the experiments from the videos by downloading the Kitchen Kemistry Cookbook and following the directions. Make sure you follow the directions closely (scientists follow directions exactly to ensure good, repeatable test results and to prevent something dangerous from happening). Also, make sure you have adult supervision and/or permission. Remember to record all your observations. 

Dig Deeper

Read More

• Learn more about chemical and physical changes.
• Use this to check your Kitchen Kemistry findings

Watch This

• Chemical vs. Physical Change
• Chemical Reactions Explained

Show What You Know

Meet Our Expert

Randy Lee, Ph.D., is a Professor of Chemistry and the Associate Dean of Research at the University of Houston’s College of Natural Sciences & Mathematics. In this video, he and his students discuss how the chemical interactions between water and other molecules can allow a water strider to walk on water or rain drops to easily roll off a car windshield without wipers. The technology they are researching is used in health, energy, and sensing.

Meet The Teachers

Brandon Rathke
Pre-AP Chemistry Teacher, Dickinson High School, Dickinson Independent School District, University of Houston, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, teachHOUSTON Alumni
Brandon is an alumna of the first teachHOUSTON Alternative Certification Program for STEM. He is a chemistry teacher at Dickinson High School in Dickinson, TX. Brandon earned his Physics degree and minor in Mathematics in 2005 (University of Missouri) and joined the US Navy Nuclear Engineering program. In 2007, he qualified as a submarine nuclear engineer officer and served in the submarine service until 2013. That same year, he finished his MBA (Ohio State University) and moved to Houston. He worked in the oil, gas, and chemical refining industry for five years before starting his teaching career. Brandon loves sailing, playing guitar, and learning. He’s always been interested in astronomy and enjoying nature. His goal is to make students confident, critical thinkers equipped to take on tomorrow’s biggest challenges.

Tri Duong
Mathematics Major, Physics Minor, teachHOUSTON Alumnus, University of Houston, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Tri is a teachHOUSTON and University of Houston alumnus. He is currently an AP Physics 1 & 2 teacher at DeBakey High School for Health Professions. He is really passionate about teaching physics and doing cutting-edge research in particle physics and particle accelerator science and technology at US national laboratories around the country during the summer. In his free time, he likes to code and build robots, and play the cello.

Aerielle Rodriguez
Biology Major, Mathematics and Medicine and Society Minor, teachHOUSTON Preservice Teacher, University of Houston, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Aerielle is a 4th year undergraduate student at the University of Houston majoring in Biology and minoring in Mathematics and Medicine and Society. She is part of the teachHOUSTON Program to become a future high school science teacher. She is equally as passionate about education as she is about health and looks forward to bringing that passion to her future students. Growing up as the daughter of two nurses, medicine always felt like a natural fit, but over time a love for teaching developed. In her free time, she explores other passions such as fitness, TV shows, and plays with her dog Ellie.

Alexander Mathen
Chemical Engineering Major, Chemistry Minor, teachHOUSTON Preservice Teacher, University of Houston, Cullen College of Engineering
Alexander is a 3rd year undergraduate student working on getting his teaching degree from the teachHOUSTON Program, as well as his bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering. Alexander is working to become a role model for his future students and is willing to go through great lengths to make sure everyone succeeds! Alexander loves sports, especially basketball and football. He also jogs 3 miles every day.

Amber Ooi
Biology Major, Data Science Minor, teachHOUSTON Preservice Teacher, University of Houston, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Amber is a junior at the University of Houston where she is a Biology major and a part of the teachHOUSTON Program. She is really passionate about Ecology and new discoveries about Biology! She is currently working on research in the lab and her teaching career.

Paul Womack
Mathematics Major, teachHOUSTON Preservice Teacher, University of Houston, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Paul is a 4th year Math undergraduate at the University of Houston and a preservice teacher in the teachHOUSTON Program. Paul is excited to be a Math teacher soon, so he can show his students how Math is actually the most awesome subject. Also, he would like to start sleeping again!

Reshmi Joseph
Biochemistry Major, Chemistry Minor, teachHOUSTON Preservice Teacher, University of Houston, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Reshmi is an undergraduate at the University of Houston majoring Biochemistry and minoring in Chemistry. She is a part of the teachHOUSTON Program to learn how to enhance students’ learning in STEM. She plans to become a medical doctor in the future and to focus on helping communities around her. In her free time, she likes to snuggle with her dog Daisy and watch Bollywood movies with her family.

Stephen Medel
Physics Major, Math Minor, teachHOUSTON Preservice Teacher, University of Houston, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Stephen is an undergraduate at the University of Houston majoring in Physics major and minoring in Mathematics. He is currently the vice president of the teachHouston Student Society at UH for Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 and is looking forward to being able to teach Physics and/or Mathematics. He likes to spend time with his adorable dog Murphy and studying Math and Physics.

Liandra Larsen
teachHOUSTON STEM Interactive Video Editor
Liandra is a Research Graduate Assistant for the teachHOUSTON Program. Currently, she’s pursuing her Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Houston. Her research interests include improving the university experience for first-generation and transfer students. In her spare time, she enjoys dancing, binge-watching shows on Netflix, and overspending at Target.