Chemistry students identify substances with chemical reactions
Story by Juan Villanueva and Photos by Angel Sabater | Big Stick Editors |
Last Friday, chemistry students were given the challenge to identify different substances. The 10 white solids were all unknown and it was up to students to figure out what these substances were by mixing, stirring, and more.
“It’s pretty cool how you can identify the substances just by mixing stuff together,” sophomore Tatiana Venegas said. “I’m pretty excited to do our other labs and learn new things. ”
Sophomore David Rodriguez holds test tubes which held the unknowns.
Students were given a flow chart which made it simpler to reveal the unknowns, as substances were narrowed down. For instance, the substances were first mixed with water and depending if they were soluble or not, that narrowed closer for students to know what the unknowns were.
From there on, the challenge continued. Although given the chart, some students other faced challenges. Sophomore David Rodriguez only had one member in his group.
“The work load is a pain,” he said. “With two people, it’s callenging.”
Others simply enjoyed the chemistry in chemistry.
“The lab is all about getting precise chemistry, finding the right relationships which make up our world, and making sure you record the right data,” junior Harrison Wissel-Littmann said.
Mr. Glass stands with junior Harrison Wissel-Littmann and his group members.
In the end, the lab served the purpose of giving students an idea of what it might feel like for those who go on to be chemists in the future.
“In the early part of the year, I want them to do a lab that is fun, but challenging,” science teacher Samuel Glass said. “I think students have fun because they get to pretend like they are chemists in a crime lab.”