Exploring Chemistry & the Middle Ages Class Summaries 3/16/15

with Kim Rodgers

All About Bases (and Acids!)

In Chemistry this week we talked about mixing acids and bases. When they combine they make a special reaction called an acid-base reaction. There is an exchange of atoms within the molecules in which new molecules are created. An important acid-base reaction occurs when our stomachs have too much acid and causes pain. The medicine we take to help our stomachs feel better is a base. It reacts with the acid in our stomachs and turns it into salt and water, which is why your stomach stops hurting. When a reaction is so small we can’t observe it with our eyes we need indicators to show us a reaction is taking place. A simple indicator is red cabbage juice. It turns pink when mixed with an acid and blackish-green when mixed with a base.

We took several liquids and added an indicator to them to show if they were an acid (pink), a base (blackish-green), or neutral (purple). We made an hypothesis about what would happen when we mixed an acid with a base, an acid with a neutral, and a base with a neutral. The students paired up and used water droppers to mix pairs of liquids to confirm or disprove their hypotheses. When an acid or base were mixed with the neutral liquids they remained an acid or base. But when an acid was mixed with a base there were conflicting reports. We discussed how each liquid has a different acidity or basic-ness and depending on that amount it makes the indicator show more an acid or a base. Next week we’ll go over the student’s notebooking pages and move on to learning about mixtures.

Crafting and Crusades

In the Middle Ages we had some project work to finish. The students chose between finishing their castles or working on their embroidery. While they were working we learned about the crusades and how the fight for control of Jerusalem took many years and many wars. Jews, Christians, and Muslims claimed Jerusalem as their holy city, which incited these wars. Many warriors and common people were killed, and most crusades failed. Saladin, a Muslim commander, eventually took over Jerusalem. Again, the students have their notebooking page and map for next week.

See you then!