Baggy Experiment

In the baggy experiment we put 1 scoop of sodium bicarbonate and 1 scoop of calcium chloride into a baggy. We twisted the baggy around the powders so when we put the Phenol Red into the bag, it didn't mix. When the bag was sealed with no air in it, we untwisted it and the Phenol Red mixed with the powders. We immediately started shaking the baggy. The color started changing from pink to orange to yellow, and it was warm. There was a little smell. The baggy also started filling up with gas. We did two different test to try to figure out what was causing these reactions. First, we put a scoop of sodium bicarbonate into a new baggy and then added the Phenol Red. While shaking the bag, the substance turned pink and got cold. When it was done reacting, we wafted it and there was a faint smell to it. Next, we put a scoop of Calcium Chloride into another baggy and added the Phenol Red. This one also turned pink as we shook it, but instead of getting cold it got hot. We wafted this one, too. There was a very strong smell like rubbing alcohol. The Phenol Red is what turns the substance pink. When mixed with the Phenol Red, sodium bicarbonate got cold and Calcium Chloride got hot. Since they were all mixed together, the substances evened the temperature out so it was just warm. The smells acted the same way when mixed to where you could smell something, but it wasn't bad.

1. The Calcium Chloride mixed with Phenol Red made it warmer.


2. The Baking Soda mixed with the Phenol Red became cold.


3. The overall reaction went from pink to orange to yellow. The controlled experiments provide evidence for the combination turning pink, but not orange and yellow.


4. Yes, because the gas being created could be causing color change.


5. The liquid is needed, otherwise nothing happens to the powders. There is still color, temperature, and smell change without water.


6. A new chemical is produced by the evidence: color change, temperature change, and smell.


7. You could just mix the Calcium Chloride with Phenol Red.


8. Temperature change is caused by a chemical reaction because different chemical mixtures cause things to be hot or cold. The temperature wouldn't just randomly go from hot to cold unless it was a reaction to a new chemical being mixed into the substance.