Sludge: Semester 1 Final for Physical Science
What is sludge? Sludge is a jar of 2 liquids, 4 solids, a dissolved salt and an insoluble powder all mixed together. The student's task is to separate out all the items and identify the items using their chemical and physical properties. There are about 12-15 labs that the student will have to perform in order to correctly separate and item the samples. The labs will vary slightly depending on the materials present in the sludge jar. It is highly recommended that parents come in to watch the student perform the labs. This gives the student the change to show off what he/she has learned over the semester and a chance for the parent/guardian to see what this project is all about and what is expected of the student.
Science Standards Covered:
H.3S.3 Analyze data and identify uncertainties. Draw a valid conclusion, explain how it is supported by the evidence, and communicate the findings of a scientific investigation.
Science Standards Covered:
H.3S.3 Analyze data and identify uncertainties. Draw a valid conclusion, explain how it is supported by the evidence, and communicate the findings of a scientific investigation.
Parents and Guardians are welcome to come watch/assist your student!!!
Parents and guardians are always welcome to come watch their student perform labs, check out what they have learned this year, monitor behavior, ask questions about this project, see sample write-ups, and find out what this sludge project is all about!. Usually about 3-5 parents/guardians come per class. The adults seem to understand what's going on pretty quickly and can monitor the student's work at home. A great benefit to a quality report.
Sludge Labs as performed in class: (some labs have 2 or 3 lab components)
1- Fractional Distillation
2- Separation of solids
3- Flammability of liquids
4- Salt flame test
5- Density of solid (regular)
6- Density of solid (irregular)
7- Physical challenge lab
8-Supermarket chemistry
Additions labs for exceeds:
9- Density of liquids
Labs that will have to be performed by every student:
1- Separation of solids (Filter)
2- Density of solids
3- Malleability
4- Electric conductivity of a solid
5- Magnetism
6- Separation of salt
7- Salt flame test
8-Acid Test of Insoluble Powder
9- Fractional distillation (Boiling Point can be separate and an additional lab)
10-Odor & Color test of liquids
11-Flammibility of liquids
12-Molecular structure research
13- Sugar Test with liquids
14-Density of liquids
Additional Labs in order to identify (depending on items in sludge):
1- Research of .... (rock type, molecular structure, beans, plastic, wood, etc)
2- Flame test of metal
3- Acid test of solids/metal
4- Rust test
5- Finger test of liquids
6- Boiling point
7- Melting point of object
8- Scratch test
9- Flammability of a solid
Rough Draft Packet, Flow Chart, and other Sludge Documents:
Available in word doc and in PDF
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How to write a good Part 1 of your lab report.
Part 1:
Title Page ( Title, Name, Period, and Sludge #)
Problem Statement
Background Information (Information, concepts that help identify items)
Ex: Boiling points- each liquid has a unique boiling point. I know that if I bring my liquid to a boil, its temperature will plateau (stay the same) and this this is one way to identify an unknown liquid.
Flammability- some liquids catch on fire and some don't, if a liquid catches on fire then it is flammable, and the only liquids in my sludge that are flammable are the alcohols.
( Continue doing this for the liquids, solids, salt and unknown powder in your sludge)
Hypothesis: (should include the name of all 8 items)
How to write to good Part 2 of your lab report
Filter Lab Diagram
Part 2 (this is where you put all your labs)
Lab: (Title)
Diagram (picture or drawing with labels)
Procedures (Steps/instructions on how to perform the lab)
Materials list (list of everything you need to perform the lab)
Safety (list of safety to watch out for while performing the lab)
Example: Filter Lab
Procedures:
1. Set up according to diagram.
2. Pour the contents of the sludge jar into into the funnel/filter paper.
3. Allow the liquid contents to drain completely through filter.
4. Pick out the solids pieces remaining in the filter and separate them by alike
materials.
5. Remove the filter paper and remove powder, save for identifying later.
6. Pour remaining liquid back into original sludge jar for later testing.
7. Store solids in ziplock bags.
8. Clean up materials and wash hands.
Materials List:
1. Funnel
2. Filter paper
3. 400 mL Glass beaker
4. Sludge jar with all materials
5. Tweezers for picking out solids.
6. Ziplock bag
Safety:
1. Wear googles
2. Apron
3. Wash hands when done
4. No horseplay
5. Keep liquids away from open flame
Repeat this for all your labs that are performed during sludge
Lab: (Title)
Diagram (picture or drawing with labels)
Procedures (Steps/instructions on how to perform the lab)
Materials list (list of everything you need to perform the lab)
Safety (list of safety to watch out for while performing the lab)
Example: Filter Lab
Procedures:
1. Set up according to diagram.
2. Pour the contents of the sludge jar into into the funnel/filter paper.
3. Allow the liquid contents to drain completely through filter.
4. Pick out the solids pieces remaining in the filter and separate them by alike
materials.
5. Remove the filter paper and remove powder, save for identifying later.
6. Pour remaining liquid back into original sludge jar for later testing.
7. Store solids in ziplock bags.
8. Clean up materials and wash hands.
Materials List:
1. Funnel
2. Filter paper
3. 400 mL Glass beaker
4. Sludge jar with all materials
5. Tweezers for picking out solids.
6. Ziplock bag
Safety:
1. Wear googles
2. Apron
3. Wash hands when done
4. No horseplay
5. Keep liquids away from open flame
Repeat this for all your labs that are performed during sludge
How to write a good Part 3 for you report
This is where all your data tables, graph and numbers go. Look at the data tables section in your rough draft packet.
Data tables: (DON'T FORGET TO USE CORRECT UNITS!!!!)
Solid tests (at least density, malleability, electric conductivity, & magnetism)
Powder test (acid test)
Solute (original salt color & salt flame test)
Liquids (boiling point, odor, color, flammability, molecular structure)
Graph of time/temp of boiling points. Label your plateaus.
See the data tables sections in your rough draft packet
How to write a good Part 4 for your report
This is the "conclusion" section of your report. If you follow the 6 steps to writing a good conclusion you can't go wrong. In other words, answer the 6 questions presented to you in the conclusion section of your report.
The 6 steps for a good conclusion:
1. Yes or No the data I collected supports or does not support my hypothesis. (1 sentence to state if your hypothesis was correct, not correct or partially correct).
2. I thought I had __________(list the 8 items you thought was in your sludge)________. (this is where you restate your hypothesis).
3. I have _______ in my sludge. I know I have _______ in my sludge because ______ (use data, #'s, and observations to prove/support what you have in your sludge). This should be a paragraph for each of the 8 items in your sludge. So this should be 8 paragraphs long.
Ex: I have water in my sludge. I know I have water in my sludge because I got a plateau at 99 degree C, which matches up very close to water. I then took the separated liquid and tested it for odor; it didn't have an odor. Water doesn't have an odor. I also tested to see if the liquid would catch on fire, and it was not flammable. I tested it's density by measuring it's mass and volume, and then calculating it's density and determined it was 1.02 g/mL. Water's density is 1.0 g/mL. This might be off due to some residual salt left in a dirty test tube. I finally tested the liquid to see if sugar would dissolve in it, and it did. Water is the only liquid that will dissolve sugar of the four used in sludge. So with all this evidence my liquid had to be water.
4. Some possible errors in my labs could have happened when____________ (list or identify where in your sludge process you had errors or they could have "possibly" occurred.) This should be a paragraph or two in length.
5. I could eliminate these errors by _____________ (describe how you could eliminate the errors in your lab that were presented in step #4.)
6. To improve this lab in the future one could _____________ (if money was NOT an option, what could you do to improve the procedures, process, or provide further testing). This can be 1 paragraph in length.
Don't forget to include a summary table of the 8 items in your sludge. Also identify your liquids Bond Type (Ionic, Covalent-polar, Covalent-Nonpolar, Metallic), Molecular Structure, and Molecular Formula.
TO THE STUDENTS WHO DON'T THINK THEY CAN PASS THIS SEMESTER
There is always hope in my class. The best situation is to retake the chapter tests before sludge is due. If you have multiple tests to make up along with multiple standards, then download the below document (or see the questions below) and include the answers to the questions for the standards you have NOT yet passed. Hopefully you will answer them correctly along with a correctly completed sludge. Make sure to attach your answers to your sludge on the day it's due.
Documents in MS Word and PDF format available for download.
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Questions for each of the standards that can be used in substitution of meeting the chapter standards. Must be included in your sludge.
Semester 1 Standards: Additions to sludge
H.1P.1 Explain how atomic structure is related to the properties of elements and their position in the Periodic Table.
Identify your metal/metalloid in your sludge. Draw an atom structure of it. What period/family is it in the periodic table? What about its atomic structure would make it reactive or stable?
Explain how the composition of the nucleus is related to isotopes and radioactivity.
Is there a radioactive compound in your sludge? How could you find out if there was one? What part of the atom makes it radioactive?
H.1P.2 Describe how different types and strengths of bonds affect the physical and chemical properties of compounds.
Identify the bonds in liquids as ionic, covalent or metallic. Would the compound dissolve in water, conduct electricity if dissolved, shares electrons equally or unequally? Do this compound have a strong or weak bond?
H.2P.1 Explain how chemical reactions result from the making and breaking of bonds in a process that absorbs or releases energy.
Identify an exothermic or endothermic reaction in sludge. What energy release or absorbed in the reaction?
Explain how different factors can affect the rate of a chemical reaction.
Identify a chemical reaction in your sludge, how could you slow down the reaction and speed it up?
H.2P.2 Explain how physical and chemical changes demonstrate the law of conservation of mass.
Where did a chemical change happen in your sludge? Was mass destroyed or what happened to the mass?
H.3S.1 Based on observations and science principles, formulate a question or hypothesis that can be investigated through the collection and analysis of relevant information.
********Problem Statement or Hypothesis of sludge*************
H.3S.2 Design and conduct a controlled experiment, field study, or other investigation to make systematic observations about the natural world, including the collection of sufficient and appropriate data.
************* Part 2 of sludge, enough labs to identify substances in sludge**********
H.3S.3 Analyze data and identify uncertainties. Draw a valid conclusion, explain how it is supported by the evidence, and communicate the findings of a scientific investigation.
************* Part 3 & 4 of sludge ***************************
H.3S.4 Identify examples from the history of science that illustrate modification of scientific knowledge in light of challenges to prevailing explanations.
Research at home and identify two examples in history where science concepts have changed from a new discovery/knowledge.
H.3S.5 Explain how technological problems and advances create a demand for new scientific knowledge and how new knowledge enables the creation of new technologies.
Identify a technology that you used in sludge and how that technology lead to understanding.
H.1P.1 Explain how atomic structure is related to the properties of elements and their position in the Periodic Table.
Identify your metal/metalloid in your sludge. Draw an atom structure of it. What period/family is it in the periodic table? What about its atomic structure would make it reactive or stable?
Explain how the composition of the nucleus is related to isotopes and radioactivity.
Is there a radioactive compound in your sludge? How could you find out if there was one? What part of the atom makes it radioactive?
H.1P.2 Describe how different types and strengths of bonds affect the physical and chemical properties of compounds.
Identify the bonds in liquids as ionic, covalent or metallic. Would the compound dissolve in water, conduct electricity if dissolved, shares electrons equally or unequally? Do this compound have a strong or weak bond?
H.2P.1 Explain how chemical reactions result from the making and breaking of bonds in a process that absorbs or releases energy.
Identify an exothermic or endothermic reaction in sludge. What energy release or absorbed in the reaction?
Explain how different factors can affect the rate of a chemical reaction.
Identify a chemical reaction in your sludge, how could you slow down the reaction and speed it up?
H.2P.2 Explain how physical and chemical changes demonstrate the law of conservation of mass.
Where did a chemical change happen in your sludge? Was mass destroyed or what happened to the mass?
H.3S.1 Based on observations and science principles, formulate a question or hypothesis that can be investigated through the collection and analysis of relevant information.
********Problem Statement or Hypothesis of sludge*************
H.3S.2 Design and conduct a controlled experiment, field study, or other investigation to make systematic observations about the natural world, including the collection of sufficient and appropriate data.
************* Part 2 of sludge, enough labs to identify substances in sludge**********
H.3S.3 Analyze data and identify uncertainties. Draw a valid conclusion, explain how it is supported by the evidence, and communicate the findings of a scientific investigation.
************* Part 3 & 4 of sludge ***************************
H.3S.4 Identify examples from the history of science that illustrate modification of scientific knowledge in light of challenges to prevailing explanations.
Research at home and identify two examples in history where science concepts have changed from a new discovery/knowledge.
H.3S.5 Explain how technological problems and advances create a demand for new scientific knowledge and how new knowledge enables the creation of new technologies.
Identify a technology that you used in sludge and how that technology lead to understanding.