M3 Honors Chemistry I class participated in experiments to go along with learning new information from chapter 8.

Student teacher for Chemistry instructor Jessica Butte, Nathan Purdue, showed the class five different experiments. While not all experiments were successful, the students that were asked about these experiments responded positively.

In the first experiment, students were asked to stay relatively far away from the explosion. This experiment was to show the chemical reaction of combustion.

Junior Tyrone Wynn said his favorite experiment was the combustion experiment.

“The methane in soapy water created bubbles which we then ignited,” Wynn said. “Doing these experiments is much more fun than taking notes.”

Junior Jace Armstrong agreed that the combustion experiment was his favorite.

“It definitely put what we learned into perspective,” Armstrong said. “Whenever we see those types of reactions we can apply them to what we learned.”

In the next experiment, students were told not to directly look at the light in case of causing accidental blindness. This experiment was to show the chemical reaction, synthesis.

Junior Jeanie Balzer said the decomposition experiment was her favorite.

“Mr. Purdue burned magnesium over a flame to show a chemical reaction called synthesis,” Balzer said. “It was nice to have a visual example of each reaction.”

The third experiment was to show the chemical reaction of decomposition.

The fourth experiment showed the chemical reaction of single replacement. Unfortunately, the balloon didn’t pop like it was supposed to during the experiment.

The final experiment was also unsuccessful. However, it was supposed to demonstrate double replacement for chemical changes.

Wynn and Armstrong said doing these experiments helped  to explain the reactions of each chemical change.
“I enjoy being able to apply something that we learned into something we can do hands-on.” Armstrong said.

Balzer said she enjoys labs such as these instead of the ones the class usually does.

“I really enjoy experiments like today,” Balzer said. “I don’t like the labs with long write-ups and analysis’.”