TO FIND OUT THE ACTION OF HEAT ON SOME SUBSTANCES

Introduction

Substances do not behave the same way when heat energy is given to them by means of
a Bunsen burner. Some of them will change into others and it will be difficult if not
impossible to turn them back to their original state. We call these changes chemical
changes. Some others will just melt or boil and will return to the original state once
they are cooled down. These undergo physical changes. Others will not be changed (at
least at the temperature of the burner).

Aims

 To find out the action of heat on some substances.

 To observe and describe changes in matter
 To tell between a physical and a chemical change

Materials

Bunsen burner, spatulas, test tube rack, Pyrex test tubes and test tube holders, copper
sulphate crystals, copper carbonate, salt, sand, water, starch, wax.

Procedure

1- Fill a test tube (use a spatula) with one of the substances of the list up to 1 cm
from the bottom.
2- Hold the tube (by means of a test tube holder) in a blue Bunsen flame (gas half
open) for one minute. Be sure the test tube is not pointing to any person in the
lab. Keep it tilted to an angle of about 45° to 30°as shown.

3- When heating a liquid never heat it at the bottom but at the upper half of it. This
will prevent sudden squirting of hot substances that may burn you or others.

4- Observe what is happening. Write down your results in the table below.
 5- Study your results and tell which of the substances has7have suffered a chemical
or a physical change.

Substance heated Observations Physical or

Name and Appearance Chemical?