Greenhouse Effect Models: Hot Stuff!

Class Demo 1: Carbon Dioxide Extinguishes a Flame

• narrow-necked bottle with a narrow opening, such as a glass soda bottle
• vinegar
• baking soda
• matches
• candle
• plastic drinking straw
• Hot Stuff! Activity 1 Worksheets (PDF), one per student; use this worksheet for Class Demo 1, 2, 3, and Student Activity 1

Class Demo 2: Creating and Testing for Carbon Dioxide

• narrow-necked bottle with a narrow opening, such as a glass soda bottle
• 50 ml vinegar
• 45 grams baking soda
• small, round balloon
• plastic drinking straw
• 50 ml BTB; solution = 6 drops per 1/3 cup water; BTB is bromothymol blue (BTB), a dye used as an acid-base indicator solution; available at chemistry equipment stores, well-equipped hardware stores and online chemistry equipment supply companies such as Fischer Scientific International
• clear beaker, large enough to hold 50 ml of BTB solution
• Hot Stuff! Activity 1 Worksheets (PDF), one per student; use this worksheet for Class Demo 1, 2, 3, and Student Activity 1

Student Activity 1: Testing for Carbon Dioxide from Our Own Breath

Each student needs:

• small, round balloon
• plastic drinking straw
• small cup of ~50 ml of BTB solution; solution = 6 drops per 1/3 cup water; paper Dixie cups or small beakers are suitable
• Hot Stuff! Activity 1 Worksheet (PDF), use this worksheet for Class Demo 1, 2, 3, and Student Activity 1

Class Demo 3: Testing Ice

• 2 medium-size beakers, each half full of BTB solution; solution = 6 drops per 1/3 cup water
• 1-2 small pieces of ice (cubes)
• 1-2 small pieces of dry ice
• Hot Stuff! Activity 1 Worksheets (PDF), one per student; use this worksheet for Class Demo 1, 2, 3, and Student Activity 1

Student Activity 2: Team Investigations

Each group needs:

• Hot Stuff! Activity 2 Investigation Worksheet and Instructions (PDF); provide each group with the specific instruction sheet for the investigation that the group is conducting
• masking tape and pen
• graph paper, 1 sheet per group
• supplies for the specific investigation the group is conducting (see below).
• Investigation #1 supplies:

1. • 2 identical, large plastic jars
   • 2 outdoor thermometers (must fit in jar)
   • 25 g baking soda
   • 1 cup vinegar
   • plastic wrap (2 large squares to fit over jar openings)
   • 2 rubber bands

• Investigation #2 supplies:

1. • 2 identical, large jars
   • 2 outdoor thermometers (must fit in jar, below rim)
   • hot water
   • hot mitt
   • plastic wrap (1 large square to fit over jar opening)
   • rubber band

• Investigation #3 supplies:

1. • 2 identical, large jars
   • 2 outdoor thermometers (must fit in jar, below rim)
   • cold water chilled with ice cubes
   • plastic wrap (1 large square to fit over jar opening)
   • rubber band

• Investigation #4 supplies:

1. • 2 identical, large jars
   • 2 outdoor thermometers (must fit in jar, below rim)
   • 2 cups of garden soil
   • plastic wrap (1 large square to fit over jar opening)
   • rubber band