Water – a Universal Solvent

In Science Mom’s Guide to Water, Part 6 – Universal Solvent, we learn why things dissolve and why with six hands-on activities: salt crystals, halocline eggs, eggshell geodes, borax snowflakes, rock candy, and bath bombs.

In Part 5 of the water series we learned that although water is called the “Universal Solvent,” it doesn’t dissolve oil. But what about the things water can dissolve? In Science Mom’s Guide to Water, Part 6, we explore what dissolves in water with several crystal growing activities.

Parental supervision is recommended if repeating some of these experiments at home.

 

Journal Questions
  1. Salt is made of Sodium and Chloride ions.  What happens to the ionic bond between Sodium and Chloride when it is added to water?
  2. Which can hold more solute, hot water or cold water?  Why?  Hint, when water cools down molecules slow down.
  3. We learned from the video that one cup of water became saturated with 3 Tbsp. of salt, 1/2 cup of Alum, and 1/4 cup of Borax.  How much sugar was one cup of water able to hold before it was saturated?  Why was that?
  4. If you tried some of these activities, how did it go?  Pictures and summaries are always fun for us to see and read.

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Topics

Science
Grade Level
2-3
4-5
6-8

Creator

Science Mom

Science Mom

Engaging science activities for kids of all ages.

Materials

  • water
  • salt
  • cup
  • 3 jars
  • 3 eggs
  • spoon
  • eggshell
  • potassium aluminum sulfate (note – also known as Alum, but make sure it’s “potassium aluminum sulfate” and not “aluminum sulfate” without “potassium”)
  • food coloring
  • cups
  • borax
  • pipe cleaners
  • pencil
  • string
  • sugar
  • pot
  • stove
  • candy stick
  • citric acid
  • baking soda
  • cornstarch
  • epsom salt
  • oil
  • essential oil
  • bathbomb mold

Downloads

SMG6-8.5x11

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