Thermal Explorers Slides Unit: Heat Hunters
Thermal Explorers
Investigating the invisible energy shifts in matter.
Exothermic
Endothermic
The Mystery Box
Imagine you have an Instant Ice Pack.
It's sitting on a shelf at room temperature. You squeeze it, and suddenly it's freezing.
"Where did the heat go? Did it just vanish?"
?!
Station Rotation Rules
1
Observe First
Record the state of matter and color before you start. Use your eyes, not just your hands!
2
Touch Carefully
Feel the side of the container. Does it feel Warmer or Cooler?
3
Scientific Words
Use terms like Release or Absorb in your journal.
Safety Check
Wear goggles at ALL stations, even the "water" ones.
Do not taste or smell the materials directly.
Wash hands immediately if any liquid touches your skin.
Thermal Explorers Lab Sheet Thermal Explorers
Laboratory Station Rotation
Scientist:
Date:
Mission: Visit each station and perform the described action. Focus on your senses—specifically touch. Does the container feel different after the change? Record your observations below.
Station What did you do? Temperature Feel Energy Change Type 1 Ice in Water
Place an ice cube in a cup of room-temp water. Stir gently.
|
Warmer
Cooler
|
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| 2 |
Steel Wool & Vinegar
Soak steel wool in vinegar for 1 min, then squeeze out and wrap around a thermometer.
|
Warmer
Cooler
|
|
| 3 |
Epsom Salt & Water
Mix 2 spoonfuls of Epsom salt into half a cup of water. Stir well.
|
Warmer
Cooler
|
|
| 4 |
Calcium Chloride & Water
Mix 1 spoonful of Calcium Chloride pellets into half a cup of water.
|
Warmer
Cooler
|
|
Critical Thinking
1. If a container feels WARMER, is energy being released into your hand or absorbed from your hand?
2. If a container feels COOLER, where did the heat from your hand go?
3. Based on your observations, write a one-sentence definition for "Energy Releasing" reactions.
Safety Note: Always wear goggles and wash hands after handling chemicals.
Heat Makers Slides LESSON 02
Heat Makers
Measuring the Power of Exothermic Reactions
Fireless Heat?
We usually need fuel and fire to boil water.
"But what if we could use chemicals to make a cup of tea hot without a stove?"
Today, we create a reaction that RELEASES energy.
+25°C Increase!
Exothermic
exo- (outside) + therm (heat)
Energy Flow
In an exothermic reaction, the chemical system RELEASES thermal energy to its surroundings.
The surrounding area (your hand or a thermometer) gets HOTTER because it is catching that released heat.
REACTION
Heat moves OUT
Yeast & Hydrogen Peroxide
1
Measure 30mL of Hydrogen Peroxide into your beaker.
2
Record the Initial Temperature (Time = 0s).
3
Add 1 tsp of Yeast and stir quickly.
4
Record temp every 30 seconds for 5 minutes.
DATA MATTERS!
The yeast acts as a catalyst, breaking down peroxide and releasing Oxygen and Heat.
Visualizing the Heat
The X-Axis
TIME (s)
The independent variable
The Y-Axis
TEMP (°C)
The dependent variable
Upward Curve = Exothermic
Heat Makers Lab Sheet Exothermic Investigation
Lesson 02: Heat Makers
Scientist:
Lab Group:
Data Collection
Time (sec) Temp (°C) 0 (Initial) 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300
Reaction Profile
Temperature (°C)
Time (Seconds)
Plot your points and connect them with a smooth line of best fit.
Thermal Analysis
1. Calculate the Temperature Change (\(\Delta T\)):
\(T_{final}\)
- \(T_{initial}\)
=
°C
2. Based on your graph, when was the reaction happening most rapidly? How do you know?
3. Is this reaction exothermic or endothermic? Support your claim with evidence from your graph.
Cold Catchers Slides LESSON 03
Cold Catchers
Investigating the Mystery of Energy Absorption
Heat Thieves!
Last time, we felt reactions that gave away heat.
"But what if a reaction is so hungry for energy that it steals it from the air around it?"
Today, we find the HEAT THIEVES.
Endothermic
endo- (inside) + therm (heat)
Energy Flow
In an endothermic reaction, the chemical system ABSORBS thermal energy from its surroundings.
The surrounding area feels COLDER because its heat was taken by the reaction.
REACTION
Energy moves IN
Baking Soda & Vinegar
1
Add 2 spoonfuls of Baking Soda to your cup.
2
Record Initial Temp of 50mL Vinegar.
3
Pour Vinegar into the cup (Watch for fizz!).
4
Record temp every 30 seconds for 5 minutes.
THE CHILL
The reaction needs energy to break chemical bonds. It grabs this energy from the liquid, making the temperature DROP.
Cold Catchers Lab Sheet Endothermic Investigation
Lesson 03: Cold Catchers
Scientist:
Lab Group:
Data Collection
Time (sec) Temp (°C) 0 (Initial) 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300
Reaction Profile
Temperature (°C)
Time (Seconds)
Compare this shape to your Lesson 2 graph.
Thermal Comparison
1. Calculate the Temperature Change (\(\Delta T\)):
\(T_{final}\)
- \(T_{initial}\)
=
°C
2. How does the "slope" of this graph compare to your Lesson 2 (Exothermic) graph?
3. Scientific Reasoning: If the temperature of the water dropped, where did that thermal energy go? Be specific about the "Heat Thieves".
Energy Mapmakers Slides Lesson 04
Energy Mapmakers
Charting the Invisible Flow of Heat
The Audience
If a chemical reaction is the Actor on stage...
"...who is the Audience feeling the heat (or the cold)?"
To understand chemistry, we have to draw a line between the ACTION and the OBSERVER.
STAGE
Surroundings
Key Vocabulary
System
The chemical reaction itself. The molecules breaking and making bonds.
Where the action happens.
Surroundings
Everything outside the reaction. The beaker, the water, the thermometer, and YOU!
Where the change is felt.
Mapping Exothermic
In an Exothermic reaction:
Energy leaves the System.
Energy enters the Surroundings.
Result: Thermometer temp goes UP!
SYSTEM Surroundings
Mapping Endothermic
In an Endothermic reaction:
Energy leaves the Surroundings.
Energy enters the System.
Result: Thermometer temp goes DOWN!
SYSTEM Surroundings
Energy Mapmakers Worksheet Energy Mapping
Lesson 04: System vs. Surroundings
Scientist:
The Vocabulary
System:
The actual chemical reaction where bonds are broken and formed.
Surroundings:
Everything else (water, container, air, thermometer, you).
Remember the rule:
Energy is Never Lost
It only moves between the System and the Surroundings.
1
Model A: Exothermic Reaction
Draw arrows to show the direction of heat flow. Label the System and the Surroundings .
Reaction
Flow Description:
Complete the sentences:
Energy moves OUT OF the System.
Energy moves INTO the Surroundings.
Why does the thermometer feel HOT?
2
Model B: Endothermic Reaction
Draw arrows to show the direction of heat flow. Label the System and the Surroundings .
Reaction
Flow Description:
Complete the sentences:
Energy moves the System.
Energy moves the Surroundings.
Why does the thermometer feel COLD?
Reaction Detectives Lab Sheet Reaction Detectives
Summative Performance Task
Scientist:
Date:
The Case
Three sets of mystery substances have arrived at the lab. Your goal is to identify if their reaction is Exothermic , Endothermic , or if No Reaction occurs.
Mission Requirement:
You must use qualitative (feel/vision) AND quantitative (temperature) data for each set.
Available Toolkit
Thermometer
Safety Goggles
Graduated Cylinder
Stirring Rod
Stop Watch
Mystery Kits A, B, C
Plan Your Investigation
Briefly outline your procedure for testing each mystery set:
Investigation Data
Mystery Kit Initial Temp (°C) Final Temp (°C) Change (\(\Delta T\)) Observations (Bubbles, Feel, etc.) A B C
Final Classification
Kit A
Claim:
Evidence & Reasoning:
Kit B
Claim:
Evidence & Reasoning:
Kit C
Claim:
Evidence & Reasoning:
Reaction Detectives Slides Final Mission
Reaction Detectives
Your Final Performance Task: Identifying the Unknown.
Mission Briefing
A local lab has sent us three sets of Mystery Kits (A, B, and C).
"The labels were lost in a heat wave. We need you to identify the energy profile of each mixture."
Goal:
Classify each kit as Exothermic , Endothermic , or No Reaction .
Measure Temp
Observe Change
Claim/Evidence
Safety First
Building a Strong Case
1. Claim
State clearly what kind of reaction happened. Don't guess—be certain.
Ex: "Kit A is Exothermic."
2. Evidence
Provide the Numbers . Use your temperature data to show the change (\(\Delta T\)).
Ex: "The temperature increased by 12°C."
3. Reasoning
Connect the dots. Use the Energy Map concept. Where did the heat go?
Ex: "Heat moved from the System to the Surroundings."
Lab Protocol
Goggles must stay ON.
Clean beakers between tests.
Collaborate, don't just copy.
TIMING
You have 25 minutes to test all three kits and 15 minutes to finish your report.
