Description
The Reaction in a Bag chemical demonstration is a classic introduction to scientific inquiry. Students observe reactions between 4 compounds, observe simultaneous chemical and physical changes, and identify which reactions are responsible for each change. Sometimes known as “Sunset in a Bag,” “Sizzling Sunset,” or “Chemistry in a Bag,” this demo encourages scientific reasoning and logic skills.
Carolina Chemonstrations® make students active participants in demos. Prior to seeing the Reaction in a Bag demonstration, students make predictions based on prior knowledge. They illustrate and explain on a molecular level the overall reaction producing a gas, a color change, and a change in temperature.
After viewing the demonstration, students then design experiments that can identify which reactions are responsible for each chemical or physical change. Provided big picture questions help students think critically about the topic. This demonstration requires approximately 15 min, and the kit materials are sufficient to perform the demonstration 5 times.