Chemistry In a Bag Lab

Calcium Chloride was in little white balls.



Sodium Bicarbonate was fluffy white powder.



Phenol Red was was a cold red liquid.



Water was room temperature and liquid.





First we put the calcium chloride and sodium bicarbonate on one side of the bag, while we put the phenol red and water on the other side. After sealing the bag, we mixed all four of the ingredients. What we found that happened was it got warm, the color turned yellow, and the bag expanded to the point where the bag was going to explode. After we did that, we also tested more individual controlled experiments to figure what substances caused which reactions.

• Calcium Chloride made the mixture warm.




• Sodium Bicarbonate and the Calcium Chloride mixed with any liquid produces gases to make the bag expand.




• The color change was because of the phenol red and calcium chloride.




• The smell was also caused by the phenol red and calcium chloride.

Post-Lab Questions

1. With all four of the substances combined, the mixture got warm.


2. When we tested the individual controlled experiments, we found that the calcium chloride made the temperature go up.


3. In the overall experiment, the color went from being red to yellow. The Phenol Red and the calcium chloride mixed with the sodium bicarbonate made the color change.


4. With the formation of the gas bubbles, the temperature of the mixture went up and the color changed from red to yellow.


5. The controlled experiments showed that as long as the calcium chloride was mixed with a liquid, the temperature went up. Water was not needed for this reaction.


6. The color was changed and the temperature was also changed. Also, the calcium chloride dissolved in the liquid.


7. Do a controlled experiment in which the liquid that the calcium chloride is mixed with.


8. No. It does not always mean that a chemical reaction occurred. Sometimes there is just a transfer of heat. It is just one chemical dissolving into another chemical.