Boiling Points and Melting Points (Part 2)

What You'll Learn

Matter exists in three common states: solid, liquid, and gas. Solids have a fixed shape and volume, liquids have a fixed volume but take the shape of their container, and gases fill any container.

Key Words

liquid
molecule
atom

Materials Needed

food coloring
plastic bottles
balloons

Safety First

Wear safety goggles when mixing liquids.
Wash hands after handling materials.
Be careful with scissors — ask an adult for help if needed.

Steps

Step 1 — Read

Study the diagram and label the parts you recognize.

Step 2 — Do

Create a density column: carefully layer honey, dish soap, water, vegetable oil, and rubbing alcohol in a tall glass. Drop small objects in to test where they float.

Step 3 — Observe

Note any unexpected results and think about why they happened.

Step 4 — Record

Share your findings with the class or a partner and discuss what you learned.

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

What happens during evaporation?