This week three scientists came into our classroom. Their names were Michael, Majella and Sinéad. They all work in MDS in Swords, Co. Dublin. When they came in, they showed us a video about how they make all the medicines and tablets that we take when we are sick. You must not take more medicine than you need or it might make you more ill. Everyone was very excited about the experiments that we would be doing. First Sinéad showed everyone a sample of bacteria (Gross!) Sinéad then showed us a biology experiment. She used yeast, sugar, water and food colouring (we chose red but any colour will work). She chose LMcQ as her helper. LMcQ added all the ingredients into an empty water bottle, and then……………there was foam overflowing out of the bottle! Everyone was amused with the first experiment, but there were still three to go!
Next Majella did a physics experiment. She took out a large, clear, cylinder shaped basin. Then she added some water and cooking oil into the basin. The water stayed at the bottom while the oil floated on top. This time she chose PMcK as her helper. PMcK chose a green food colouring to add to the basin. The food colouring sank to the bottom and mixed in with the water. We added a fizzy tablet and it reacted like a green lava lamp!
For the next experiment SM was Michael’s helper. He had the water of a boiled red cabbage. He was testing if liquids were acids or bases. SM added the red cabbage water to lemon juice: It was an acid because it turned red.
Baking soda: It was a base because it turned blue.
Vinegar: Acid.
7 Up: Acid.
SM also helped Michael mix an acid and a base together. It released carbon dioxide and fizzed up.
The last experiment was done by Michael and his helper was KK. They fastened a balloon full of baking soda on to a bottle filled with vinegar. The balloon inflated and Michael had to take the balloon off because he was scared of it flying off!
We really enjoyed Science Week, and a big thank you to Majella, Michael and Sinéad.
This report was written by EMC.
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