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Learners discover that their breath contains carbon dioxide, one of the pollutants found in car exhaust. They blow bubbles into water, then use an indicator (bromothymol blue) to see that the water has become acidic, much the same way that rain becomes acidic from pollution in the atmosphere. Instructions are included to make another indicator from cabbage juice which can be substituted in the activity. When learners set up a free account at Kinetic City, they can answer bonus questions at the end of the activity as a quick assessment. As a larger assessment, learners can complete the Smart Attack game after they've completed several activities.
- 5 to 10 minutes
- 5 to 10 minutes
- 1 cent - $1 per group of students
- Ages 8 - 11
- Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- Bromothymol blue indicator (BTB)
- Clear plastic cups
- Distilled water or clean tap water
- Straws
- Red cabbage (optional)
Subjects
-
Earth and Space Science
-
Earth Structure
- Atmosphere
-
Earth Structure
-
Life Sciences
-
Ecology
- Human Impact
-
Ecology
-
Physical Sciences
-
Chemistry
- Acids and Bases
- Solutions
-
Chemistry
-
The Nature of Technology
-
Technology and Society
- Impacts of Technology
- Technology and the Environment
-
Technology and Society
Informal Categories
- Nature and Environment
- Science Festivals Activity
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- see color
- read
- use mouse
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
Components that are part of this resource:
Includes assesments for student learning:
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
Rights:
- All rights reserved, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2009
Funding Source:
- National Science Foundation