Reaction: Yes or No?

In this activity, learners mix ingredients in a plastic bag, and then identify three characteristics of a chemical reaction: production of heat, color change, and production of a gas. Turmeric, a common spice in curry, is used as the color indicator in the reaction. Learners will also gain an understanding of the making or breaking of chemical bonds involved in chemical reactions. For safety reasons, this activity works best as a demonstration for younger audiences. This activity includes two extensions on pages 10 and 11. Part of the 21-activity guide published by OMSI, No Hassle Messy Science with a Wow. All activities in this guide use household materials and all lesson plans include preparation directions, demonstrations, procedure sheets, cross-curricular connections, and scientific explanation of content.