Fizzing - Presentation

In this engaging and interactive presentation, students are set to explore the exciting world of chemistry through a series of experiments centred around the concept of fizzing. The lesson aims to help students identify the states of matter—solids, liquids, and gases—and understand that bubbles are a sign of gas production. The session begins with a 'Matter Chatter' song that introduces the basic properties of solids, liquids, and gases. Students then participate in hands-on activities, such as blowing into water to observe the creation of bubbles and experimenting with the reaction between vinegar and bicarbonate of soda to make corn dance. These activities visually demonstrate how gases are lighter than liquids and rise to the surface, creating the fizzing effect.

The lesson continues with further experiments that delve deeper into chemical reactions, particularly those that produce fizzing. Students add different substances like salt, sugar, and cornflour to vinegar to observe which combinations result in fizzing, learning that fizzing indicates a chemical reaction where new substances are formed, including gases like carbon dioxide. They also conduct a 'Mystery Chemical' experiment to identify the presence of bicarbonate of soda based on the fizzing reaction with vinegar. The session concludes with a fun and colourful 'Citrus Volcanoes' activity, where students add bicarbonate of soda to citrus fruits to witness the fizzing caused by the reaction of citric acid and a 'Making Sherbet' activity, which combines citric acid, bicarbonate of soda, and saliva to create a fizzing sensation in the mouth. By the end of the presentation, students should be able to articulate what fizzing is, identify different states of matter, and recognise that bubbles are indicative of gas formation.