Has a Chemical Reaction Taken Place?
Chapter 2: Chemical Basis of Life

Chemical reactions are constantly occurring. Color change, as well as the production of heat, light, or a gas indicate that a chemical reaction has taken place. You can detect whether a chemical reaction has occurred if you…

Try This

---

1. Obtain three bowls. Fill two bowls with water. Add one tablespoon of salt to one of the bowls of water. Label the bowls.
2. Slice a small potato into three equal pieces.
3. Place one potato slice into the empty bowl, the second potato slice into the bowl of water, and the third potato slice into the bowl of salt water.
4. After 15 minutes, observe the color and condition of the three slices of potato.

Analyze Your Results

---

1. In which bowl(s) did you observe a chemical reaction?
2. What evidence do you have that a chemical reaction took place?
3. Which condition(s) did not result in a chemical reaction?
4. What do the results of this activity tell you about the reactivity of water and of salt water with a potato?

TOP

Unit 1 Home Page