December Science Experiment submitted by Amy Oliver

Have you ever seen a picture in the newspaper that has inspired you? Here’s a way to use a little chemistry to explore the image.

1. Carefully cut out a small color picture (5cm by 5cm or so) from the comics or newspaper.
2. Dip a cotton swab in white vinegar. Lightly moisten the copy by wiping with the vinegar-soaked swab. Make sure to cover every part of the picture with vinegar.
3. Place the picture between two paper towels. Press hard for 5 to 10 seconds to dry off the excess vinegar.
4. Place the picture with the side to be copied face down on a piece of white paper.
5. Place another piece of white paper on top and rub hard with the bottom of a spoon. Make sure to rub over the entire picture.
6. Remove both the upper paper and the newspaper. There should be a transfer of the picture on the bottom white paper. If the transfer is too faint, try again with a different picture but use the edge of the spoon instead of the bottom.

Can you repeat these steps to create a collage? What happens if you transfer words instead of a picture? What happens to your white paper if you rub baby oil on it?

What’s going on: if you were to use plain water the picture would not transfer because the inks in newspaper do not dissolve in water—a good thing. However, the ink does dissolve in a solution of weak acid (vinegar is a dilute solution of acetic acid in water).

Post what you did with the experiment: Which variables did you change? (Did you use baby oil or another liquid?) What happened? Why do you think that happened?

Musical Science

There are many songs that can be both fun and help you remember scientific principles. The following are a list of just a few:

"Why does the Sun Shine?" by They Might Be Giants

"Parts of the Brain" by Animaniacs Pinky and the Brain

"Senses Song" by the Animaniacs

"The Elements" by Tom Lehrer

"School House Rock: Science" album

"Here Comes Science" album by They Might Be Giants

Album by Tickle Tune Typhoon "Singing Science"

Websites with fun songs:

The Matter Song http://www.havefunteaching.com/science-songs/matter-song

Molecules in Motion http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/videos/chemistry/molecularmovement.html

Many Science songs http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/science_songs.html