Competing Carbonates

Produced by Nelson Thornes, this resource helps students look at aspects of how science works. This activity challenges students to look critically at a plan to investigate the relative ease with which metal carbonates decompose.

The plan involves the decomposition of carbonates to release carbon dioxide and subsequently turn limewater milky. However, the investigation has a number of flaws, one of which is how exactly to decide when the limewater first turns cloudy.

Students look at the plan and determine whether the investigation is likely to produce valid and reliable results.

HEALTH and SAFETY
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• URL: http://stem.org.uk/rx6o9