Material:   heavy duty aluminum foil
                rubbing alcohol or denatured alcohol
                powdered boric acid ( pharmacy section of grocery store)
                table salt
                matches

Experiment:with the aluminum foil make three little containers the size of small cup (two inches wide and
                half an inch high. Cover the bottom of one container with boric acid, the other container
                with table salt and leave the last one empty. Place the three containers on the top of
                the stove and pour some alcohol in each .  DO NOT pour too much:
                it is tempting but will not give a good result. BE CAUTIOUS.
                Switch off the lights, play a good piece of music, light the alcohol with a match
                and enjoy.

PLEASE COMPLETE THIS REPORT:  Name:______________________Block___

                1. beside blue and yellow which color do you observe? compare the container
                    with just the alcohol
                                        to the boric acid:___________________

                                        to table salt:      ____________________

                2. In you textbook find out flame test and the colors that help identify the following ions:

                                    sodium:_______________

                                    strontium:______________

                                    barium:_______________

                                    copper:_______________

                                    lithium:________________

                3. The COMBUSTION of the alcohol has produced the energy ( heat) necessary to get the
                    boron excited.  Write down and balance the equation that represents  the reactants and
                    products of this reaction.
 

                           C3 H8 O     +   ___________  =     ___________ + ___________

                                isopropyl alcohol

                4. Explain why the boric acid powder stays moist when the combustion is completed.
 
 
 

                5. Rubbing alcohol is a solution of isopropyl alcohol . Determine the volume of pure alcohol in
                    a 16 fl  oz bottle.  Give your answer in fl ounce and  liter   ( read the label  ).

                                                        _____________ fl oz

                                                        _____________ liter
 
 
 

                6. What do you use boric acid for?
 
 

                7. Boric acid has the following formula:   H3 B O 3

                    Calculate the percent Boron in the formula.
 
 

                                                                                                        __________%

                    Calculate the mass of Boron in the 3 oz  boric acid container (    1 oz  =  28.349 g )
 
 
 

                                                                                                        _____________ g

                    Calculate the number of Boron atoms in the container
 
 

                                                                                                      ___________boron atoms
 

 Evidence:  Now that you have done this extra effort, you are entitled to earn an additional 15 points
                    on your participation grade ( about 1 point on grand total) IF

                        -- Your answers are correct.

                        -- you bring your report to class on or before december 6

                        -- you staple a zip log bag with the container where you burnt the boric acid.