M&M Candy Science Lab: How to Dissolve the "m" Off
Try this M&M Candy Science Lab easily from your own kitchen… I mean, terribly sophisticated science laboratory at home! Check it out and learn the science behind this lab!
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Materials List
Wow! This is a really HUGE materials list! Just kidding. The only supplies needed for the M&M Candy Science Lab is water, small cups, and M&M’s.
Lab Procedures
This lab evolved. I started out by asking the kids, “How can we get the color off of the chocolate?” One child said that we could chip it off. Another said that we could lick it off. After a few minutes of discussion, my middle son said that we could put it in water and dissolve it off. YES! Someone paid attention the day before!
Since our original goal wasn’t to get the “m” to come off, but merely the coloring. We used a cup for each M&M color.
If I knew what was going to happen, then I would have put the M & M’s in before the water to ensure that the m’s were right-side up. So, DON’T DO WHAT WE DID… WELL, SORT OF 🙂
Lab Procedure:
– 1st Step: Put a different color M&M in each cup with the “m” right-side up.
– 2nd Step: Pour water into the cup slowly as not to move the M & M.
– 3rd Step: Watch and Observe. It may take a little while for the “m” to dissolve off, so be patient.
My younger kids really enjoyed this lab since it revolved around colors. We talked about how the water was changing to blue or green and about how the sugar coating was dissolving into the water. For the older kids, we discussed how when a solute (sugar coating/food coloring) is dissolving into a solvent (water), a solution is made. A solution is a type of mixture.
And then we saw this…
The “m” floated up away from the chocolate candy. I had not planned for that. However, it makes sense if you understand density.
Later, we put two M&M’s into a glass cup and added enough water to cover the M&M’s. Can you see the m’s floating? Can you also see the film? If you let the M&M’s sit long enough without disturbing them, you will visibly see a bunch of stuff floating.
What is the science behind it?
The chocolate is more dense than water, so it sinks. Density is the amount of mass in an object compared to its volume. Hence, the more mass an object in reference to its volume, the greater the density. Since the “m” floats, it is less dense than the water. The “m” has less mass in its volume and thus, floats away leaving the chocolate lonely. See, the less dense “m” was laying on top of the colored sugar coating. Once the sugar coating dissolved off of the chocolate part of the candy, the “m” had nothing keeping it attached.
I tried to research what the “m” was made of, but I didn’t have too much success. My best guess after reviewing the ingredients and observing the floating material, is that it is carnauba wax. Yum… I just love to eat wax. Not really.
Food for thought...
Looking for a more permanent science curriculum? Even though we pursue various science units that encompass labs and such, we also use a science textbook each year. Some might say that our science units supplement our textbook, while others would say the opposite to be true. The labs, experiments, graphic organizers, videos, and other activities bring the textbook information to life.
We use Abeka Science textbooks. I love that they incorporate God and His sovereignty into their curriculum. When I taught in the public school system, I noticed that many of my students were lacking in vocabulary. This made it difficult for them to understand the why behind many of our investigations. Unfortunately, they were deficient in their background knowledge. Our science time would be lacking too if it weren’t for the rich vocabulary and science language that we find in our science textbook and readers. If you are interested in shopping for a full-time science curriculum or even just a textbook to guide you, click on the following link! Happy homeschooling!
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