Organic chemistry · Grade 10
The carbon snake
ChemAI · Worksheet
NameClassDate
Aim
Concentrated sulfuric acid removes the water from sugar.
⚠ Fume cupboard only. Concentrated sulfuric acid causes severe burns; the carbon column is very hot.
Before you start: what do you predict will happen? Why?
What you do
| Step | What I observed | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Add concentrated sulfuric acid drop by drop: press it three times. | |
| 2 | Wait a few seconds and watch the beaker. | |
| 3 | Use “Tests → Smell (waft)”: what gas is given off besides steam? |
Questions
- Write a word or symbol equation for one reaction you observed.
- Explain your most important observation using particles, ions or energy.
- Was your prediction right? What would you change to get a more reliable result?