SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY, SINGAPORE
INVESTIGATIVE SKILLS IN
SCIENCE
Names:
Class: S2-0_______
Group Reference: A / B /
C / D / E / F / G / H
1.
Indicate the type of research that you
are adopting:
[ ] Test a hypothesis: Hypothesis-driven
research
e.g. Investigation of the anti-bacteria effect of chrysanthemum
[ ] Measure a value: Experimental research
(I)
e.g. Determination of the mass of Jupiter using planetary
photography
[ X ] Measure a function or
relationship: Experimental research (II)
e.g. Investigation of the effect of temperature on the growth of
crystals
[ ] Construct a model: Theoretical sciences
and applied mathematics
e.g. Modeling of the cooling curve of naphthalene
[ ] Observational and exploratory research
e.g. Investigation of the soil quality in School of Science and
Technology, Singapore
[ ] Improve a product or process: Industrial
and applied research
e.g. Development of a SMART and GREEN energy system for households
2.
Write a research proposal of your
interested topic in the following format:
Title: An investigation of the effect of temperature
on the growth of crystals.
A.
Question or Problem being addressed
A student wanted
to find out what temperature is the best for making the biggest crystals. (The
aim)
The independent
variable is temperature.
The dependent
variable is the mass of copper sulphate crystals.
The constants
are:
(a) The concentration of the copper sulphate
solution used
(b) the total volume of the copper sulphate
solution used
(c) the humidity of the environment above the
beaker
(d) the mass of the seeding crystal
(e) the shape of the seeding crystal
B.
Goals / Expected Outcomes / Hypotheses
Her hypothesis is
that the lower the temperature, the bigger is the crystal grown.
C.
Description in detail of method or
procedures (The following are important and key items that should be included
when formulating ANY AND ALL research plans.)
Equipment list:
-
clean
beaker (250 ml) x 10
-
copper
sulphate in powder form
-
stirrer
-
Bunsen
burner
-
Lighter
-
Weighing
machine
-
Magnifying
glass
-
Silica
gel
-
refrigerator
(-10 degree celcius to room temperature)
-
incubator
oven ( room temperature to 50 degree celcius)
-
chopsticks
x 100
• Procedures: Detail all procedures and
experimental design to be used for data collection
1.
Set
up the experiment as shown in the diagram above.
2.
Pour
50 grams of copper sulphate crystals into a beaker of 200 ml of distilled water
and dissolve it using a stirrer.
3.
To
ensure that the concentration of copper sulphate is saturated, heat the beaker
using a Bunsen flame so that we can dissolve the maximum amount of copper
sulphate.
4.
When
we observe that the crystals cannot be dissolve any further due to heating and
stirring, stop the heating process.
5.
Pour
equal amounts of the copper sulphate solution into 6 different beakers of
different amounts. (e.g. 25 ml each)
6.
Make
sure that the seeding crystals used to make the big crystals are of the same
shape by using a magnifying glass to inspect.
7.
Make
sure that the seeding crystals used to make the big crystals are of the same
mass by using a weighing machine.
8.
Place
the seeding crystals into the 6 different beakers.
9.
Place
the 6 different beakers into refrigerator and the incubator ovens set according
to the temperatures specified.
10. To ensure that the humidity of the space
above the beakers remains the same, place a packet of moisture absorber (silica
gel) in each of the refrigerator and the oven so as to make sure that the
humidity is low. This is to make sure that there is no condensation of water
vapour in the refrigerator and oven into the beaker of copper sulphate.
11. Wait patiently for a period of 5 days
without disturbing the 6 beakers of copper suphate solution.
12. After 5 days, remove the beakers from the
refrigerators or ovens and remove the seeded crystal using a pair of chopsticks
carefully.
13. Measure the final mass of the grown
crystal using a weighing machine.
14. Repeat the experiment again using a
similar setup and measure the average mass of the grown crystal again.
• Risk and Safety: Identify any
potential risks and safety precautions to be taken.
1.
As
this experiment involves heating, use mittens or thongs when carrying hot
liquids.
2.
As
the experiment involves chemicals, avoid consuming these chemicals.
• Data Analysis: Describe the procedures you
will use to analyze the data/results that answer research questions or
hypotheses
1.
Tabulate
the data and calculate the average mass of the grown crystal.
2.
Plot
a graph of the average mass of the crystal against the temperature in which it
is grown.
3.
From
the graph, we can find out what
temperature is the best for making the biggest crystals. (The aim)
D. Bibliography: List at least five (5)
major references (e.g. science journal articles, books, internet sites) from
your literature review. If you plan to use vertebrate animals, one of these
references must be an animal care reference. Choose the APA format and use
it consistently to reference the literature used in the research plan. List
your entries in alphabetical order.
About.com
(2013, July 10). How to grow great crystals. Retrieved from
Holden A. et al
(2011). Crystals and Crystal Growing.
Cambridge, MA, USA: The MIT Press.
Scientific American (2013). Solubility
Science: How to Grow the Best Crystals: A chemistry challenge from
Science Buddies. Retrieved from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=bring-science-home-crystals.
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