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What Dissolves In Water Experiment

BySarah McClelland Updated on
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Do you know which solids dissolve in water and which do not? Here’s a super fun kitchen science experiment for kids that’s very easy to set up! Through experimenting with water and common kitchen ingredients, you can learn about solutions, solutes, and solvents. We love simple science experiments and STEM all year round!

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What Dissolves in Water?

Have you ever wondered why some things dissolve in water while others don’t? Join us as we dive into the fascinating world of solvation – the process by which substances disappear into water. In this experiment, we will witness firsthand how water, the “universal solvent,” interacts with different substances.

Through simple yet captivating demonstrations, we’ll uncover the secrets behind dissolving and understand why water plays a crucial role in our everyday lives. So grab your lab coats, and let’s embark on this journey to unravel the mysteries of water’s remarkable ability to dissolve!

YOU WILL NEED:

  • Five different powders: Sugar, Salt, Gelatin Powder, Flour, and Pepper. What else can you find to use?
  • Five clear jars
  • Water
  • Stirrers
  • Data Sheet (optional)
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How to Set Up a Dissolving Experiment 

Watch the video:

STEP 1. Start by talking about what they (kids) think will happen when you add water to your jars.

STEP 2. Then you want to heat the water so it is warm. This makes the experiment happen a bit faster. (Alternatively, try the experiment with cold and warm water and note the differences.)

🔎 FUN FACT: Long ago, alchemists tried to turn substances into gold (unsuccessfully, I might add), but they pioneered the idea of experimenting and testing for us! Let your kids be modern-day alchemists with this simple chemistry experiment!

STEP 3. Add one tablespoon of each material to each jar.

STEP 4. Next, pour 1 cup of warm water into each jar. A good scientist carefully measures so that all variables but one are the same. In this case, the amount of water is the same, but the material in each jar is different.

Read more about variables in science here.

STEP 5. Lastly, you want to stir each jar and then wait 60 seconds. I love having a kid-friendly stopwatch on hand for these activities.

Once the time is up, the kids can determine which materials dissolved in the water and which didn’t. Were their answers correct? Did they need to change them?

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What do your results show you? Can you pick out which ones are homogeneous mixtures? Read more about solutions below!

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Quick Vocabulary

  • Solute: The solute is the substance that gets dissolved in a solution. The component is present in a smaller amount and dissolves into the solvent.
  • Solvent: The solvent is the substance that dissolves in a solution. It’s the more significant component and is responsible for dissolving the solute.
  • Solution: A solution is a mixture formed when a solute is dissolved in a solvent. It’s a homogeneous mixture where the solute particles are evenly distributed and dispersed throughout the solvent.

Things that Dissolve in Water

When you dissolve something in water, like salt or sugar, the water molecules surround the particles of the substance you’re dissolving. Imagine the water molecules as little magnets. They pull apart the substance’s particles and spread them evenly throughout the water.

So, instead of clumping together, the substance mixes into the water, becoming a part of it. This happens because water molecules are like magnets with positive and negative ends, attracting and surrounding the particles of the substance you’re dissolving. That’s why things dissolve in water.

More Fun Dissolving Experiments to Try

Turn It Into A Science Fair Project

Science projects are an excellent way for older kids to show what they know about science. They can also be used in many environments, including classrooms, homeschool studies, and groups.

Kids can take everything they have learned about using the scientific method, stating a hypothesis, choosing variables, making observations, and analyzing and presenting data.

Want to turn one of these experiments into an excellent science fair project? Check out these helpful resources.

Helpful Science Resources To Get You Started

Here are a few resources to help you introduce science more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.

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