DIY Science Activity: What Dissolves in Water?

Ever wondered what happens to sugar when you stir it into your lemonade? Does it just disappear? Get ready to put on your scientist hat and discover the magic of dissolving with this easy and engaging science experiment. Using just a few common household items, you and your little one can explore the question: What dissolves in water?

This hands-on activity is a fantastic way to introduce young minds to basic chemistry concepts like solutions, solutes, and solvents in a fun and interactive way.

What You'll Need

Clear containers: 4-6 clear glasses, jars, or plastic cups of the same size. Using clear containers is important so you can easily observe what's happening.
Water: Tap water will work perfectly.
A tablespoon and a stirring spoon or stick.
Test "Solutes": A variety of substances to test. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Salt
- Sugar (granulated or a sugar cube)
- Flour
- Sand or soil from outside
- Coffee grounds (used or fresh)
- Baking soda
- Rice or a small pasta shape
- A small pebble
Optional: A notebook and pen to record your predictions and observations.

Let's Get Experimenting! A Step-by-Step Guide

Set Up Your Lab: Arrange your clear containers in a row where you can easily see them.
Make Predictions: For each of your test substances, ask your child: "Do you think this will dissolve in the water?" Have them explain their reasoning. This is a great way to get them thinking like a scientist! You can write down their predictions in a notebook.
Add the Water: Carefully pour the same amount of water into each container. About half to three-quarters full is a good amount.
One by One: Add one tablespoon of a single test substance to each container of water. For example, put salt in the first glass, sugar in the second, flour in the third, and so on.
Stir it Up! Using your stirring spoon, stir the contents of each container for about 30 seconds. Be sure to rinse and dry the spoon between each container to avoid cross-contamination.
Observe Closely: Take a close look at what has happened in each container.
Record Your Results: Discuss what you see with your child. Compare the results to your initial predictions. Were you surprised by any of the outcomes?

The Science Behind the Fun

When a substance dissolves in water, it breaks down into tiny particles that are too small for us to see. This mixture of a substance dissolved in a liquid is called a solution.

In our experiment:

The substance we added (like salt or sugar) is called the solute.
The water is the solvent because it does the dissolving.

Water is a fantastic solvent! Its molecules have a special ability to surround and pull apart the molecules of many other substances, causing them to dissolve.

Substances that dissolve in water, like salt and sugar, are called soluble. Substances that do not dissolve, like sand and pebbles, are called insoluble. When you stirred the flour, you might have noticed the water became cloudy. This is because the flour particles are suspended in the water but not truly dissolved.

Fun Extension Activities

Hot vs. Cold: Does temperature affect how quickly something dissolves? Try the experiment again, but this time use warm water in one set of cups and cold water in another. You'll likely find that things dissolve faster in warmer water!
Does it Dissolve in Other Liquids? See if your soluble and insoluble substances behave differently in other liquids like oil or vinegar. (Always have adult supervision for this.)
Crystal Creations: For a longer project, you can try to grow your own sugar or salt crystals. Dissolve as much sugar or salt as you can in a small amount of hot water. Tie a string to a pencil and lay it across the top of the jar so the string dangles in the solution. As the water evaporates over a few days, crystals will begin to form on the string