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Nature of Matter

Diffusion

Evaporation

"Disappearing" alcohol on a scale: Testing Experiment

Aim

An experiment which will enable us to distinguish between explanations which say that the alcohol stays in the paper and explanations which say that the alcohol leaves the paper.

Description of the Experiment

A piece of dry paper is placed on the scale and the masses are moved so that the scale is balanced again. The paper is then wetted with alcohol and placed back on the scale. Use your explanation invented in the previous experiment to predict what will happen to the reading on the scale over time. IF the alcohol is being absorbed into the paper what do you predict will happen to the reading on the scale? IF the alcohol is leaving the paper, what do you predict will happen to the reading on the scale? Note that the second half of the video is played at 18 times normal speed.

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