MISSION 09 · CHEMISTRY DISCOVERY
Can one tiny touch of soap make a whole field of glitter rush away?
3 · Investigate Water
Your new skill: Use a tiny soap touch to explore a surface effect.
Revisit the skill you will reuse: Previous main-path mission
Match the names to your parts before you build. New parts appear when you first need them. You can point, say the name or show a grown-up.
A little dish soap changes how the surface of water behaves and can help trap bubbles as foam.
Look for: Use ordinary dish soap named by the mission, from home.
Before using it: Use tiny amounts only, keep away from eyes and do not substitute bleach or cleaning chemicals.
Your turn: Predict whether plain water and soapy water will behave the same.
These visible particles help us follow movement or see what a filter catches.
Look for: Match the small glitter and larger beads named in the mission.
Before using it: Use only small amounts in a tray. Keep away from eyes and mouth; collect particles in the bin rather than washing them down the drain.
Your turn: Predict whether the same filter will catch a bead and every tiny glitter piece.
A tray catches spills, cups hold samples or form a model, and a dry workspace protects our tools.
Look for: Choose the exact container and dry surface in the mission list.
Before using it: Experiment cups stay separate from food and drinks. Keep electronics away from liquids and clean up before storing parts.
Your turn: Show where a spill would land and where electrical parts will stay dry.
A video demonstration will appear here when it is ready. You can follow the written step now.
Before we build, match these names to the parts in front of you. Dish soap. A little dish soap changes how the surface of water behaves and can help trap bubbles as foam. Use ordinary dish soap named by the mission, from home. Use tiny amounts only, keep away from eyes and do not substitute bleach or cleaning chemicals. Glitter and beads. These visible particles help us follow movement or see what a filter catches. Match the small glitter and larger beads named in the mission. Use only small amounts in a tray. Keep away from eyes and mouth; collect particles in the bin rather than washing them down the drain. Tray cup and dry workspace. A tray catches spills, cups hold samples or form a model, and a dry workspace protects our tools. Choose the exact container and dry surface in the mission list. Experiment cups stay separate from food and drinks. Keep electronics away from liquids and clean up before storing parts. Pause and point to the part that will do the main job in this mission. If it is missing or looks different, ask a grown-up before building.
WHAT YOU'LL USE
Kit list: match the named parts to your box and its component cards. Home list: gather these before starting; some may also be supplied in your kit. Reuse components between missions. Stop and ask a grown-up if an essential part or label is missing.
BEFORE YOU BUILD
Keep soap and glitter away from eyes and mouth. Do not add soap until the water is completely still.
YOUR REWARD
PREDICT BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Will the glitter move toward the soap, away from it, or stay still?
YOUR CHALLENGE
NEW POWER-UP
Use a tiny soap touch to explore a surface effect.
You have just practised compare drop counts with and without soap. Now: use a tiny soap touch to explore a surface effect.
BUILD PATH
STEP 1 OF 8
Pour a shallow, even layer of water into the dish.
A video demonstration will appear here when it is ready. You can follow the written step now.
Pour a shallow, even layer of water into the dish.
WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING?
Water molecules pull on one another at the surface. This creates surface tension. Soap weakens that pull where it touches. Stronger surface tension farther away pulls the surface outward, carrying the glitter along.
Detergents lower surface tension so water can spread through fabric and around grease more effectively.
FAIR-TEST CHALLENGE
Try the experiment in two dishes: one with fresh water and one that already contains a tiny amount of soap. Compare the movement.
WHEN IT DOESN'T WORK YET
WHAT YOU SEE LIKELY REASON TRY THIS FIRST The glitter does not move Soap may already be in the dish or the water is moving. Wash the dish thoroughly, use fresh water and wait for stillness. Glitter clumps Too much glitter was added. Use a much smaller pinch. Movement is weak The soap tip may not have touched the surface. Use a fresh clean tip with one tiny soap drop.
CLEAN, RESET AND STORE
Pour the soapy water down the sink, collect stray glitter, wash the dish and hands, and dry the workspace.
NEXT SKILL
Compare wet fronts without promising a particular winner.