Get a free trial until June 30, 2026!
New members get access to our science units, hands-on activities, mini-lessons, & more!

New members get a free trial through June 2026!
This Mystery is out of date! Please proceed to Chemical Magic to see the updated version.
Back
Back

Can you identify a mysterious ingredient?

Chemical Magic Unit
Lesson 1 of 5
Material Properties
Scroll for prep
Video trouble?
Slide Image
DISCUSS:
What could happen to your cake if you guessed the ingredients
wrong?
Video trouble?
DISCUSS: Watch what happens when we mix each of
these ingredients into a glass of water.
What do you notice?
Video trouble?
Video trouble?

DISCUSS: What tests could you do to figure out the properties of an ingredient before you start baking with it?

Video trouble?
Step
01/18
You’ll work with a partner.
Video trouble?
Step
02/18
Get your supplies.
Video trouble?
Step
03/18
Set up your testing area. Both partners should be able to easily reach
the Water Test sheet and Mystery Ingredients.
Video trouble?
Step
04/18
Scoop Ingredient 1 onto the circle inside Box 1 on your Water Test
sheet. Fill in the circle. When you’re done, put your ingredient cup
and stick back in their place.
Video trouble?
Step
05/18
Scoop the rest of the Mystery Ingredients into their matching
circles. Put everything back in its place when you’re done.
Video trouble?
Step
06/18
Discuss.
Video trouble?
Step
07/18
Practice: Put your straw in the cup. Put your finger tightly over the
top of the straw to trap the water inside. Release the water onto
a Practice Area. Only add enough water to fill each circle.
Video trouble?
Step
08/18
Partner 1: Add water onto Ingredient 1 on your Water Test sheet. Fill
up the circle. Partner 2: Mix them together with the mixing stick.
Mix for at least 30 seconds. Keep everything inside the box.
Video trouble?
Step
09/18
Repeat this for the remaining 3 Mystery Ingredients. Trade off who
adds water with the straw and who mixes each time. Discuss
observations with your partner.
Video trouble?
Step
10/18
Write down what you observed for each ingredient on your Mystery
Ingredient Observations sheet.
Video trouble?
Step
11/18
Get the rest of your supplies.
Video trouble?
Step
12/18
Scoop each Mystery Ingredient into the matching circle on the
Vinegar Test sheet.
Video trouble?
Step
13/18
Use your straw to add VINEGAR to Mystery Ingredient 1. Observe
what happens. Repeat for the remaining 3 ingredients.
Video trouble?
Step
14/18
Write down what you observed for each ingredient on your Mystery
Ingredient Observations sheet.
Video trouble?
Step
15/18
Watch what happens to the Mystery Ingredients as they are heated
up. Record your observations on your Mystery Ingredient
Observations sheet.
Video trouble?
Step
16/18
Based on your observations, which Mystery Ingredient is BAKING
SODA? Discuss with your partner and fill in your answer at the
bottom of your Mystery Ingredient Observations sheet.
Video trouble?
Step
17/18
Based on your observations, which Mystery Ingredient is CORN
STARCH? Discuss with your partner and fill in your answer at the
bottom of your Mystery Ingredient Observations sheet.
Video trouble?
Step
18/18
Based on your observations, which Mystery Ingredients are SALT
and SUGAR? Discuss with your partner and fill in your answer at
the bottom of your Mystery Ingredient Observations sheet.
Video trouble?

Cleanup Placeholder Slide

Video trouble?

DISCUSS: In what other situations could identifying an unknown substance be useful?

Video trouble?
Slide Image
Slide Image

organism


1 of 14

any living thing
Slide Image

environment


2 of 14

a living thing’s surroundings, including other living things and non-living parts like soil, water, and air
Slide Image

soil


3 of 14

found on Earth's surface; made of tiny rocks and material from dead plants and animals

matter


4 of 14

anything that takes up space and has weight; can be in different forms such as solid, liquid, or gas
Video trouble?
Slide Image

model


5 of 14

a pretend version of something that scientists use when the real thing is too big, small, or complicated to work with
Slide Image

evidence


6 of 14

information that can be used to support or reject an idea
Slide Image

microscope


7 of 14

a tool used to see very tiny things up close

decompose


8 of 14

the process of breaking down dead plants, dead animals, or animal waste
Video trouble?
Slide Image

decomposer


9 of 14

a living thing that can break down dead plants, dead animals, or animal waste
Slide Image

fungus (fungi)


10 of 14

a living thing that is a decomposer, such as a mold or mushroom
Slide Image

mold


11 of 14

a type of fungus that often decomposes food
Slide Image

mushroom


12 of 14

a type of fungus that usually has a stalk and cap
Slide Image

bacteria


13 of 14

an organism that is usually a decomposer; some cause illness
Slide Image

compost


14 of 14

decomposed material that can be used as fertilizer
🎉 That’s it for this lesson! How did it go?

Extend this lesson

Assessments

View all extensions

Share this lesson

Sign up now for more great lessons!
Sign up
Can you identify a mysterious ingredient?
Chemical Magic Unit
Lesson 1 of 5
Material Properties

Activity Prep

Print Prep
In this lesson, students explore the observable and measurable properties of substances, especially those used for cooking. In the activity, Mystery Ingredients, students make observations of four unknown powders in order to accurately identify each one based on their unique properties.
Preview activity

Assessments

Clean-up Supplies (Eg. Paper Towels)
1 roll
Baking Soda
5 tablespoons
Craft Sticks
60 sticks
Dixie Cups (3 oz)
60 cups
Plastic Straws (Not Bendable)
15 straws
Salt
5 tablespoons
Sheet Protector
30
Toothpicks
Coffee stirrers or craft sticks will also work.
30
White Vinegar
1 cup
Prep Instructions

You will need access to water for this activity. We suggest students work in pairs. Homeschool students can work on their own.

Prepare Cups with Powders

Each pair of students will need four cups with mystery substances. Divide your 3-oz paper cups into four equal groups. Label each cup in the first group #1 and scoop about 1 teaspoon of salt. Label each cup in the second group #2 and scoop about 1 teaspoon of baking soda into each. Label each cup in the third group #3 and scoop about 1 teaspoon of sugar into each. Label each cup in the fourth group #4 and scoop about 1 teaspoon of salt into each.

Prepare the Scoop Sticks

Divide your craft sticks into four equal piles. Write #1, #2, #3, and #4 on the sticks in each pile. Then place a #1 stick in the #1 3-oz cups. Repeat this for all cups.

Prepare Water and Vinegar

Pour about a tablespoon of water into a small plastic cup. Pour about a tablespoon of vinegar into a small plastic cup.

Prepare Worksheets

Place each "Water Test" worksheet into a sheet protector. Place each "Vinegar Test" worksheet into a sheet protector.

Standards

Jump to

Exploration

10 mins

Hands-On Activity

30 mins

Wrap-Up

15 mins

Share this lesson

Student link

Google Classroom

Email parents

Extend this lesson

Slow internet or video problems?
Credits
 
Chemistry Lesson 1: Can you identify a mysterious ingredient?

How did the lesson go?
Terrible OK Good Great Terrific!

How can we improve it?

If you'd like our team to reply to you, please Contact Support instead.

Thanks for your feedback! If you have a question or need help, please contact us. Please consider sharing your review:

Sorry the lesson didn't go well. We read every single review in an effort to improve our Mysteries.

Thanks for letting us know. We’ll wait to ask you for feedback until after you've actually taught it.

Thanks for the feedback! We read every single review in an effort to improve our Mysteries.

Is the video not playing properly?

Please follow these steps:

  1. Very rarely a video will fail to completely load in your browser. Try to reload this page to see if that fixes the problem.
  2. If reloading does not help, try our other video player .
  3. If the video still fails to play, open this video in a new tab and please let us know you’re having trouble. We want to fix this issue for you.

This episode is locked

This lesson is not included in your limited access.

View pricing

This episode is locked

Your membership is expired. The archive of past Mini Lessons is not included in your limited access.

View pricing

Share with colleagues

We'll email them a link to this lesson.

Thanks for sharing!

Share with more colleagues