In chemistry class some sophomore students got to participate in a lab where the primary goal is to determine the mass of water inside a popcorn kernel and observe the physical change that occurs when that water turns into steam.

“It took me a while to pop each piece and write the data but it was fun and I liked doing something more physical than just paperwork like usual.” Maya Wijesiri, a sophomore at Douglass.

To complete the lab you measure the mass of the kernels before and after popping. Since the pop is caused by water escaping as steam, the change in mass represents the water content. The lab demonstrates how increasing temperature in a fixed volume increases pressure. When the pressure exceeds the hull’s strength, it ruptures.

“Beyond the fun of it, this lab teaches experimental error. If you burn the popcorn the mass decreases more than it should, leading to an inaccurately high water percentage. This helps students learn how to handle data with a critical eye.” 

Mr. Mullins the chemistry teacher that hosted the lab.