JoinTried and True: Inquiry-based dissolving
This project highlights a dissolving unit that was part of an eighth-grade, semester-long investigation into matter. During the dissolving unit, students explored the concepts of mixture, solution, dissolving, saturation, and conservation of mass. Dissolving is an advanced concept that involves the atomic structure of matter and the nature of chemical bonds. However, dissolving is also a common experience in students’ lives (e.g., when they mix sugar in lemonade). The unit allowed students to explore everyday materials in new ways, address common misconceptions, and pursue scientific discovery.