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This page shows questions in the Temperature and Table Sugar public release module at MSDE. 8th Grade MISA
"Temperature and Table Sugar"

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While studying phase changes in common substances in their science class, a group of students investigated how water capital H 2 capital O and table sugar capital C 12 capital H 22 capital O 11 respond to temperature changes. The students exposed beakers containing the substances to three different temperatures.

Sugar and Water Investigation

  • Place 50 milliliters (mL) of each substance into separate beakers.
  • Place each beaker in a freezer until each substance reaches 0 degrees Celsius, degrees see
  • Record observations of the appearance of the substances.
  • Place the beakers on a table.
  • After several hours, record observations of the appearance of the substances at room temperature 20 degrees Celsius
  • The teacher used a hot plate to heat the beakers to 100 degrees Celsius
  • Record observations of the appearance of the substances.

After completing the investigation, the students organized their data into the following table.

SUGAR AND WATER DATA TABLE
Substance 0 degrees Celsius 20 degrees Celsius 100 degrees Celsius
Table sugar
capital C 12 capital H 22 capital O 11
  • solid
  • volume is 50 milliliters
  • solid
  • volume is 50 milliliters
  • solid
  • volume is 50 milliliters
Water capital H 2 capital O
  • solid
  • volume is greater than 50 milliliters
  • liquid
  • volume is 50 milliliters
  • substance is boiling, steam rises from beaker
  • volume is less than 50 milliliters

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After reviewing data from the investigation, the students constructed models of a table sugar molecule and a water molecule.

Table sugar molecule diagram. The diagram is titled “Table Sugar Molecule” and shows the molecular structure of table sugar. The molecule contains 12 C atoms, 22 H atoms, and 11 O atoms that are connected together. End figure description.

Water molecule diagram. The diagram is titled “Water Molecule” and shows the molecular structure of water. The structure contains an O atom connected to two H atoms. End figure description.

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In the sugar and water investigation, the students observed that the liquid inside the thermometers moved when exposed to different temperatures. They researched thermometers and found that most are filled with alcohol capital C 2 capital H 6 capital O When a thermometer is exposed to warmer temperatures, the liquid inside expands. A thermometer’s glass tube is not flexible, so the liquid expands vertically and rises up the tube. The students constructed the following model to illustrate how molecules of liquid in a thermometer move.

Model. The figure is titled “Alcohol Thermometer Model” and shows a liquid in a thermometer in three different states. From left to right, the states are decreased temperature, room temperature, and increased temperature. In each state, 9 circles are shown to represent molecules of liquid. At decreased temperature, the 9 molecules are tightly spaced, and the level of the liquid is at the lower part of the thermometer. At room temperature, the 9 molecules are moderately spaced, and the level of the liquid is at the middle of the thermometer. At increased temperature, the 9 molecules are widely spaced, and the level of the liquid is at the upper part of the thermometer. End figure description.

This is a multiple choice question that allows you to select only one option.

The students found that the volume of water increased when it froze. They constructed the following model of liquid and frozen water to illustrate how phase affects water molecule arrangement.

Diagrams. The figure shows two diagrams of water molecules. A key indicates that the diagrams contain oxygen and hydrogen atoms, where each water molecule has one oxygen atom connected to two hydrogen atoms. A diagram labeled “Liquid Water” shows 8 water molecules arranged in no particular pattern. An arrow points to another diagram labeled “Frozen Water,” which shows 13 water molecules. The molecules are arranged in rows and columns and are spaced more orderly than the molecules in the liquid water diagram. End figure description.

The volume of water increases when water freezes because

  1. A.
    water molecules have a low density.
  2. B.
    the components of a water molecule increase in mass.
  3. C.
    the arrangement of the molecules in the water changes.
  4. D.
    water molecules are composed of atoms from different elements.

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The students used the model of a water molecule to better understand its structure.

Water is classified as a molecule because it

  1. A.
    is composed of multiple atoms that are chemically bonded.
  2. B.
    changes phases when exposed to thermal energy.
  3. C.
    is composed of elements that are gases.
  4. D.
    has mass and takes up space.

This is a multiple choice question that allows you to select only one option.

The students compared the models of a table sugar molecule and a water molecule.

How do table sugar molecules differ from water molecules?

  1. A.
    A table sugar molecule is a mixture.
  2. B.
    A water molecule is a pure substance.
  3. C.
    Water molecules may repeat to form extended structures.
  4. D.
    Table sugar molecules may repeat to form extended structures.

This is a question with 2 parts, including a question with drop-down menus from which you must select an option to fill in the blank.

In the thermometer model, the liquid expanded because the  
  of a liquid’s molecules changes proportionally to the change in  
 

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Use evidence from the investigation to explain what causes water to change phases. In your explanation be sure to include

  • the transfer of energy
  • the molecular structure