The chemistry students completed a lab in which they had to investigate a crime scene to put their knowledge of physical and chemical properties to the test.
Students tried to solve the crime of a break-in to Ms. Ferrell's classroom by comparing the density of the crime scene evidence to evidence found in the car of three suspects.
The first part was to calculate the volume of the evidence using water displacement. Then, they calculated the mass and density of the different metals and suspects.
After determining who the suspect was, the students had to explain the differences between physical and chemical properties and how intensive and extensive properties relate to them.
Then, they explained with words, diagrams, or graphs why density is considered an intensive property even though mass and volumes are extensive properties.
This was a great lab to allow the students to both challenge their knowledge physical and chemical properties as well as have fun in a crime scene investigation!