Dear School Board of Dexter Elementary School, 

     I heard that a white mystery powder covered the playground seconds after the children got to their classrooms in September. You asked us to figure out your mystery. Since that time, we have been working very hard. We have discovered the mysterious powder was a mixture of salt, baking soda and cornstarch.

To figure out what was in the mystery powder, we took six different powders and mixed each powder with oil, alcohol, vinegar and water using fair tests. We took notes on what happened. Also we tested for starch using iodine, base using PT (phenolphthalein) and acid using phenol red.

When we had to test the mystery powder to see what was in it, I did the tests using oil, alcohol, vinegar, water and starch.

After we did each test, we compared it to our notes. When we mixed the powder with vinegar, it fizzed. Baking soda and vinegar fizz together so we knew baking soda was in the powder. When we mixed the powder with iodine to test for starch, it turned blackish-blue so, we knew the powder had cornstarch mixed in it also. When we mixed salt with alcohol, the liquid turned into the powder. That is also what happened with the mystery powder so we knew salt was in the powder.

The place in the neighborhood where those powders came from was the grocery store. I think a truck was delivering baking soda, salt and cornstarch to the grocery store. The delivery truck went up Main Street, but instead of going straight he made a wrong turn and went through the alley. When he was behind the schoolyard, he hit a pothole and the back door opened. Salt, baking soda and cornstarch fell out the back. That is how I think the mysterious powder appeared on the Dexter schoolyard.

We had a lot of fun doing all the tests to help you figure out what the mystery powder was. We hope you ask us again!

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This page last updated: 08/28/04 .