12/19/01
By Eilish
Dear Dexter School Board,
You asked me to find out the Mystery Powder that was on the Dexter schoolyard. I have found the mystery powder. It is a mixture of baking soda, cornstarch, and salt. This is what I think happened.
The manager of the Grocery store forgot to cover the containers of cornstarch, baking soda , and salt. The windows were open and it was a windy day. The powder flew over to the Dexter schoolyard.
I did some testing for the mystery powder. This is how I did the testing. First, we used our senses with 6 white powders. We used all of our senses except taste. We used sight, smell and touch.
Next, we had basic liquids put in the powders. When we tested with baking soda and vinegar, it bubbled. Then we used iodine to look for starch.
We looked for a powder to turn black or blue. Cornstarch turned black. It is a starch.
When we mixed the baking soda with vinegar, it fizzed. We got the same reaction when we tested the Mystery powder so we knew Baking soda was one of the ingredients.
Next, we tested with Phenol Red. We were looking for the color yellow. There was no acid in
the mystery powder. We concluded that salt was in
the mystery powder because of the crystalline shape
of the particles and the feel.
The mystery powder is cornstarch, baking
soda, and salt. I’m happy to find out the Mystery
Powder with you.
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