Virtual Particle Lab: Dissolving

During Session 3, one of the physical changes we examined was dissolving, particularly dissolving salt in water. The biggest question we faced was, “Does the salt disappear and, if not, where does it go?” The principle of conservation of mass tells us that no particles are lost, but how can we explain the fact that we no longer see the salt in the bottom of the beaker of water from a particle point of view?

In this lab, you’ll experiment with a realistic microscopic model of one substance dissolving in another. You’ll discover that the relative strength of the forces between particles is the key to understanding this macroscopic phenomenon.

Enter the Virtual Lab!

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