Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) is the only acidic powder, and the only one that clears in Iodine.Gelatin swells in water and is the only one to do that.Yeast smells like bread and is the only tan powder.Alka-Seltzer fizzes with everything you mix it with.Many powders have a "give-away" making them easier to identify: Plaster of Paris, calcium sulfate dihydrate, alabaster Sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate None more red-brown than Plaster of Paris Generally easy to identify since it smells sort of like bread most of the time Similar to salt but grains are slightly roundedīlackens it - iodine clumps together, unlike cornstarch Distinctive smell.ĭelayed reaction with iodine (may be difficult to observe) May have a colored tint- green, yellow, pink, orange (if from tablets). The powder it self is very airy and hole-y None the color looks sort of like mustard/peanut butter This helps very much when it comes time for the competition.Įxothermic when mixed with water and has a distinctive sweet odor With your teammate, memorize the results (this is where two heads are better than one) and try testing unknowns made by the coach or other team members. For liquids, include smell, reactions to pH or litmus, and color. For metals, include reactions to HCl and magnetic property (yes or no). For powders, include color, reactions with water, HCl, and Iodine odor (distinct, faint, or none) shape (crystalline, granular, or powder), solubility (whether it dissolves in water or not), and reaction to pH or Litmus paper. chromatography materials (chromatography paper, ink to be tested, extra beaker for testing).a dropper bottle of 1M HCl (hydrochloric acid).Alka-Seltzer(may not be powdered completely, as the event supervisors may have to crush it themselves).Before the competition (at school practices)Ĭheck with your SO coach to get the following materials to test: The supervisor will provide everything else needed, so if anything outside of what the rules allow is brought, a penalty may be issued. Something for scooping, stirring, and mixing.Test tubes and racks, spot plates, well plates, reaction plates, beakers, or similar small containers for mixing.One 8.5"x11" page with information on the front and back.Pants or skirts that cover the legs to the anklesĪlso, the team should and may have the following:.If a team uses lab aprons, they must make sure to wear long sleeves that reach the wrists. 14.1 Examples of Water Testing on Past TestsĮvery team must bring these safety items to be allowed to participate.2 Before the competition (at school practices).The information contained in that page may be used as enrichment for a competitor who has already learned the basics. Some elements of this event are similar to its Division C equivalent, Forensics. This event was previously known as Science Crime Busters, but was changed to Crime Busters after the 2009-2010 season. Students should be able to use this data to answer some questions about who committed the crime and how the evidence supports their argument. Students will also analyze evidence from paper chromatography. In Crime Busters, students will identify perpetrators of a certain crime by identifying unknown powders, liquids, and metals, and analyzing hairs, fibers, plastics, fingerprints, DNA evidence, shoeprints, tire treads, soil and splatters.
Given a scenario, a collection of evidence, and possible suspects, students will perform a series of tests that along with other evidence will be used to solve a crime.