Lesson 1.1: Tea Time Activity

Lesson 1.1: Tea Time Activity

Tea is a common drink.  People refer to tea as strong or weak.  In science, the term used to describe the strength of tea is concentration.  The more concentrated the tea solution is, the stronger it is.  This activity will test your powers of observation.

Title: Tea Time

Problem: What can you observe about the concentration of tea? 

Apparatus: 3 cups
spoon
clock with a second hand

Materials: hot water
3 tea bags

Safety: The hot water is dangerous.  Use oven mitts, safety glasses, and an apron when performing this investigation.  Supervision by an adult is necessary.

What to do:
1. Heat a kettle of water to its boiling point.
2. Fill each cup half full of hot water.
3. Put one tea bag in each cup and record the start time.
4. After 1 minute, gently stir the tea bag in cup 1 and remove the bag.
5. After 2 minutes, gently stir the tea bag in cup 2 and remove the bag.
6. After 3 minutes, gently stir the tea bag in cup 3 and remove the bag.
7. Examine the tea in each cup and record the its relative colour.
8. Add 1 teaspoon of sugar to each cup, stir it, and record any colour changes.
9. Add water to cup 1 until it is full.  Stir it, and record any colour change.
10. Add water to cup 2 until it is full.  Stir it, and record any colour change.
11. Add water to cup 3 until it is full.  Stir it, and record any colour change.

 

Tea Solution	Relative Colour (Step 7)	Relative Colour (Step 8)	Relative Colour (Steps 9 to 11)
Cup 1
Cup 2
Cup 3

Analysis:

1. What does the colour of the tea tell you about the concentration?
2. What effect did the addition of sugar have on the concentration?
3. What effect did adding water have on the concentration?

Conclusion:  What did you observe about the concentration of tea?

Compare your data table to some sample data that follows and check your answers to the Analysis and Conclusion questions.

Check your answers with those that follow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers to Questions:

Data Table

Tea Solution	Relative Colour (Step 7)	Relative Colour (Step 8)	Relative Colour (Steps 9 to 11)
Cup 1	light brown	light brown	very light brown
Cup 2	medium brown	medium brown	light brown
Cup 3	dark brown	dark brown	medium brown

 

Analysis:
1. What does the colour of the tea tell you about the concentration?

The colour of tea is related to concentration.  The darker the tea colour, the more concentrated the tea.

2. What effect did the addition of sugar have on the concentration?

Because the colour of the tea did not change when sugar was added, the concentration of tea did not change.

3. What effect did adding water have on the concentration?

Because the colour of the tea became lighter when water was added, the concentration decreased.

Conclusion:  What did you observe about the concentration of tea?

The concentration of tea is related to the colour.  The darker the tea colour is, the more concentrated it is.  The lighter the tea colour is, the less concentrated it is.  Dissolving small amounts of solids does not change the concentration of tea.  Adding more solvent (water) dilutes the tea and decreases the concentration.

Click on the page forward to continue Lesson 1.

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