Name: _________________________________________________ Date: _________ Period: _____
Scientific Method Lab
Purpose – To develop a hypothesis, test a hypothesis, collect data, analyze data, and compose a lab
conclusion.
Background – In the lab you will be given 2 M&Ms. The M&Ms will dissolve when placed in water.
Consider the following questions about M&Ms. Does the temperature of the water affect dissolving
rate? Does the type of water, salt or tap, affect the dissolving rate?
Experiment – Choose one question and develop a hypothesis. Remember to state your hypothesis
in a complete sentence and make sure it is testable.
Hypothesis _______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Materials – 2 cups, water (plain, warm, salt and/or sugar), 2 M&Ms (same color), spoons, timer.
Procedure –
1. With a lab partner, place enough plain tap water in one of the cups to fill it approximately 2/3
full. Fill the other cup to the same volume with salt water, warm water, or sugar water. Label
each cup as either CONTROL or EXPERIMENTAL.
The CONTROL cup contains ______________________ water.
The EXPERIMENTAL cup contains _________________ water.
The Independent Variable is ___________________________.
The Dependent Variable is ____________________________.
2. Have your timer ready to go. Place one M&M in the first of the 2 cups and begin timing. Stop
the timing when the M&M shell has dissolved. Repeat for the second cup.
3. Record the time for each M&M.
CONTROL = ____________ sec.
EXPERIMENTAL = _______ sec.
4. Enter your data in the class data table. Record the class averages in the table below.
Class Average Data – Table 1: Rate of Dissolving of M&Ms in Different Environments (sec.)
CONTROL WARM WATER SALT WATER SUGAR WATER
Lab Conclusion
1. State the problem (observation/question) asked at the beginning of the lab.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
2. Restate your hypothesis
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
3. Graph the data from the table below. Use a Bar Graph!
4. Write your conclusions. Your conclusions should answer the experimental question
(problem/observation asked at the beginning of the lab). Use your data to support your answer.
Suggest a reason why the M&Ms behaved the way they did.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
