Christina Svensson06.04.2009 Mr. PorterSCH3UE

% sugar in bubble gum

Purpose:To determine the percentage of sugar in bubblegum

Procedure:1) Determine mass of bubblegum (with its wrapping)2) Take bubble gum out of its wrapping (make sure to save the wrapping for later use!)3) Chew the bubblegum until it feels hard and tasteless4) Put the bubblegum on the wrapping5) Let the bubblegum dry6) After days of drying, determine the mass of the bubblegum7) Record observations

Qualitative observations:Bubblegum before experiment Bubblegum after completed experiment

- Solid- Pink- Soft- Dry

- Solid- Pink- Hard- Wet

Quantitative observations:Before completed experimentMass of bubblegum with wrappingMass of bubblegumMass of wrapping

After competed experimentMass of bubblegum with wrappingMass of bubblegumMass of wrapping

Calculations:

Sources of error:

Any artificial flavour or colours the bubblegum contained might have been “chewed out” of the bubblegum. This will affect the mass of the bubblegum calculated because it is assumed that the mass being “chewed out”; of the bubblegum is all sugar. This will increase the calculated sugar percentage in the bubblegum.Unknown “materials” in the chewers’ mouth might have stuck to the bubblegum while chewing. This will affect the calculated mass of the bubblegum, because, as said previously, the mass “chewed out” of the bubblegum is assumed to be sugar. This will increase the calculated percentage of sugar in the bubblegum.Since the bubblegum was touched, impurities might have been transferred from the hand touching it, to the bubblegum. These foreign substances might change the mass of the bubblegum when measured, hence; it will increase the calculated percentage of sugar in the bubblegum. This is because, as mentioned earlier, the mass “chewed out” of the bubblegum is assumed to be sugar, not impurities.

Conclusion: