Candy Isotopes
Procedure
1. Fill in your predictions of the in the following chart.
Prediction Actual
How many candies are in your package?
What is the most common color?
What is the least common color?
What is your groups favorite color?
What is your favorite color?
How much does your package weigh?
How much does one candy weigh?
How much does your package cost?
How much does 1 candy cost?
2. Go through and figure out the actual answer for each question.
3. Open your package and record the different colors that are present. Make predictions in the chart below.
Colors
Ratio Ratio Ratio Ratio Ratio Ratio
Total # % # % # % # % # % # %
Prediction
Actual
# = number of candies of that color
Ratio = a fraction - #/total candies
% = # total candies, then multiply by 100
4. Record the actual amounts.
5. Graph your results, using a bar graph.
6. Now take the color you have the most of, and separate them from the rest. Trade with another group that has
a different kind of candy. Keep the color you have the most of, and get only one color of the other candy.
7. Find the mass of a single piece of each of the candies and record, this represents the atomic mass of that
particular isotope. Be sure to record what type of candy you are using
8. Record the total mass of all the candies (two types) that you now have.
9. Divide this total mass by the total number of candies. This represents your average atomic mass.
Mass of Single Candy One
(atomic mass of isotope one)
Mass of Single Candy Two
(atomic mass of isotope two)
Mass of all the Candy
Total Number of Candies
Mass Total Number of Candies
(Average Atomic Mass)
1. What is an isotope?
2. What is the only thing that is different between two isotopes of the same element?
3. Will the average atomic mass in an experiment like ours (even if we use the same kind of candy) always be
the same?
4. Why, or why not?
5. You may now eat your candy.