A before-and-after table for a metal
Scientists record changes in a table. A before-and-after table has columns for how things look before, what happens during, and what we find after. For the metal and acid test, before: a shiny metal and a clear acid. During: bubbles of gas. After: the liquid dries to a white solid that is dull and does not bubble in acid. The evidence for a new substance is the change in looks and in how it behaves. In the baking soda and vinegar test, before: a white powder and a clear liquid. During: bubbles. After: a liquid with no powder left. We use the table to compare, to explain, and to check that we answered our question. Good tables are neat, have a title and use words like shiny, dull and bubbles.
| Before | During | After | |
|---|---|---|---|
| metal and acid | shiny metal | bubbles | white dull solid |
| baking soda and vinegar | white powder | bubbles | clear liquid, no powder |
| Before | During | After |
|---|---|---|
| dull coin | stands in vinegar and salt | brighter coin |
My own table. Draw a table with the headings before, during and after. Fill it in for the baking soda and vinegar cup or for the coin in vinegar. Add one line about what the table shows.