Apologia: Chemistry Update

This morning the Chemistry class spent the entire time constructing a qualitative analysis scheme, often dubbed, White Powder Lab.  I first came across this lab years ago in the Journal of Chemical Education.  The basic premise is for the kids to test a series of 'knowns' using a variety of reagents and then use their notes to determine the identity of a second set of 'unknowns'.  The 'knowns' we're baking soda, baking powder, cream of tartar, corn starch, Epsom salts, drive-way deicer, Kosher salt, sugar, and plaster of Paris.  The test reagents were Phenol Red, universal indicator, iodine tincture, a copper sulfate solution, hot water, cold water, a dilute acid and a dilute base.  Once the kids think they have correctly identified the mystery powders, I tell them which are correct; they retest until all of the powders are correctly identified.  Lastly, the kids name the powders with both their common and scientific names.