Science Smarts: Disgustingly decorative experiment to get Halloween done the right way

By Patty Rooks on October 26, 2024.

Calling all spooky scientists… this is the last Halloween activity before the big day arrives! I have been wracking my brain for days as to what I am going to share with you. It cannot be any old experiment, it needs to be extra disgusting – well, at least I think so! This one you will need to start now as it will serve double duty – an experiment and a decoration. Let’s get started.

*Remember to ask an adult before doing this experiment.

Materials

– Apple

– Lemon juice

– Vegetable peeler

– Apple corer

– Salt

– Measuring tape

– Measuring spoons

– Measuring cups

– Plate

– Shallow bowl

– Science notebook

– Pencil

– Knife

– Science helper

– Raisins, yarn, uncooked spaghetti strands (optional)

Procedure

1. Take the apple and measure the circumference.

2. Make note of this measurement in your science notebook.

3. Have an adult/science helper assist you in removing the core of the apple with the apple corer. It can get a bit tricky.

4. It may also be a good idea to have an adult help you peel the apple with the peeler.

5. Place the apple on the plate for now.

6. Measure 125 mL (1/2 cup) of lemon juice.

7. Measure 5 mL (one teaspoon) of salt.

8. Add the salt to the lemon juice and stir it well.

9. Pour this mixture into the bowl.

10. Roll the apple around in the mixture for a minute or so until it is totally covered.

11. Place the apple on the plate in a warm location.

12. If you wish, you can “decorate” your apple. I like to use raising for eyes, make a slit and use the spaghetti pieces for teeth, and yarn for hair of course. It just makes it much more realistic looking as the apple shrivels up!

13. Make observations on what is happening to the apple over the next few days and record this in your science notebook.

14. Measure the circumference of the apple every day for a week. What do you notice?

What is going on?

The first observation you should have made was that the apple was shrinking and turning brown. Fresh cut apples turn brown due to a chemical reaction call oxidation. It may take a while for you to see this as by adding the lemon juice to the apple, you will slow this process down slightly.

You should have also observed that your apple was shrinking and changing shape each and every day! This is because an apple contains more than 80% water. The salt mixture helped suck out all of the moisture from the apple. With less water in the apple, it became much smaller; shrinking up into a little creepy looking head.

Use your apples as decorations for Halloween, they look like real shrunken heads in those horror movies!

Patty Rooks, senior scientific consultant PRAXIS, “Connecting Science To The Community.” Contact Praxis at praxis@praxismh.ca, http://www.praxismh.ca, Tweet or follow us @PraxisMedHat, or friend us on Facebook. Address: 12 826 11th Street SE, Medicine Hat, AB, T1A 1T7 Phone: 403-527-5365, email: praxis@praxismh.ca.

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