The Chemistry class is learning about ionic and metallic bonds, so we need a series of labs that explores these concepts.
First lab we did was to make magnesium oxide from a magnesium strip with adding heat to a crucible. Ionic bonds can conduct current when placed in water. They mixed the magnesium oxide in distilled water and it conducted an electric current. Distilled water cannot conduct electricity.
Second lab we did was to take a hair pin and make 3 types of steel out of it: spring steel, hardened steel, and tempered steel. Spring steel by heating up until red and cooling slowly. Hardened steel by heating up until red and cooling quickly by placing it in water. Tempered steel by heating only until blue/gray and cooling slowly. They noticed the properties associated with each steel.
Lastly, they made pink salt by mixing hydrochloric acid with baking soda. First, they mixed baking soda with water. After, they added a few drops of phenol red to solution to turn red. Phenol red turns red in a base, pH above 8. They added hydrochloric acid to the solution to turn it yellow. Phenol red will turn yellow when the solution is acidic, pH below 6. Finally, they boiled off the water and was left with pink salt after the reaction changed the solution to NaCl. They looked at their homemade salt and noticed is was the same shape and salt that you can buy from the store.