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Cub Scout Adventures > 
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What Color Is It?
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Bear – 3rd Grade
Forensics
Elective
Requirement 5

What Color Is It?

Bear – 3rd Grade
Forensics
Elective
Requirement 5

What Color Is It?

Snapshot of Activity

Cub Scout learn that not all chemicals are what they appear to be.

Indoor
2
4
3
If you want to know more about The Adventure Activity Key click here.
  • Coffee filters
  • Ruler
  • Scissors
  • Assortment of nonpermanent felt-tip markers of different brands such as Flair and Color Scents.  
  • Pencil
  • Glass of water for each Cub Scout
  • Paper plates, one for each Cub Scout

Before the meeting:

  1. Test out each of the markers to ensure that they will work for the experiment. Not all markers will separate.
  2. Cut the coffee filter into 1” strips.
  3. Gather supplies.
  4. Set up meeting space to conduct experiment.

During the meeting:

  1. Explain that chromatography is the process forensics scientists use to separate different parts of a mixture. By separating the parts, they can identify drugs, DNA, and poisons. Most chromatography is done in laboratories with expensive equipment, but today they will get to do a simple chromatography investigation using felt tips marker, coffee filters, and water.
  2. Give each Cub Scout a strip of pre-cut coffee filter.
  3. Have each Cub Scout choose a marker.
  4. Ask Cub Scouts to label one end of the coffee filter with the color and brand of marker. Fold the labeled end so that it fits over the glass.
  5. Have each Cub Scout draw a horizontal line across the middle of their coffee filter strip.
  6. Put the strip in the glass of water, making sure the line the Cub Scout drew is above the water.
  7. Now watch what happens. The coffee filter will slowly absorb water, which will rise toward the top of the strip. As the water rises, it will carry along components of the ink. Lighter components will travel the longest distance; heavier components will not travel very far.
  8. When the water nearly reaches the top of the strip (or when you don’t see any more changes happening), take the strip out of the water and set it on a paper plate to dry.
  9. Repeat the experiment with several pens. Compare the results to see how similar or different the inks you used are.

Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.