The chocolate season is here! Why not try a bit of clever chemistry to enjoy a bit of ice cream before the weather chills too much?
In this delicious experiment, we combine different ingredients to change the melting point of chocolate.
You will need
- Coconut oil
- Chocolate chips (we used white chocolate)
- Ice cream
- Bowl
- Spoon
- Tablespoon
- Microwave
- Microwave safe container
Safety
This activity requires the use of a microwave to melt chocolate. Ask an adult to supervise the steps involving a microwave. This activity involves food, so be sure to use clean hands and clean equipment.
What to do
Wash your hands.
Measure 5 large tablespoons of chocolate chips into a microwave safe container.
Scoop a tablespoon of solid coconut oil from a jar and place it into the same microwave safe container.
Place the microwave safe container into the microwave. Heat it on high power for 30 seconds.
Remove the microwave safe container from the microwave and stir the mixture with a spoon.
Repeat steps 4 and 5 until the chocolate chips have completely melted.
Put the container on the bench out of the way of younger siblings for 20 minutes to cool with a label that says “Caution, hot!”
Scoop your favourite ice cream into a bowl.
Pour your ‘magic’ chocolate sauce onto the ice cream and wait about a minute until it hardens.
Eat and enjoy!
A detailed bronze statute from around 100 BCE. Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Deiadameian
Coconut oil has a melting point around 24°C. That means it melts and becomes a liquid at temperatures warmer than a nice spring day. At colder temperatures, like the surface of freezing cold ice cream, coconut oil becomes a solid.
Chocolate is usually solid at room temperature – its melting point is between 40 and 50°C. But combining it with the coconut oil lowers the melting point of the mixture. This allows you to pour the liquid chocolate-coconut oil mixture all over the ice cream. Yum!
Like cooks, chemists also know that combining different substances will change their melting points. For example, copper has a melting point of around 1,085°C. Adding a small amount of tin makes bronze, which has a lower melting point of 913°C. This is one reason why bronze is easier to work with.
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