A Kool Reaction from the Fine Print

In this Activity, students gain an understanding of the importance of reading reagent labels both in chemistry class and on consumer products. Students explore the chemistry behind the directive on a package of Kool-Aid "Do not store in a metal container". The Activity illustrates properties of acids and metals. This Activity complements safety discussions, especially the importance of reading labels, and fits with an introduction to the properties of strong and weak acids (tastes sour, turns litmus paper red, and reacts with a metal). In addition, the Activity illustrates metals as reducing agents and qualitatively illustrates kinetics.