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How to Measure Chemical Changes in Baking

There are three types of changes in science: physical, chemical and nuclear. In terms of a chemical change, there are several ways of determining what if occurred. Usually chemical changes are followed by a color change, a gas forming, a solid forming or a change in temperature. In baking, heat energy is added to a mixture of chemicals that in turn form a new chemical or compound. That new compound can then be filled with gases, carbon dioxide, to make it fluffy; much the same was as baking a cake or bread.

Things You'll Need

Boxed cake batter mix
Cupcake pan
Ruler
Oven
Baking powder
Measuring spoons

Instructions

- 1
  Mix the cake batter as detailed in the instructions. Pour equal amounts into the cupcake pan molds. Number the cupcake molds starting with the number one.
- 2
  Measure an eighth of a teaspoon of baking powder and place in the second mold and mix it into the batter. In the third mold, place a fourth of a teaspoon of baking powder and mix it into the batter. Continue on increasing the amount of backing powder until all the molds have some portion.
- 3
  Place the cupcake tray into the oven at the temperature stated on the batter directions. Every five minutes, take out the tray and measure the height of the cupcakes with the ruler.
- 4
  Record the heights on paper. The cupcakes with more baking powder will rise faster because they will have more carbon dioxide gas inside them. This gas is created through a chemical reaction from the chemicals in the mix and the added heat from the oven.

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