Experiment 3
The Unwanted Guest: calm what comes out of the capsule together
The Unwanted Guest is the last job of the free shift. The capsule from the previous experiment opens when heated and leaves a small foam resident in the lab. It is not a mistake but an expected by-product; still, the order cannot be delivered until it settles down.
Who sees what?
The assistant sees what the guest does, whether it bounces, hums or sneezes foam, and which object it touches. The chemist reads the capsule’s seal and, for that seal, which ingredient and lever position match each behavior. The guest only settles when the right drop and the right lever are applied together.
How the experiment flows
The clock starts when the burner turns on. The capsule opens at a set temperature, and the guest wanders briefly before touching an object; that touch can nudge the balance, the temperature or the lever once. When the guest settles, the chemist locks, and the assistant holds the cauldron in the seal window for a few seconds and delivers.
Spoiler-free tips
These suggestions do not name the right ingredient.
- The assistant says the behavior first, then the touched object; they are different pieces of information.
- Test the bottles again: do not pick an ingredient without matching it to the drawings in the book.
- You need the drop and the lever together; if either is missing, the guest will not settle.
The end of the shift
When all three jobs are done, a shared shift log opens: which jobs were delivered, whether the guest settled and the trace left on the table. You can swap roles and open a new free shift; a new shift brings new orders.
One friend, two screens
Close the notebook. Open the shift.
The first three experiments are free. No account needed to start.