Discussion
In my hypothesis, I stated that if I use dish soap, spoon, cotton balls, and vinegar and baking soda, 90% of the oil would able to be contained and absorbed. The hypothesis I made before the lab was proved incorrect. Through out the lab, 95% of oil could be removed from the water, which is more than we expected. 95% of materials could be removed because every material except the vinegar and baking soda worked very effectively.
Through out the lab, we simulated an oil spill clean up by using water, washbasin, 50mL of crude oil and 4 materials we chose. Our group used dish soap, cotton balls, spoon, vinegar and baking soda. The independent variable of this lab was materials used to absorb and contain oil, while the dependent variable was the percentage of the oil absorbed and contained. The control variables were amount of water and oil, the temperature of the water, size of the washbasin and quantity of materials used. If we had follow the same procedure on the larger scale such as river and ocean, I dont think it would work the way it did in the lab. We would need larger and more effective materials to clean up the oil spill on a larger scale. The materials we used for the lab would not be any effective on a larger scale as it did in the experiment.
When we poured the oil into the washbasin filled with water, the oil eventually rose up and 2 layers of water and oil could be seen. Since the water is denser than the oil, the water stayed at the bottom and the oil floated on top. The experiment proved that each material has different abilities to clean up the oil spill by absorbing and containing. The cotton balls worked the best for both containing and absorbing the oil from water. Using cotton balls, 50% of the oil could be contained by pushing and forcing the oil into one place. Also, cotton balls could absorb 75% of the oil from the water. I would say the cotton balls were the most effective materials of all. The least affective material was the vinegar and baking soda. When we pour the vinegar and baking soda, the oil wasn’t scattered; it could contain 0% and absorb 0% of the oil. Thus, the vinegar and baking soda was the least effective materials of all. The dish soap worked well to contain the oil. 45% of the oil could be contained by the dish soap, but couldn’t absorb any oil. When we poured the dish soap into the washbasin, the oil dispersed into corners and made it easier to clean up. Lastly, the spoon contained 5% and absorbed 25% of the oil.
The experiment was successful, but it could be improved if we used flat object that could push the oil into one place. This could make the lab a lot easier since we only have to absorb the oil contained by the flat object. There were no problems identified through out the experiment. If this lab was to be repeated, I would like to try this experiment again using sponge instead of vinegar and baking soda. Overall, the lab was very successful and brought better result than we predicted in the hypothesis.
Through out the lab, we simulated an oil spill clean up by using water, washbasin, 50mL of crude oil and 4 materials we chose. Our group used dish soap, cotton balls, spoon, vinegar and baking soda. The independent variable of this lab was materials used to absorb and contain oil, while the dependent variable was the percentage of the oil absorbed and contained. The control variables were amount of water and oil, the temperature of the water, size of the washbasin and quantity of materials used. If we had follow the same procedure on the larger scale such as river and ocean, I dont think it would work the way it did in the lab. We would need larger and more effective materials to clean up the oil spill on a larger scale. The materials we used for the lab would not be any effective on a larger scale as it did in the experiment.
When we poured the oil into the washbasin filled with water, the oil eventually rose up and 2 layers of water and oil could be seen. Since the water is denser than the oil, the water stayed at the bottom and the oil floated on top. The experiment proved that each material has different abilities to clean up the oil spill by absorbing and containing. The cotton balls worked the best for both containing and absorbing the oil from water. Using cotton balls, 50% of the oil could be contained by pushing and forcing the oil into one place. Also, cotton balls could absorb 75% of the oil from the water. I would say the cotton balls were the most effective materials of all. The least affective material was the vinegar and baking soda. When we pour the vinegar and baking soda, the oil wasn’t scattered; it could contain 0% and absorb 0% of the oil. Thus, the vinegar and baking soda was the least effective materials of all. The dish soap worked well to contain the oil. 45% of the oil could be contained by the dish soap, but couldn’t absorb any oil. When we poured the dish soap into the washbasin, the oil dispersed into corners and made it easier to clean up. Lastly, the spoon contained 5% and absorbed 25% of the oil.
The experiment was successful, but it could be improved if we used flat object that could push the oil into one place. This could make the lab a lot easier since we only have to absorb the oil contained by the flat object. There were no problems identified through out the experiment. If this lab was to be repeated, I would like to try this experiment again using sponge instead of vinegar and baking soda. Overall, the lab was very successful and brought better result than we predicted in the hypothesis.