Procedure
Part one: Simulating the oil spill
*Credits to Ms. Thompson for helping us with these steps*
1. Fill the washbasin for about 2/3 with tap water.
2. Measure 50mL of crude oil with a graduated cylinder.
3. Carefully pour the oil into the washbasin.
Part two: Preparing the materials needed
1. Grab ten cotton balls and put them into a beaker (*Note* the beaker if for containing the dirty cotton balls after the experiment.)
2. Carefully take five paper towels and stack them well and make sure they won't get dirty before your experiment.
3. Pour 25mL of white vinegar into a 50mL beaker, and carefully take about half a teaspoon of baking soda and pour it into the solution. (*note* please don't be surprised when see foam and bubbles coming up, it's just a normal chemical reaction.)
4. Pour 25mL of Sunlight dish soap into the other 50mL beaker.
5. Bring all the materials to a free table and start the experiment!
Part three: Cleaning up the oil spill
1. Observe the mixture of oil and water, record and take photo.
2. slowly pour the mixture of vinegar and baking soda in a corner of the washbasin.
3. Wait for about a minute, notice the changes and estimate the percentage it contained; record and take photos.
4. Carefully pour the dish soap in the same corner.
5. Wait for another minute, observe the changes and estimate the percentage it contained; record and take photos.
6. Slowly unwrap the cotton balls, make them flat.
7. Swap the flat cottons around the washbasin, repeat this step until all the cotton balls are used.
9. Place the dirty cotton balls into the waste container.
8. Notice the amount of oil absorbed and estimate the percentage it absorbed; record and take photos.
9. Grab a paper towel, make it completely flat. Hold the two sides of the towel and slowly hold it to the oil, stay there and wait for thirty seconds.
10. Put the used towel in the container and repeat step 9 until all five paper towels are used.
11. Observe the changes and estimate the percentage it absorbed; record and take photos.
12. Observe the whole washbasin, and estimate how much oil has been absorbed and contained, check the data and determine which materials are more sufficient and efficient.
13. Clean up the mess.
*Credits to Ms. Thompson for helping us with these steps*
1. Fill the washbasin for about 2/3 with tap water.
2. Measure 50mL of crude oil with a graduated cylinder.
3. Carefully pour the oil into the washbasin.
Part two: Preparing the materials needed
1. Grab ten cotton balls and put them into a beaker (*Note* the beaker if for containing the dirty cotton balls after the experiment.)
2. Carefully take five paper towels and stack them well and make sure they won't get dirty before your experiment.
3. Pour 25mL of white vinegar into a 50mL beaker, and carefully take about half a teaspoon of baking soda and pour it into the solution. (*note* please don't be surprised when see foam and bubbles coming up, it's just a normal chemical reaction.)
4. Pour 25mL of Sunlight dish soap into the other 50mL beaker.
5. Bring all the materials to a free table and start the experiment!
Part three: Cleaning up the oil spill
1. Observe the mixture of oil and water, record and take photo.
2. slowly pour the mixture of vinegar and baking soda in a corner of the washbasin.
3. Wait for about a minute, notice the changes and estimate the percentage it contained; record and take photos.
4. Carefully pour the dish soap in the same corner.
5. Wait for another minute, observe the changes and estimate the percentage it contained; record and take photos.
6. Slowly unwrap the cotton balls, make them flat.
7. Swap the flat cottons around the washbasin, repeat this step until all the cotton balls are used.
9. Place the dirty cotton balls into the waste container.
8. Notice the amount of oil absorbed and estimate the percentage it absorbed; record and take photos.
9. Grab a paper towel, make it completely flat. Hold the two sides of the towel and slowly hold it to the oil, stay there and wait for thirty seconds.
10. Put the used towel in the container and repeat step 9 until all five paper towels are used.
11. Observe the changes and estimate the percentage it absorbed; record and take photos.
12. Observe the whole washbasin, and estimate how much oil has been absorbed and contained, check the data and determine which materials are more sufficient and efficient.
13. Clean up the mess.