Drips and Drops
Recommended Age Groups: Elementary School
Pollution in our oceans, lakes, rivers and streams is a very serious matter. Pollution is when we add things to the water that will make it dirty or will bring harm to the life in and around it.
People often dump liquids into oceans, lakes, rivers and streams. Some of these liquids will mix with water; others will not.
When a liquid will mix with water, we might have a hard time even knowing it is there. So, water may look pure but really be mixed with another liquid that will harm plants, creatures or people.
Sometimes a liquid we add to water will at first mix with the water, but then separate out again so we can see that it is actually there. This is a settling process.
Each person or pair needs the following:
Need ample elbow room. Spills may happen.
None.
Begin experiment by asking the guiding questions:
What is pollution?
Share ideas about examples of pollution. Then try to come up with a
definition. Help them see that pollution is making something dirty or unsafe
for life. Lead into thinking about water pollution. Talk about our oceans,
lakes, rivers, streams. What have they heard or read about pollution in
these water bodies? Do they ever think about whether or not the water they
drink or swim in is safe? Have they ever been concerned about the fish we
eat being poisoned and harmed from living in polluted water?
Which liquids mix with water?
One big problem is that too often our oceans, lakes, rivers and streams
can look like they are safe and clean when in fact they are not. Some of the
solids and liquids we are dumping into water will mix up with the water so
we cannot see it with just our eyes. Some things we put into water will not
mix and we can see evidence that it is there. What we cannot see is a big
problem!
Which liquids won't mix with water?
Today we will do an experiment by making an "ocean in a bottle." We will
try mixing different liquids with water to see what will and will not mix
with water. In particular, we will see if oil or detergent will mix with
water. Do you think we should drink water with oil and/or detergent in it?
Are these two liquids harmful to plant life, fish or other creatures? Oil
and detergents are two common liquids that get dumped into our waters.
Make a "bottle ocean"
Each student or pair should put 3 cups of water into their clean 2-liter
bottle. This is like a little ocean, lake, river, or stream.
What happens when oil is mixed with water?
Add 1 cup of oil by pouring it into the bottle via the funnel.. Screw top on
bottle. Mix up the liquids by shaking the bottle. Observe what happens. We
observe that oil and water will not mix. We call liquids that will not mix
with each other immiscible. What do you think happens when there are oil
spills in the oceans? How will oil affect the water, the fish, plant life or
animals that live near the water?
You may want to leave the bottle tipped on its side overnight. The next day, see if the oil settled or not. How would this impact our knowing that oil existed in an ocean or lake? How would this help us think about cleaning up oil spills?
Remove oil and water mixture and rinse out bottle. What happens when soaps and detergents are mixed with water? Put 3 cups of water in the clean 2-liter bottle. Add 1 cup of dish soap or liquid laundry detergent via the funnel. Screw top on bottle. Mix up the liquids by shaking the bottle. Observe what happens. We observe suds, bubbles and foaming. Do the two liquids combine? When two liquids will mix with each other, we call them miscible.
You may want to leave the bottle tipped on its side overnight. The next day, see if the detergent is still mixed up with the water, or did it separate? Can you still see the foaming and suds? How does this impact our thinking about soap kinds of pollution?
What happens when oil and soap are mixed with water? Empty, rinse and clean the bottle. Add 3 cups of water, 1/2 cup of oil and 1/2 cup of soap or detergent. Screw on top. Shake the bottle to mix the liquids. Look at what happens. Can you see evidence of the oil and soap? Observe what goes on in the bottle over a period of time. You will find that oil will mix with soap and then with water. This is very dangerous for our water systems. Oil can be present and we don't really see it because it got mixed up and broken down with soap and water.
Compare this to trying to wash an oily pan after cooking with it. If you just try to use water, the oil won't come off. But when we add a little dish soap, we can get rid of the oil.
Ask again,
Share how learning about liquids that will and will not mix with water is related to our concerns about pollution. Can we always see pollution? If some dangerous liquids will mix with water, how can we clean it up? Listen to ideas, observations made during the experiments, and concerns to determine whether or not they understand pollution and the concept of liquids mixing or not mixing with other liquids.
It always is a great idea to have them help someone else conduct an experiment. We really know and understand something when we can share it with others!
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Last revised 23 Jan 05