Follow-up
1. Estimate what percentage of oil you were you able to clean up.
We were able to clean up approximately 90% of the oil.
2. Which material(s) worked best to contain your oil spill? Explain your answer.
The dish soap worked best to contain my oil spill, containing 70% of the oil due to its ability to repel the oil and neutralize it.
3. Which material(s) worked best to absorb and clean up your oil spill? Explain your answer.
The cotton balls and sponge worked best to absorb and clean up my oil spill, absorbing 55% and 40%of the oil due to the large gaps in their fabric allowing water and oil to be contained in the gaps.
4. Which materials were not effective? Explain your answer.
The vinegar and baking soda was not effective, containing only 10% of the oil.
5. Can you think of any materials that you where not given that could potentially be helpful in cleaning up the oil spill?
The laundry soap, spoon, and paper towels could have potentially been helpful in cleaning up the oil spill.
6. How would your procedure work on a larger (i.e. ocean) scale?
If each material was used in a specific area my procedure would be fairly successful, besides the use of the vinegar and baking soda which was unsuccessful. An area could be targeted so that oil moved to a specific area using the dish soap, where it could be absorbed.
We were able to clean up approximately 90% of the oil.
2. Which material(s) worked best to contain your oil spill? Explain your answer.
The dish soap worked best to contain my oil spill, containing 70% of the oil due to its ability to repel the oil and neutralize it.
3. Which material(s) worked best to absorb and clean up your oil spill? Explain your answer.
The cotton balls and sponge worked best to absorb and clean up my oil spill, absorbing 55% and 40%of the oil due to the large gaps in their fabric allowing water and oil to be contained in the gaps.
4. Which materials were not effective? Explain your answer.
The vinegar and baking soda was not effective, containing only 10% of the oil.
5. Can you think of any materials that you where not given that could potentially be helpful in cleaning up the oil spill?
The laundry soap, spoon, and paper towels could have potentially been helpful in cleaning up the oil spill.
6. How would your procedure work on a larger (i.e. ocean) scale?
If each material was used in a specific area my procedure would be fairly successful, besides the use of the vinegar and baking soda which was unsuccessful. An area could be targeted so that oil moved to a specific area using the dish soap, where it could be absorbed.