Question How does distilled water, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2, stabilized, at 3% concentration as a dilute solution), and rubbing alcohol (70% isopropyl alcohol) affect leaves detached from their trees?
Hypothesis If I submerge leaves in distilled water, then the leaves will become wet and softer (relative to their original state), because that is what happens to detached leaves after it rains. If I submerge leaves in hydrogen peroxide, then the leaves will become whitened and the distinct colors will be drastically decreased, because I know that spilling hydrogen peroxide on clothes whitens them. If I submerge leaves in rubbing alcohol, then it either will have similar effects as the distilled water, or will assist in preserving the leaves.
Experiment Design
Description:
Eight clear, plastic containers are set up on a level surface. The containers are 16 cm by 13 cm in width and length, and their depth is 5 cm. The lids will not be placed on …show more content…
No major color changes have occurred. Most leaves have moved, but that is likely due to currents in both the air and the liquid. As previously mentioned, the containers with hydrogen peroxide have bubbles. Surrounding the leaves in the hydrogen peroxide, there were relatively large bubbles (1mm ± 0.5mm in diameter). However, this is not the most interesting aspect. Along the entire surface of the plastic container were small bubbles (less than 0.25mm in diameter). The larger bubbles could be caused by either a chemical reaction, or the releasing of air by the leaves. What is fascinating about the larger bubbles is their resistance to natural bursting. By this, I mean that bubbles in water rise to the surface and burst immediately, while in the hydrogen peroxide chemical, the bubbles sit at the surface and remain stationary. Although this could be caused by a lack of agitation to the
Hypothesis If I submerge leaves in distilled water, then the leaves will become wet and softer (relative to their original state), because that is what happens to detached leaves after it rains. If I submerge leaves in hydrogen peroxide, then the leaves will become whitened and the distinct colors will be drastically decreased, because I know that spilling hydrogen peroxide on clothes whitens them. If I submerge leaves in rubbing alcohol, then it either will have similar effects as the distilled water, or will assist in preserving the leaves.
Experiment Design
Description:
Eight clear, plastic containers are set up on a level surface. The containers are 16 cm by 13 cm in width and length, and their depth is 5 cm. The lids will not be placed on …show more content…
No major color changes have occurred. Most leaves have moved, but that is likely due to currents in both the air and the liquid. As previously mentioned, the containers with hydrogen peroxide have bubbles. Surrounding the leaves in the hydrogen peroxide, there were relatively large bubbles (1mm ± 0.5mm in diameter). However, this is not the most interesting aspect. Along the entire surface of the plastic container were small bubbles (less than 0.25mm in diameter). The larger bubbles could be caused by either a chemical reaction, or the releasing of air by the leaves. What is fascinating about the larger bubbles is their resistance to natural bursting. By this, I mean that bubbles in water rise to the surface and burst immediately, while in the hydrogen peroxide chemical, the bubbles sit at the surface and remain stationary. Although this could be caused by a lack of agitation to the