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Which is the Spongiest?

A Science Experiment Conducted by Nathan Heath

Materials

6 Different Sponges Water (8 cups, 4 for for the 1st test, 4 for the 2nd test. Calculator Scale Stainless Steel Bowl Acute Pyrex Measuring Cup Thermometer Stove

Test #1

Which Sponge is the Most Absorbent?

Determine which sponge is the most absorbent by observing how much water it

absorbs out of 4 cups.

Hypothesis

My hypothesis was that out of the 6 sponges: Safeway Scrubber Sponge CVS Total Home Lysol Heavy Duty Scotch-Brite Non-Scratch Twist Scrub Sponge Scotch Non-Scratch Greener Clean Sponge

I believed that the most absorbent would prove to be the Scotch-Brite Non-Scratch Sponge.

Procedure

1.) Pour 4 cups of water into a large stainless steal bowl. 2.) Take each sponge and dip them one by one into the bowl for 30 seconds. 3.) After this period of time, remove the sponge from the bowl and place it in anyone smaller bowl. 4.) Take the bowl full of the remaining water and pour the liquid into the acute Pyrex measuring cup. 5.) Measure this and record it in the data table. 6.) Reset and repeat this procedure six times, one for each sponge.

Data

Sponge Water Absorbed by Sponge

Residual (Water Left in Bowl)

Safeway Scrubber Sponge

.50 cups 3.50 cups

CVS Total Home .51 cups 3.49 cupsLysol Heavy Duty .22 cups 3.78 cupsScotch-Brite Non-

Scratch.55 cups 3.45 cups

Twist Scrub Sponge 1.02 cups 2.98 cupsScotch Non-Scratch

Greener Clean Sponge.81 cups 3.19 cups

Conclusion

After completing all of the testing, I concluded that the Twist Scrub Sponge was the most absorbent. My hypothesis had been that the Scotch-Brite Non-Scratch Sponge would be the most absorbent, and that estimate , I concluded, was incorrect.

Test #2

Will the Water Temperature Affect How Much the Sponge Absorbs?

Determine how much each sponge absorbs at 3 different temperatures. At which

temperature was the sponge the most absorbent.

Hypothesis

My hypothesis is that the 200 o F water temperature will release the most water into the

Twist Scrub Sponge.

Procedure

1.) Pour 2 cups of water into a pot. 2.) Heat the water up to your specific temperature.3.) Sit the sponge in the water for 30 seconds.4.) Remove the sponge, placing it in another bowl.5.) Squeeze out the water from the sponge, and measure that.6.) Find the residual, or water left in the pot.7.) Record your data in the table8.) Repeat this procedure three times, one for each set temperature (50o, 125o, 200o).

Data

Temperature of Water

Water Absorbed by Sponge

Residual (Water Left in Pot)

55o F .51 cups 1.49 cups

125o F .39 cups 1.61 cups

200o F .49 cups 1.51 cups

Conclusion

After testing the sponge in 3 different water temperatures, (55o F, 125o F, 200o F) I determined that the sponge absorbed the most when the water temperature was 125 oF. This means that my hypothesis was proved incorrect.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Mr. Miller for his reassurance on this project, and my mother for her generosity in purchasing a scale, thermometer, and sponges.