Lab Report rewrite

William Spencer


Ellie Hogg

Topher Robinson

Olivia Jacobs



September 18, 2010



Watered Down Puns



1. Introduction

Water is a universal solvent and a basic necessity for all forms of life. Water also has many properties that affect the way it behaves under certain circumstances. Some of these properties are adhesion, cohesion, surface tension, capillary action, and polarity (hydrogen bonds). Adhesion can be described as attraction between molecules of the same substance. Surface tension is very like cohesion in that it is related to the effects of water bonding with itself and other molecules. Capillary action is the ability of water to travel against gravity by means of adhesion and cohesion. Polarity is when an atom has a positive and negative charge and is therefore attracted to other charged molecules. These are properties of water that we will be exploring in our labs, and the ones that make water such a unique compound. This leads us to ask; Under what circumstances will these properties be exhibited.



2. Hypotheses

To Wax Philosophic-

If the disposable pipette is used to pull the water droplet around on the wax paper, then the drop will remain in a dome shape and all the water molecules will stay together instead of being separated.







Stir it Up-

If the water is slowly poured down a stirring rod that sits at approximately 40 degree angle inside the mouth of a graduated cylinder, then the water will flow down the rod and into the graduated cylinder without spilling or dripping from the rod.

Antigravity-

If the paper towel is made into a vertical cylinder and set in a metal pan of shallow water, the water will absorb upward into the paper towel, rising against gravity.

Much Color Ado About Nothing-

If the dropper is used to drop red food coloring into both a test tube containing 5ml of water and a test tube containing 5ml of an unknown oil, then the coloring will, in water, dissolve, changing the color of the water to red, and , in oil, the drops will float on top of the oil and remain in droplet form.

Stop on Dime-

If water is slowly dropped onto the face of a dime, approximately 30 drops of water will stay on the dime’s face before the water spills over the edge.

Dish and Clips-

If the forceps are used to place the metal paper clip on the surface of water in a small dish, then the paper clip will sink.

Looney Balloony-

If the balloon is rubbed with a paper towel and placed near a running stream of tap water, then the water will move towards the balloon and flow over it.