Hobbies And Interests
Saltwater Tester
One science project involves finding out if water has a concentration of saline. Water can, of course, be tasted for salt, but there is another way using a scientific process. Saltwater contains ions that speed up and conduct electricity. A saltwater tester uses electricity to determine if water is salty. Cover two Popsicle sticks with aluminum foil. Get a buzzer; you can buy one at an electronics store. Tape the red wire of the buzzer to the positive end of a battery. Now tape one of the foil-covered Popsicle sticks to the black wire of the buzzer. Tape the other one to the negative end of the battery. It's time to test the water. Simply put the tips of the foiled popcicle sticks in the water. If it is saltwater, the buzzer will buzz. This demonstrates the conductivity of saltwater and electricity.
Electrolysis Project
This project is a way to remove hydrogen gas from saltwater. This process is called electrolysis. Stir a teaspoon of salt into warm water and allow it to dissolve. Use a thin piece of uncoated electrical wire and connect one end to the positive pole of the battery and the other end of the wire to the graphite head of a pencil. Repeat the process for the negative side and use a another pencil. Submerge the tips of the pencils in the saltwater. Tiny bubbles will form around the cathode pencil and chlorine gas will form around the anode pencil. This experiment shows that chlorine gas and hydrogen can be derived from saltwater. Scientists are trying to develop technology that will allow hydrogen to be farmed from saltwater and possible use this energy to run vehicles.
Water Light
In this experiment we can actually see water make a light bulb glow. Buy a small light bulb that comes in a miniature holder from an electronics store. Place one end of a wire under one screw of the holder and the other wire on the other screw. Submerge a small rod of iron, available from a hardware store, and set it in a glass full of warm water that has been mixed with dissolved salt. Place the two wires in the saltwater, making sure not to submerge the light. The bulb will turn on. This experiment shows that saltwater can create light. The ramifications, in large-scale application, could be an alternative form of energy.
Saltwater Motor
The purpose of this experiment shows that a motor can run from saltwater. Electricity can be conducted by a reaction of aluminum that stimulates electrons at a electrode, and a reaction with oxygen at another electrode. One electrode that uses the oxygen needs a non-reactive conductant. Charcoal is a good substance to accomplish this. Dissolve salt into warm water. Cut a piece of aluminum foil in a 15-cm square. Take a piece of paper towel and fold it into four equal sections. Put the the towel on the foil. Take some crushed charcoal and put it on top of the paper towel. Moisten the charcoal with a little saltwater but don't get the foil wet. Take a mini toy motor you can purchase at an electronic store and attach two wires one from each lead end. Clip one of the wires to the aluminum foil. Press the other wire on the pile of charcoal. The motor will spin.