Bubbles Protocol

Title: The Effect of the Composition of Water on absorption of carbon dioxide (CO2) Topic Introduction: Carbon dioxide is an important factor for organisms to sustain life and
exists everywhere on Earth, including the ocean. The process when carbon dioxide is absorbed into the water is ocean acidification. Carbonic acid (H2CO3) is created through this process. It is necessary for ocean acidification to occur because zooplanktons require it to go through photosynthesis. Shellfish needs carbon dioxide to produce its shell, but too much amount of carbon is harmful to living organisms.

Experimental Question: What are the effects of water, when it absorbs carbon?

Pre-Lab Questions:
1. What gas are you blowing into the water? Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the gas being blown into the water. 2. What happens to the gas when you blow it in the water? The water will absorb the gas 3. How are you measuring change in the water during the lab? The color change in water is being measure to determine the pH level because there was some pH indicating liquid added to the water. 4. What does measuring the pH of the water tell us? By measuring the pH of the water, we are able to figure out the level of acidity of the water. 5. After studying reactions above, how do you think carbonic acid will affect the pH of salt water? I think the carbonic acid will decrease the pH of the sea water and cause it to become acidic.

Hypothesis: If some bubbles that contain carbon dioxide are added to sea water, then the pH
of the sea water will be become more acidic and less than seven on the pH scale.

Protocols:
Control ExperimentGather a group of people (2-3 is good enough.) and assign each of them individual jobs: timer, blower, and recorder. Place 100mL of salt water into a 200mL beaker. Then add 7 drops of universal indicator into the water. Cover the opening of the beaker that contains the water completely with a saran wrap. Insert one hole into the saran wrap. The blower is now to blow through the straw for 2 minutes, while the recorder records data of the solution for every thirty seconds. Salt SeawaterAdd 100mL of saltwater into a 200mL beaker, then place into an ice bath for three minutes. After three minutes, repeat the rest of the steps from the control experiment. Hot SaltwaterAdd 100mL of hot saltwater into a 200mL beaker then place into hot water for three minutes. After three minutes, remove from the hot water and repeat the rest of the steps from the control experiment. Tap WaterAdd 100mL of tap water into a 200mL beaker then repeat steps from the control experiment.

Variables:
The constant variables of this experiment are the amount of water and type of wrap used. The dependent variable is the pH of the water. The independent variable is the type of water.

Data Table:
Control (Saltwater) pH Color Cold Saltwater pH Color Hot Saltwater pH Color Tap Water pH Color 0 Second 7.5 Green 30 Second 6.5 Greenish Yellow 1 Minute 6.3 Greenish Yellow 1 Minute 30 Second 6.2 Greenish Yellow 2 Minute 6.15 Greenish Yellow

7.5 Greenish Yellow 7.5 Greenish Yellow 7.5 Greenish Yellow

7.3 Greenish Yellow 7.5 Greenish Yellow 6.5 Yellow

6.5 Yellow

6.5 Yellow

6.5 Yellow

7 Greenish Yellow 6 Yellow

6.5 Yellow

6.5 Yellow

6 Yellow

6 Yellow

Graph:
8 7.5 7 pH 6.5 6 5.5 5 0 Seconds 30 Seconds 1 Minute Time 1 Minute 30 Second 2 Minute Seawater Cold Seawater Hot Seawater Tap Water

Data Analysis:
1. As you blew through the straw, what were you adding to the water and how did that change the pH? CO2 was being added to the water as I blew through the straw which caused the water to increase its pH and more acidic. 2. What did the universal indicator tell us about the water? The universal indicator told us the pH of the water. 3. What does this tell us about the affects of carbonic acid in ocean water? This tells us when carbonic acid will cause the ocean water to become more acidic when they get mixed together. 4. Based on the results of your experimental protocol, which factor affects the pH of the water most, temperature or salt? The factor that affects the pH of the water most is the temperature because the tap water stayed constant from one minute to two minute and the hot water had little changes in pH.

Conclusion:
My initial hypothesis is if some bubbles that contain carbon dioxide are added to sea water, then the pH of the sea water will be become more acidic and less than seven on the pH scale. After a series of experiments that involved three varies types of salt water: hot, cold and normal saltwater, along with tap water. It was determine that carbon dioxide does cause the pH of the water to decrease to less than seven on the pH scale, and that my initial hypothesis is supported by the data recorded. From the pH strip indicators, we were able to indicate the effects of carbon in water as more carbon dioxide was being released into the solution. Through this experiment, I was able to take a small glimpse of what is occurring in the ocean right now. Even though, 100mL of water may be consider as little when compared to the ocean, it is still water and the same thing will occur if carbon dioxide is absorb into the water. This experiment taught me that by increasing the carbon dioxide in water, it will cause the water to become more acidic. Also, temperature determines how fast the water decreases its pH.

Shell Protocol
Title: The Dissolving of Shells Due to a High Rate of CO2 Experimental Question: Which solutions (saltwater or vinegar) will dissolve shells at a faster
rate?

Pre-Lab Questions:
1. How do organisms make their shells? What are shells made of? By combining calcium and carbon, organisms are able to make their shells. Shells are made of calcium carbonate. 2. What do you expect to happen to the shell in an acidic solution such as vinegar? When shells are exposed to an acidic solution such as vinegar, I expect it to dissolve. 3. What are sources of carbon dioxide and which of these sources are most likely to affect ocean pH? A few sources of CO2 are produced from factories and exhaling. Out of the two sources, exhaling would most likely affect ocean pH because there are more than 8 billion organisms on Earth and they are constantly breathing to stay alive; therefore there is tons of CO2 being release into the atmosphere.

Hypothesis: If a shell is placed in vinegar, then the shell will dissolve over time. Protocol:
First, label the shells that have not been in an acidic solution, one as E for experimental and the other one as C for controlled. Then weigh all the shells, this incl udes the one that have been in an acidic solution and record the mass of it. Now place experimental shell into a beaker with 150mL of vinegar and the controlled shell into a beaker with 150mL of saltwater. Start timing and observe the shells. While observing, record down the changes. After twenty minutes, remove both shells from solutions and record their mass. Now, observe the shells again.

Variables:
The constant variables are the beakers and the amount of liquid used. The dependent variable is the mass of the shells The independent variable is the type of liquid the shells are put in. (vinegar and saltwater)

Data:
Shells Lab Control (sea water) Observations Before: - Grey interior - Hard shell After: - No difference Before: - Grey interior - Hard shell After: - Lost the E - Cleaner - Brittle
- Peeling coat - White outline

Initial Mass (g) 4.2 g

Final Mass (g) 4.2 g

Difference (g) 0g

Experimental (vinegar)

4.3 g

4.2 g

0.1 g

High Low

3.4 g 3.9 g

3.4 g 3.9 g

0g 0g

- Peeling less than High - Brittle

Data Analysis:
1. When you immersed the shells in vinegar how did you know that a reaction was happening? When I immersed shells in vinegar, I knew that a reaction was happening because there were a lot of small bubbles around the shell. 2. How did observing the shells in vinegar relate to how animals are affected by a lower pH of ocean water? By observing the shells in vinegar, we are able to relate the vinegar to the amount of acidity in the water and the shell as every shell that is located in high acidity level waters. The dissolving of the shells is a simulation of what is actually happening in the ocean right now. 3. How would shelled organisms be affected by a lower pH of ocean water? The shell from shelled organisms would dissolve if there is not enough pH of ocean water. 4. What are the primary functions of shell for these animals? The primary functions of shell for these animals are protection and shelter. 5. Does it cost the animal energy to rebuild or repair their shell? Yes, it does cost the animal energy to rebuild or repair their shell.

Conclusion:
My initial hypothesis is if a shell is placed in vinegar, then the shell will dissolve over time. It is supported because the mass of the shell in vinegar decreased meaning that parts of the shell got dissolved into the vinegar solution. Carbon dioxide is necessary for shellfish to produce their shells, but too much amount of carbon dioxide will also cause damage to their shells. By damaging their shells, it will also reduce their chances of survive because the shell is their protection against other creatures. High acidity levels are a huge risk to marine life and have the potential of exploiting all shellfish which will affect other organisms that require shellfish to sustain their lives.