Question
You will plan, design, and conduct your own investigation of rusting to determine whether certain conditions or substances speed up or slow down the rate of rusting and whether a redox reaction occurred. You will use steel wool, which contains iron, to conduct your investigation. Read the directions and review the key words for this lesson as you answer the following about your investigation.
Step 1: Scientific Question
Write a scientific question that you want to answer during your investigation. As you write, remember these tips about good scientific questions:
• They are clear and focused.
• They are objective and do not include opinions.
• They can be measured or tested (i.e., answered by gathering data).
• They include an independent and dependent variable.
Now, ask yourself these questions:
• What do I want to investigate about the rusting process?
• How does identifying the oxidized/reduced species help me create my question?
• Will this reaction be redox?
What is your scientific question?
How does the presence of different acids affect the rate of rusting in steel wool over one week.
Step 2: Materials
Review this partial list of materials. Then, answer the following questions.
• Clear nail polish or varnish
• Lemon juice
• Table salt
• Vegetable oil
• Vinegar
• Water
• Weather-resistant acrylic craft paint
Why do you think these materials are suggested? What effects will they have on rusting?
1. Clear Nail Polish or Varnish: It can create a barrier that prevents moisture from reaching the steel wool, thus slowing rusting.
2. Lemon Juice and Vinegar: These are both acidic substances that can potentially accelerate rusting due to their ability to increase the concentration of hydrogen ions.
3. Table Salt: Saltwater can increase conductivity and enhance corrosion, speeding up the rusting process.
4. Vegetable Oil: This could create a barrier against moisture, potentially preventing rusting.
5. Water: Necessary for the rusting process, as oxygen and moisture are required for iron to oxidize.
6. Weather-resistant Acrylic Craft Paint: Similar to nail polish, it can form a protective coat over the steel wool.
What substances or items did you select for your investigation? You should test at least three substances or items in your investigation.
1. Lemon Juice
2. Vinegar
3. Nail Polish
Step 3: Control and Experimental Groups
Identify the control and experimental groups you will have in your steel wool investigation. You may have as many experimental groups as you want to test different conditions. Remember to use key words and concepts from this unit in your explanation.
What are your control and experimental groups?
The control group will consist of steel wool that is left untreated with any substances. This group serves as the baseline to measure the natural rate of rusting under normal conditions without any interference.
Lemon Juice Group: Steel wool treated with lemon juice, expected to undergo accelerated rusting.
Vinegar Group: Steel wool treated with vinegar, expected to undergo accelerated rusting.
Nail Polish Group: Steel wool coated with clear nail polish, expected to slow down the rusting process.
Step 4: Procedure
Develop and describe the step-by-step procedure you will use to conduct your experiment. In your procedure, you should clearly explain the data you will collect and how often you will take readings. Provide as much detail as you can. You should review and revise this section as needed throughout your portfolio lessons.
Procedure
Step 1: Scientific Question
Write a scientific question that you want to answer during your investigation. As you write, remember these tips about good scientific questions:
• They are clear and focused.
• They are objective and do not include opinions.
• They can be measured or tested (i.e., answered by gathering data).
• They include an independent and dependent variable.
Now, ask yourself these questions:
• What do I want to investigate about the rusting process?
• How does identifying the oxidized/reduced species help me create my question?
• Will this reaction be redox?
What is your scientific question?
How does the presence of different acids affect the rate of rusting in steel wool over one week.
Step 2: Materials
Review this partial list of materials. Then, answer the following questions.
• Clear nail polish or varnish
• Lemon juice
• Table salt
• Vegetable oil
• Vinegar
• Water
• Weather-resistant acrylic craft paint
Why do you think these materials are suggested? What effects will they have on rusting?
1. Clear Nail Polish or Varnish: It can create a barrier that prevents moisture from reaching the steel wool, thus slowing rusting.
2. Lemon Juice and Vinegar: These are both acidic substances that can potentially accelerate rusting due to their ability to increase the concentration of hydrogen ions.
3. Table Salt: Saltwater can increase conductivity and enhance corrosion, speeding up the rusting process.
4. Vegetable Oil: This could create a barrier against moisture, potentially preventing rusting.
5. Water: Necessary for the rusting process, as oxygen and moisture are required for iron to oxidize.
6. Weather-resistant Acrylic Craft Paint: Similar to nail polish, it can form a protective coat over the steel wool.
What substances or items did you select for your investigation? You should test at least three substances or items in your investigation.
1. Lemon Juice
2. Vinegar
3. Nail Polish
Step 3: Control and Experimental Groups
Identify the control and experimental groups you will have in your steel wool investigation. You may have as many experimental groups as you want to test different conditions. Remember to use key words and concepts from this unit in your explanation.
What are your control and experimental groups?
The control group will consist of steel wool that is left untreated with any substances. This group serves as the baseline to measure the natural rate of rusting under normal conditions without any interference.
Lemon Juice Group: Steel wool treated with lemon juice, expected to undergo accelerated rusting.
Vinegar Group: Steel wool treated with vinegar, expected to undergo accelerated rusting.
Nail Polish Group: Steel wool coated with clear nail polish, expected to slow down the rusting process.
Step 4: Procedure
Develop and describe the step-by-step procedure you will use to conduct your experiment. In your procedure, you should clearly explain the data you will collect and how often you will take readings. Provide as much detail as you can. You should review and revise this section as needed throughout your portfolio lessons.
Procedure
Answers
GPT-4o mini
### Procedure for Investigating the Effect of Different Substances on the Rusting of Steel Wool
#### Materials Needed:
- Steel wool
- Lemon juice (acidic substance)
- Vinegar (acidic substance)
- Clear nail polish (protective coating)
- Measuring spoons
- Small containers (to hold the steel wool samples)
- Scale (to weigh the steel wool before and after experiment)
- Ruler or measuring tape (to measure any changes)
- Camera (optional, for photographic documentation)
- Observation notebook (for recording data)
#### Step-by-Step Procedure:
1. **Preparation of Steel Wool Samples**:
- Cut equal-sized pieces of steel wool for each test group. Each sample should weigh approximately the same (e.g., 10 grams).
- Label each small container with the respective group names: “Control,” “Lemon Juice,” “Vinegar,” and “Nail Polish.”
2. **Control Group**:
- Place one piece of steel wool in the “Control” container without any treatment. This sample will serve as a baseline for comparison.
3. **Lemon Juice Group**:
- Soak another piece of steel wool in lemon juice for about 10 minutes, ensuring it is thoroughly saturated.
- Remove the steel wool from the lemon juice and place it in the “Lemon Juice” container. Allow any excess fluid to drain off.
4. **Vinegar Group**:
- Soak a piece of steel wool in vinegar for 10 minutes, ensuring complete saturation.
- Remove and place it in the “Vinegar” container, allowing excess vinegar to drain off.
5. **Nail Polish Group**:
- Coat a piece of steel wool evenly with clear nail polish. Ensure the entire surface is covered to create a barrier against moisture.
- Allow it to dry completely as per the instructions on the nail polish label. Place the finished piece in the “Nail Polish” container.
6. **Monitoring the Experiment**:
- Place all containers in a location with a consistent temperature and humidity for the duration of the experiment (preferably at room temperature).
- Record the initial weight of each steel wool sample, noting down the exact measurements.
7. **Data Collection**:
- Observe and record the state of each steel wool sample daily for one week. Take photographs if needed for visual documentation.
- Check for signs of rusting (e.g., discoloration, surface texture changes) and take measurements of any changes in weight.
- Record the findings in your observation notebook, including any qualitative descriptions (e.g., color changes) alongside quantitative measurements (weight).
8. **Final Measurements**:
- At the end of the week, weigh each piece of steel wool again and record the final weights.
- Document the extent of rusting observed in each sample, using a qualitative scale (e.g., no rust, slight rust, moderate rust, heavy rust).
9. **Analysis**:
- Compare the weight and physical appearance of steel wool from all groups. Analyze how each treatment affected the rate of rusting.
- Discuss whether the results support the hypothesis regarding the influence of different substances on the rusting process and whether a redox reaction occurred.
10. **Conclusion**:
- Summarize your findings and draw conclusions about how different conditions (the presence of lemon juice, vinegar, or nail polish) influenced the rate of rusting in the steel wool. Reflect on whether the experiment supported your original hypothesis and consider potential improvements for future investigations.
### Note:
Always follow safety precautions when handling substances, and ensure to wash your hands after completing the experiment.
#### Materials Needed:
- Steel wool
- Lemon juice (acidic substance)
- Vinegar (acidic substance)
- Clear nail polish (protective coating)
- Measuring spoons
- Small containers (to hold the steel wool samples)
- Scale (to weigh the steel wool before and after experiment)
- Ruler or measuring tape (to measure any changes)
- Camera (optional, for photographic documentation)
- Observation notebook (for recording data)
#### Step-by-Step Procedure:
1. **Preparation of Steel Wool Samples**:
- Cut equal-sized pieces of steel wool for each test group. Each sample should weigh approximately the same (e.g., 10 grams).
- Label each small container with the respective group names: “Control,” “Lemon Juice,” “Vinegar,” and “Nail Polish.”
2. **Control Group**:
- Place one piece of steel wool in the “Control” container without any treatment. This sample will serve as a baseline for comparison.
3. **Lemon Juice Group**:
- Soak another piece of steel wool in lemon juice for about 10 minutes, ensuring it is thoroughly saturated.
- Remove the steel wool from the lemon juice and place it in the “Lemon Juice” container. Allow any excess fluid to drain off.
4. **Vinegar Group**:
- Soak a piece of steel wool in vinegar for 10 minutes, ensuring complete saturation.
- Remove and place it in the “Vinegar” container, allowing excess vinegar to drain off.
5. **Nail Polish Group**:
- Coat a piece of steel wool evenly with clear nail polish. Ensure the entire surface is covered to create a barrier against moisture.
- Allow it to dry completely as per the instructions on the nail polish label. Place the finished piece in the “Nail Polish” container.
6. **Monitoring the Experiment**:
- Place all containers in a location with a consistent temperature and humidity for the duration of the experiment (preferably at room temperature).
- Record the initial weight of each steel wool sample, noting down the exact measurements.
7. **Data Collection**:
- Observe and record the state of each steel wool sample daily for one week. Take photographs if needed for visual documentation.
- Check for signs of rusting (e.g., discoloration, surface texture changes) and take measurements of any changes in weight.
- Record the findings in your observation notebook, including any qualitative descriptions (e.g., color changes) alongside quantitative measurements (weight).
8. **Final Measurements**:
- At the end of the week, weigh each piece of steel wool again and record the final weights.
- Document the extent of rusting observed in each sample, using a qualitative scale (e.g., no rust, slight rust, moderate rust, heavy rust).
9. **Analysis**:
- Compare the weight and physical appearance of steel wool from all groups. Analyze how each treatment affected the rate of rusting.
- Discuss whether the results support the hypothesis regarding the influence of different substances on the rusting process and whether a redox reaction occurred.
10. **Conclusion**:
- Summarize your findings and draw conclusions about how different conditions (the presence of lemon juice, vinegar, or nail polish) influenced the rate of rusting in the steel wool. Reflect on whether the experiment supported your original hypothesis and consider potential improvements for future investigations.
### Note:
Always follow safety precautions when handling substances, and ensure to wash your hands after completing the experiment.