THE EFFECTS OF DISHWASHING LIQUID AND BLEACH ON MONGGO PLANTS Ulita, Rizza Patrice R. Elona, Praxniña Antonette DG. Tocmo, Verushka Lara R. Quiñones, Reizle Vanessa A. Mr.John Mark L. Doria Abstract: People dump their used household chemicals down the drainage. Chances are that the household chemicals thrown into the drainage may escape into the ecosystem. In this experiment, the researchers will attempt to discover and observe the effects of household chemicals like dishwashing liquid and bleach on monggo plants. They hypothesize that if the household chemicals contains hazardous contents and is poured to the household plants, then it will negatively affect the plant’s growth and development, and result in having a smaller size. The researchers are growing new plants in 15 cups. The experiment displayed interesting results. The experimental set ups grow slower than the controlled set up. Chapter 1: Introduction Poisoning of plants is a persistent problem in the ecosystem today. In cleaning the houses, people use chemical products. But after using it, where do they dump them? The researchers know that some of them dump those household chemicals in the drainage while there are others who dump it directly to the ecosystem. Chances are that these chemicals may have negative effects on household plants. This experiment is closely related to the study of four students from Aurora Bilingual School in Honduras. In this experiment, the researchers will attempt to prove that the household chemicals may have negative effects on household plants. The experiment aims to prove this to protect the natural ecosystem starting with the people’s houses. Statement of the Problem The problem is “What are the effects of household chemicals on household plants?” Formulation of Hypothesis • If the household chemicals contains hazardous contents and is poured to the household plants, then it will negatively affect the plant’s growth and development, and result in having a smaller size. Significance of the Study The importance of this study is to protect the natural ecosystem. It would also help the people to be aware of what they throw in the environment, if it would be harmful or fine with the ecosystem. People with knowledge about this experiment may avoid disposing household chemicals into the ecosystem. It would also help the officials to make the ecosystem healthier to live in. Scope and Limitations The research was conducted to determine the effects of liquid dish soap namely the dish washing liquid Joy, and bleach, namely Zonrox bleach, on the monggo plants. The researchers are to measure the height of the plants. The locale of the study is in one of the researcher's house in Parang, Marikina. Their expense are limited. The plants' maximum height are seven inches or approximately one-hundred-eighty centimeters. They recorded only the effects of the chemicals to the plants to ensure the preservance of the study. They recorded the important observations only and they avoided the unessential and unrelated statments. Definition of Terms Dilute – make (a liquid) thinner or weaker by adding water or another solvent to it. Shoddy – badly made or done Chapter 2 – Review of Related Literature According to chemistry-online.org, the acid within the household chemicals affects the photosynthesis and process of the plant. The plants may die and smell. They will rot from the inside out because the roots absorb the chemicals and goes through the rest of the plant. Kay Wagers stated that “bleach can kill plants in your yard. Bleach is phyotoxic, which means it affects the growth of plants. In small amounts, it can cause yellowing and curling of leaves. When plants are exposed to greater amounts of bleach, they will wither and die. Bleach contains compounds called surfactants, which allow the bleach to deeply penetrate stains. They also help bleach penetrate organic matter like plant cells and destroy them. Bleach does not differentiate between unwanted weeds and desired grass; it kills them all. According to Amy Hall, the soil of the plants will dry up from the chemicals from the soap. Not only will it dry but the plant will begin to die by the third day. The chemicals from the soap is not only harmful to the plant but it’s fatal. This goes for the same for all cleaning products. Roots’ main job are to absorb water and nutrients. Detergents get rid of the layer protecting the root hairs and the root hairs absorb the detergent instead. Because the plant no longer has any water or nutrients, so it died. Then the plant became decomposed because the detergent is a chemical to the plant. Everybody in the world needs food and agriculture. Pollution damages plants including food. Detergent is a type of pollution. Chapter 3 – Research Methodology The following are materials they will use: cups, soil, seeds, Joy lemon liquid dish soap, Zonrox bleach, and water. The experiment will be conducted in a house of a researcher in Parang, Marikina. They decided that it would be best to grow the plants from seeds. They will purchase a large quantity of seeds, and distribute them among 15 cups. 5 of these cups will contain the control group of plants, which will receive 20 ml of ordinary water. 5 will receive 20 ml of a solution containing water and dish soap. The remaining 5 cups will receive 20 ml of a solution containing water and bleach. The plants will be watered three times a week, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons. They will collect data about the development of the plants each time they water them. For each of the substances the plants receive they will record the height of the plant. They continue to water the plants until two weeks for the plants to grow. After these three weeks they will conclude based on the plants with the chemicals. They gather the data using a ruler to measure the length of the longest stem in the plant. Schematic Diagram The Effects of Liquid Dish Soap and Glass Cleaner on Monggo Plants Monggo Plant A Monggo Plant B and Plant C (will be receiving water only) (one will be receiving liquid dish soap while the other will be receiving glass cleaner) Distribute Distribute Plant Plant Water three times a week Water with the solution three times a week Record data observed Record data observed Chapter 4 – Data and Results Plants Set Up A (water) Set Up B (watered with Dishwashing Liquid and water) Set Up C (watered with Bleach and water) Week 1 20 cm Plant did not grow Week 2 60 cm Plant did not grow Week 3 100 cm Plant did not grow Plant did not grow Plant did not grow Plant did not grow Based on the observations and measurements, the plant which is watered with tap water, and is the controlled set up, grew. The experimental set ups; one watered with dishwashing liquid solution and one watered with bleach solution, did not grow. The researchers observed that in the first week, seedlings started to grow in the controlled set up. Experimental set ups have no improvements at all. The next week, set up A grew 60 centimeters. Set up B and C still did not grow. The week after next, set up A grew into 100 centimeters. Set up B and C did not grow. The fourth week, set up A died because of lack of time management, that there are times that the researcher forgets to water the plants. Chapter 5 – Conclusion and Recommendation The experiment went as planned. The dishwashing liquid and bleach acted like a diluted poison, slowly killing and stunting the growth of the plants. Therefore, the household chemicals like Zonrox bleach and Joy dishwashing liquid have negative effects on household plants like monggo plants. The researchers recommend to start doing the research as early as possible. It is to avoid shoddy experiments because of cramming and lack of time. They also recommend to use different types of plants. They would also like to recommend to test these chemicals on plants at different stages in their life cycles. They treated these plants from when the plants were very young and not strong. They might have come up with different results if the plants were older and stronger. They would also like to try some different chemicals that might be more relevant to the industrial world. Some of these chemicals might include motor oil, antifreeze, diluted acid or other chemicals used in industrial situation.