Name:_________________________________________________Date:___________Hour:______
Sponge Lab
Introduction:
Early biologists thought that sponges were plants because
sponges are like plants in some ways. In many species, the
adults stick to a surface and stay there. They cannot chase their
food.
1. How do sponges eat?
2. What is the scientific name of the phylum of sponges? Why is it called that?
In this activity, you will observe the structure of a sponge. You will also think about how
a sponge’s structure affects its ability to hold water and catch food. You will think about how
the size of the sponge’s holes affects the amount of water the sponge can hold. The purpose
of this lab is to determine if a natural sponge or an artificial kitchen sponge holds more water.
We will test this by taking the mass of each type of sponge and measuring the volume of
water each holds. Finally, we will calculate the amount of water held per gram.
Question:
Which holds more water: a natural sponge or an artificial kitchen sponge?
Hypothesis:
If we measure the amount of water held by a natural sponge and an artificial kitchen sponge,
then the __________________________ will hold more water.
(natural sponge or artificial sponge)
Materials:
 1 natural sponge
 1 artificial kitchen sponge
 1 400 mL beaker
 1 __________________ __________________
 1 balance
 1 _________________
 water
 1 calculator
Name:_________________________________________________Date:___________Hour:______
Procedure:
1. Use the balance to measure the mass of the dry natural sponge. If the sponge has
recently been used, gently wring out as much water as possible. Record the mass in
the data table.
2. Fill the 400 mL beaker with 300 mL of water.
3. Place the natural sponge in the beaker. Hold it under the water until it is completely
soaked.
4. Gently remove the natural sponge from the water.
5. Using the funnel and the graduated cylinder, gently squeeze the water out of the
sponge and measure how much water the sponge held. Record the volume of the
water in the data table.
6. Pour the water from the cylinder back into the beaker.
7. Repeat steps 2-6 two more times for a total of three trials.
8. Repeat steps 1-7 with the artificial kitchen sponge.
9. Calculate how many milliliters (mL) of water each sponge held per gram(g) of dry
sponge. Divide the volume (mL) by the mass (g). Record in the data table.
Results: Data Table
A
SPONGE TYPE
B
DRY MASS (g)
C
WATER
VOLUME (mL)
D
AMT. OF
WATER HELD
PER GRAM
(mL/g)
E
AVERAGE
(mL/g)
Natural
Artificial Kitchen
ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION:
Calculate the amount of water by taking the number in column C and dividing it by the number
in column B. Place it in column D (C ÷ B = D)
Calculate the average amount of water held for each sponge by adding up the three results in
column D and dividing it by three (3). Place it in column E. ([D + D + D] ÷ 3 = E)
Name:_________________________________________________Date:___________Hour:______
Use COMPLETE SENTENCES.
1. According to your results, which sponge held more water? How do you know?
2. Restate your hypothesis: If we measure the amount of water held by a natural sponge
and an artificial kitchen sponge, then the __________________________ will hold
more water.
3. My hypothesis was… correct
incorrect
. (circle one)
4. Why do you think one sponge held more than the other?
5. What have you learned about the pores of a natural sponge?