Name: _____________________________
Date: _______________ Per: _______
Oil Spill Cleanup!
Today you will be investigating ways to separate oil from water. As you know, oil is non-polar
and water polar. The two do not readily mix. You may scoop, skim, filter, stir, shimmy, shake,
or dance your oil out. It is up to you to figure out how to remove it.
Materials available:
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Canola or Vegetable Oil
Water
Cotton balls
Coffee filters
Straw/hay
Cat litter (unused)
Sand
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Gravel
Spoons
Paper towels
Soap
Graduated cylinders
Anything else you bring in and want to
try…
Procedure:
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Obtain a small container and fill about half way with water.
Carefully pour 10mL of oil into the water. Observe the two separate.
Choose your method of cleaning the oil and attempt it.
Pour your mixture into a graduated cylinder. Record the amount of oil left over.
Lab Questions:
1. Describe what method you attempted. (3 pts)
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2. What effects on the environment would your cleanup method have? (2 pts)
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3. What else could work to clean the oil? (1 pt)
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Lab Wrap Up:
4. What is a dispersant? How does it work? (2 pts)
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5. Would your method be effective on a larger scale? Why or why not? (2 pts)
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6. Would it work on a coastal spill (ie. cleaning off rocks and sand)? Why or
why not? (2 pts)
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7. Would it work in an open water spill? What if there were waves? (2 pts)
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8. Do a little research online or in your book. Describe three ways in which oil
spills are cleaned in the open ocean. (6 pts)
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2.____________________________________________________________
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3.____________________________________________________________
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Total _______/ 20