Sponge Lab
Problem: Will a natural sponge or a synthetic sponge absorb more water?
Objectives:
-to determine if natural sponges or synthetic sponges are more absorbent.
-to use statistical methods to compute data.
Hypothesis: Complete on your paper
What sponge type do you predict will hold more water? Explain why you think that.
Materials: Sponge samples: natural and synthetic (man-made), Water, balances, graduated cylinders
Procedure:
 Weigh the dry natural sponge sample to the nearest gram. Record in Table 1.
 Weigh the dry artificial sponge sample to the nearest gram. Record in Table 1.
 Place the natural sponge into a beaker of water until fully saturated. Take out, let excess water drip
off. Extract the water into the graduated cylinder very carefully, making sure you catch every last
drop. Measure the amount of water held by each sponge, make sure you measure from the bottom
of the meniscus. Repeat 3 times to find the average amount of water your sponge could hold.
 Repeat for artificial sponge.
 Find the average absorbency: Total the 3 trials and divide by 3. Then find the average absorbency
per gram, by dividing your Avg. Saturated (ml) by the Dry Weight (g).
 Record your information for the class
Observation Table 1: Percentage of Sponge Absorbency.
Dry Weight
(g)
Amount of water held when
Saturated (ml): Trial
1
2
3
Avg. Saturated
amount (ml)
Average ml/g
Natural
Sponge
Artificial
Sponge
Table 2: Class Percentage of Sponge Absorbency.
Lab Group
Natural Sponge
Artificial Sponge
Lab Group 1
Lab Group 2
Lab Group 3
Lab Group 4
Lab Group 5
Lab Group 6
Lab Group 7
Lab Group 8
Conclusion Questions:
1. Explain if your
hypothesis was correct
or incorrect.
2. What sponge type is
better at absorbing?
3. What do you feel
contributed to this
outcome?
4. What are some errors
you may have made in
this activity?
Totals
Avg. Absorbency