Lab 28
Soaps & Detergents
Polar & Non-Polar Molecules as Solvents
• Testing to see how well the different household liquids remove a crayon stain from
the surface of the lab table.
• Isopropyl alcohol, all-purpose spray, hydrogen peroxide, dish detergent, vegetable oil,
vinegar, water, acetone
• Crayon
• Use a crayon to put a wax mark on a lab table.
• Take a tissue and remove part of the crayon mark by rubbing.
• Wet the tissue with each of the eight liquids and repeat.
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Is the crayon polar or non-polar?
Were you able to remove the crayon with just the tissue?
Which liquid was most effective at removing the crayon? Was it polar or non-polar?
Which liquid was ineffective (or made things worse)?
Were any liquids more effective than acids or bases?