Polar NonPolar Molecules Oil Water Soap
Soap is a wonderful chemical which has molecules that are polar at one end and nonpolar at the other.
|
|
|
|
|
This Week's Experiment - #255 Why We Use Soap
Today I spent some time rebuilding a transformer for my Tesla coil. I got
the idea for this week's experiment as I was cleaning up, trying to get the
tar and grease off of my hands. Have you ever wondered why we use soap when
we wash things? What is so special about soap? To find out, you will need:
soap
water
some oil, butter, or grease
Be sure to do this experiment in the sink, as it could be messy. Also, be
sure to clean up afterwards, so you don't get in trouble and I don't get
e-mails from unhappy parents.
The first thing we need to do is to get your hands dirty. Instead of using
dirt, we are going to use something oily. Cooking oil, butter or petroleum
jelly will work very well. I used cooking oil. Put some into your hand and
rub it into your hands, just as if you were washing them. You want your
hands to be covered with the oil.
Next you will try to wash the oil off of your hands. DO NOT USE SOAP!
Instead, just use water. Keep washing until all of the oil is gone. Do not
wipe the oil off onto the towel. You hands should be clean and oil-free
before you dry them.
Did it work? No, you probably could not get all of the oil off of your
hands. Now use a small amount of soap and try washing your hands again. Did
it work this time? Yes, it worked much better this time. Why?
Generally, oil and water do not mix. Water is a polar molecule, which means
that it has a slight charge at each end. Because of these charges, water
molecules tend to stick to each other. It will also stick to other polar
chemicals, such as alcohol. You can easily mix water and alcohol because
they are both polar.
Oil is not polar, so water molecules do not stick to them and they do not
stick to the water. When you pour oil and water together, the water
molecules stick to each other and the oil molecules stick to each other.
Since the two liquids stick to themselves but not to the other, they form two
layers, with the denser one on the bottom.
This is where soap comes in. Soap is a wonderful chemical which has
molecules that are polar at one end and nonpolar at the other. That means
that one end will stick to water and the other end will stick to oil. The
soap forms a link to connect the water to the oil, letting them mix.
That is what happens with the oil on your hands. When you just used water,
the oil stayed on your hands. When you added the soap, it let the oil stick
to the water, pulling the oil away from your hands. That is why your mother
is always reminding you to use soap when you wash your hands. Dirt sticks to
the natural oils of your skin and you need the soap to help remove it.
These experiments are from Robert Krampf - The Happy Scientist
Education Posters at AllPosters.com | Clearance Posters
|
|
|
|
|
Nicholas Academy Index
|
|
Roman numerals, addition, multiplication, order of statehood, state and world capitals, order of presidents, chemical elements, parts of speech, spanish numbers.
|
Explore animation, filmmaking, build online cities, create and share works of art, write stories, create your own web site, read creativity articles.
|
Math games, quizzes, fun websites, printable charts, coloring books, tools. Algebra, geometry, fractions, multiplication.
|
Science games and quizzes, fun science websites, posters, coloring books, experiments, forensics labs and more.
|
Play language arts games, improve your vocabulary, create customized puzzles, make your own book! Download free software in the form of shareware, freeware, and demos.
|
|
Play music games, take free music lessons, explore music theory and history, find great posters.
|
Test your knowledge with these fast, fun, and educational quizzes. Roman numeral addition, world capitals, presidents in order, the elements, world flags, and more.
|
Templates, ideas for personal, educational, children's, business sites, design tips and tools, registration and hosting information, step-by-step instructions, quick and easy web page, web building just for kids.
|
Coloring books, countries of the world, games and quizzes, software downloads, posters, computer jigsaw puzzles, printables.
|
Science can be fun and understandable. Free Experiment of the Week, featuring experiments that are unusual, safe, dramatic, cheap, and fun. From Robert Kramp's Science Education Co.
|
|
Online, via email or through the regular mail. College, accredited high school, free reading and phonics courses, foreign language, history, religion, and more.
|
Arabic, German, Japanese, Spanish, French, Italian, Latin, Russian. Games, free software downloads, free online lessons, newspapers, discussion groups, articles, history, culture, quizzes.
|
Coloring books for kids and adults. Civil war, plants, animals, states, middle ages, cultures, geometric designs, puzzles.
|
Fun and affordable space items for kids, including toys, games, food products, and more.
|
New and used low cost books and textbooks. Websites with open source books and loan programs.
|
|
Artists, wars, armour, castle games, recipes, geography, quizzes, fashions, pictures of weapons, music, old world maps, women of medieval times, medicine, language, and more.
|
Reading systems, loan programs, flashcard, worksheet and test makers, game creators, board games, percentage calculator, puzzle creator, timeline template.
|
SAT, GED, ACT, practice tests, exam preparation. Standardized test practice, content standards listed by state, sample items, scope and sequence, aptitude, essential skills.
|
Parts of speech, civil rights, medieval, periodic table of elements, music, astronomy, world maps with flags, literature, poetry, biology,
|
Books, posters, videos, software, curriculum, courses. Save on teaching supplies, receive free educational materials.
|
|
|
