Oceanic AbsorptionIn this activity, you will conduct an
experiment to learn about the method of oceanic absorption for
carbon sequestration.
Materials youll needEach group will need to take a container of
vinegar and baking soda, 1 metal spoon, 2 flasks containing rubber
tubing and plastic straws, 2 beakers, 1 syringe, paper towels,
scale, sea salt, and safety glasses.
Well start by making a CO2 generator. Place enough baking soda
in the flask to cover the bottom. Then secure the rubber stopper
containing the smaller plastic tube and set that aside.
Pour 150 mL of phenol red in the flask. Place the rubber stopper
with the long plastic tube securely on the flask. Make sure the
straw that is delivering the CO2 is submerged near the bottom of
this flask.
Pour about 50 mL of vinegar into a beaker.
Fill the syringe from the beaker containing vinegar. Place the
end of the syringe inside the short rubber tubing that is connected
to the flask containing the baking soda. Slowly add 2 mL of vinegar
to the baking soda. Let the gas bubble through the testing
solution. When the gas production has stopped, add another 2 mL of
vinegar.
Repeat this procedure until the phenol red turns yellow. Record
the amount of vinegar you added to the solution on the chart.
When you are done recording the amount of vinegar you added to
the phenol red, pour the solution from the flask (phenol red that
turned yellow) into the waste container. Rinse out the flask with
water.
Now youll repeat the same experiment, except this time measure
and pour 5 grams of sea salt into the 250 mL flask containing the
150 mL of phenol red. Continue to add CO2 into the phenol red until
the color matches the phenol red in the waste container. Record the
amount of vinegar you used on the chart.
Record data on chart and answer the questions.
Fresh waterSalt water
Amount of vinegar added to solution
Observations
When you have finished with this activity, clean up your
materials and put them away.
