November 28

Water Filter Challenge

The water filter challenge was a challenge where we got into groups of 4 people and had to achieve the goal of creating a water filter with limited and given materials. We were given a scenario: Each group is a company that filters water and our companies work for the headmaster, Ms. Yorke. She “hired” each group to make a water filter and. We can only succeed in our goal if the water is clean enough so that we can release it into the Pitt River. We were only given these materials: 2L water bottle, cheese cloth, cotton balls, silk, sponges, water filters (coffee filters), variety of carbon, sand and crystal beads.

We first tried putting everything because we thought that the more materials there are, the better it will filter because it has more layers but we were extremely wrong. It didn’t help at all. The first prototype was like this.

For the first prototype, we did very little research like what makes a water filter good, stuff like that but we didn’t go really in depth into the procedure of making a filter with a 2L water bottle and we just chucked materials in without creating layers. But for the second prototype, we did more research before we started to make our new prototype. We researched on how carbon and sand helps filter water and we got some inspiration from other people that made water filters on the internet too. A lot of people used carbon, sand, rocks, small pebbles and a filter on the cap and it was said that they “crystal clear” water. So we decided to put filter paper in between each material so it looked like this.

After the second prototype we collected the dirty water that was filtered and we compared it with normal tap water against the sun and it looked like this.

Looks pretty good right!? This was supposed to be our last one but since we had some spare time the day after, so we did extreme research and we dreamt of how we can make the best and most useable filter ever. We had a pretty weird idea. Since everyone on the internet and even sources say that carbon is very useful, we thought of only using carbon and putting a filter paper on the bottom. But since that idea was pretty wack, we didn’t choose to do it. There weren’t a lot materials left anyway so we couldn’t have done a lot of materials. We thought of having 3-4 layers. First being a cheese cloth so that it can filter all the big stuff such as little sticks and grass. Then we would have carbon and some sand so that it can remove the smell and can filter the water more and then filter paper on the cap to filter more. The third prototype looked like this.

We didn’t have a ton of materials than we had for the first 2 prototypes but we thought that it would be very effective. News Flash! It worked horrible because the smell was still there, the carbon didn’t really help, we didn’t have enough sand so it had no effect and the water was more yellow. Mission failed totally.

So after some group discussions and some votes, we chose to present prototype 2 as our final product. Prototype 2 was the most successful and the quality of the water was very good. Thing is that it takes up a handful of materials which will be disposed after 2 times of filtering because the materials will not be as useful as they did before when we did the first filter. It might not be good for the environment but since it’s for the well-being of the environment and so that the water in the river won’t be as polluted, this risk has to be taken. But since the water in the Pitt River is very clean, this won’t be happening. If we had rocks, it would’ve helped more to filter since it works like carbon so it filters well. We also did some comparisons with quantitative/qualitative aspects.

Everyone in my group worked really well because nobody drifted off and everybody worked really hard to achieve our goal. Everybody was assigned jobs and everyone did their parts and were not late. Nobody got distracted mid-way our work and everyone was inclusive too. I really think that we built a very useful and portable water filter and we think we fulfilled to achieve our goal and our challenge. The part that I think we did very well on is that we thought of is that we decided to put water filters between every different material. The part that is a bit disappointing is that while we were doing research, we learnt that more the carbon there is, the cleaner it gets and the less smell there is. Also, it was also disappointing that we didn’t have rocks/pebbles as our materials. Because while doing research, we saw that a lot of people used rocks as their first layer so that was disappointing. Other than those, we think that we made a real good filter and we think it’ll be useful for future filter jobs.

 

Category: Science 9 | 2 Comments on Water Filter Challenge
November 15

Chemical Change

Purpose: To observe a chemical reaction and identify the materials that are produced

Procedure: Refer to  3-3C Observing changes in matter.

We did everything the same as the instruction sheet told us but we made a couple of changes: Step 1 said that we had to pour 25mL of each chemical but instead, we poured 10mL of each. Step 1 said that the 2 chemicals were Calcium Chloride and Lithium Carbonate but instead we used Strontium Chloride and Sodium Carbonate.

Part 2 says to put in a wooden splint into the test tube and leave it there until we start firing things up, but we did not do that. We just skipped that part.

Data & Observations:

The properties of Strontium Fluoride were not very special. The state was liquid but did not have any special attributes to it. It was a clear liquid, it had no smell to it and seemed like water. 

The properties of Sodium Carbonate were no different than Strontium Chloride because it also did not have any special colours or even a scent. You cannot differentiate water and these compounds with each other.

After we mixed the 2 substances, it had a cloudy look to it and seemed like milk and also it did not have any smell to it.

After we filtered it using a ring stand and a funnel, It still had some cloudiness to it but much more less than before. And we the powder that was caught in the filter is also being used as well as the unknown ion.

Flame time:

We started with the unknown ion (the mixture between Strontium Chloride and Sodium Carbonate). We got the filter and an inoculation stick, we dipped it into the unknown ion liquid and then rubbed some of the unknown ion powder too from the filter and put it above the bunsen burner. While it was burning, it burned in a orange colour.

For the next burn, we did the same procedures but instead of the unknown ion powder, we put Strontium Chloride powder on and then put it above the bunsen burner once again. This time, it had a powerful red colour while it burned.

Next and final one was having Sodium Chloride powder on. The burning of this was not very cool or special. It burned in a orange flame just like the unknown solid. It just had a normal flame but the only difference is that it was a much more bigger flame than the others. It might seem boring to others but to me, I think this an amazing experiment.

Analysis:

The reactants in this mixture were Strontium Chloride and Sodium Carbonate and the products are Strontium Carbonate and Sodium Chloride

Conclusion:

By looking at what colour the white powder burned at, we could make a pretty close guess that the unknown solid contains or even is Sodium. Because when we burned Sodium Chloride, it burned the same colour as the unknown solid so we make a rough guess that the unknown solid contains Sodium. If there were Strontium present for example, the flame would have more of a red flame rather than a yellow flame.

 

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October 15

Climate InfoFluency

  • First, I researched the fact how people on Earth could reduce the pollution created at least by a little bit, but I noticed that this question was too vague in a sense and wasn’t very climate change related that much so I chose the question, what could everyone do to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases. There were 3 main gases that made greenhouse gases: methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. So, I provided information about those gases and also provided a somewhat solution that does have a chance that we could make our planet much healthier.
  • I have used some familiar tools that I have already used to research my topic. I used only one type of search engine which was Google. I only used that because I think Google is the most reliable source to use. I did use Bing a single time, but it was only because I forgot to search up Google because my default website is Bing. Others like Msn or DuckDuckGo is not used by a lot of people and not well known so I think that is why I do not use those websites. Another reason is because I have seen teachers use Google. When teachers search something up, I have seen them use Google. Teachers tell us to use good sources so because teachers use Google, I think it is a good source. I have used Easybib to cite my websites into MLA 8.
  • I did not have this same question at the start of the assignment. I had the question “What can people do to reduce the amount of pollution that is made”. But the question was a bit too common and it was not related that much to climate change, so I changed my question to this. I went over the slides of the climate change PowerPoint that Ms. Yorke made and there, I found a lot of information that I could use, which really helped me. I also went on a search engine (G*****) and researched my topic. After all my research, I started typing on Word.
  • I used Easybib to cite my websites in MLA 8 style. I also used Worldbook Online from the school e-library. I thought it is a very trustworthy website because it is provided from the school. When I used a website, I looked at the top left corner where it does say if a website is not secure or secure. I did choose the websites that said secure because the information might not be true if I use a not secure site.
  • I think I have done a pretty good job on my assignment. I met all the requirements and I did read the rubric before I started so I get a general idea of what the requirements are. At the start, it was a little complicated because I did not have a general idea, but Ms. Yorke gave me a good idea on greenhouse gases so there I went with my idea. I think I could have done a little more research on my topic.

Question: What can everyone do to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases so that there would be much less climate change?

Answer: Methane is one of the main components of the greenhouse gases. One of the reasons why climate change is happening is because there’s too much methane in the air. Burning of fossil fuels, animals such as cows burping and farting, the fermentation of rice fields and the burning at landfills are all reasons why there is so much methane in the air. In the years of the 1750’s, there were 722 parts per billion so, if you collected a billion particles of the air, 722 if those particles would be methane. But in the present, there are a whopping 1834 parts per billion. You might think like “Oh, it’s only~ 1834 ppb (parts per billion). Not a big of a deal.” But actually, methane gases are 26x more powerful than carbon dioxide. So, if we tried to reduce the amount of methane gas produced, we would have to burn fewer fossil fuels, make less waste etc. It will not be easy I will tell you that because one, there are also a ton of CO2 and nitrous oxide in the air that we still must reduce to reduce the greenhouse gases and two, humans won’t change that easily.

Answer: Carbon dioxide is one of the other greenhouse gases that we must have to reduce. Pre. 1750’s, there has been 280 parts per million but now, there is 400 parts per million. One of the largest carbon stores are the burning of fossil fuels. Because an animal must have carbon to survive, it is stored in their bones so when they burn the fossils, the carbon is spreaded into the air. Another source is humans. Humans exhale carbon dioxide when they exhale, and they consume oxygen. A great thing is that plants consume carbon dioxide unlike us, and they exhale oxygen which is basically a win-win. Here’s the problem. 45% of the CO2 created stays in the atmosphere, 30% enters in the ocean and 25% is consumed by plants. 45% is in the atmosphere, that’s why there is too much CO2 right now because people are not caring and just using. Another big reason why there is too much CO2 right now because too much deforestation is going on. Trees are one of the most important things that will consume our CO2. Because they are getting cut down, less carbon will be consumed and because less CO2 is consumed, the Earth is getting drier that will lead to droughts and more deforestation because it’s too dry. How we fix this is that we could stop cutting down trees and plant more. We could reduce the amount of fossil fuels being burnt. We can’t not breath so it’s fine to breath.

Answer: Nitrous Oxide is the third and final main component of greenhouse gases. Nitrous Oxide is the most powerful out of all three I have been mentioning. It is a breathtaking 298x more powerful than CO2. Pre. 1750’s, there were 270 ppb but now there are 398 ppb. The reason why is again, fossil fuels. But because of agriculture too. Rather than agriculture, it its more because of the use of fertilizers. It is because most of fertilizers are nitrogen based because nitrogen helps the growing of plants. Actually, fertilizers help stimulate microbes in the soil to convert nitrogen to nitrous oxide at a faster pace than normal, so it takes a negative side effect. Another reason is because of nylon industries. In the process of making nylon, an acid called Adipic acid is needed. Adipic acid is a fine powder used in the manufacture of nylon fibers. Nitrous Oxide is made in the process of oxidation of a ketone-alcohol mixture with nitric acid. Around 30 grams of nitrous oxide is produced for each kilogram of Adipic acid made. Some ways that we can prevent the expanding amount of nitrous oxide is that we can reduce the amount of fossil fuels burnt like it is said for all the other gases, and we can reduce the amount of fertilizers being used. It will not be easy because we will need to use fertilizers, but we can try and figure out another fertilizer that can do everything the same as the ones with the nitrous oxide that does not contain nitrous oxide.

 

Bibliography:

Nunez, Christina. “Carbon Dioxide Levels Are at a Record High. Here’s What You Need to Know.” Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere Is at a Record High. Here’s What You Need to Know., 14 May 2019, www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/greenhouse-gases/#close.

Reay, Dave. “Nitrous Oxide Sources – Industry.” Nitrous Oxide Sources – Industry, www.ghgonline.org/nitrousindustry.htm.

Sanders, Robert. “Fertilizer Use Responsible for Increase in Nitrous Oxide in Atmosphere.” Berkeley News, 9 July 2015, news.berkeley.edu/2012/04/02/fertilizer-use-responsible-for-increase-in-nitrous-oxide-in-atmosphere/.

Pearce, Fred, et al. “What Is Causing the Recent Rise in Methane Emissions?” Yale E360, 2016, e360.yale.edu/features/methane_riddle_what_is_causing_the_rise_in_emissions.

Category: Science 9 | 4 Comments on Climate InfoFluency
October 8

Aquatic Field Studies

In Science 9 Honours, our class learned about the 4 Spheres, Water Quality and Invertebrates. After we have learned about these, we went to the Coquitlam River and the Oxbow Pond behind our school and did experiments. Because it is water, we discovered the hydrosphere and took the temperature of the water. We also looked at the biosphere because we also investigated the aquatic marine life in the water and identifying if the water quality is good, fair, or poor by looking at what type of invertebrates live in the water.

We started our experiment by going to the Coquitlam River first. We didn’t do much, but we took the temperature of the water. And we got a result of 2 degrees of temperature change. Our group consisted of 4 people and we took turns of who go into Chest Waders and lifejackets and going in the water.

George in his chest waders and lifejacket, all set

A couple of days later, we went back and this time, we went into the deep parts of the river and got a net and scrubbed rocks in front of the net so that the debris can get caught in the net.

Lucas scrubbing rocks and collecting particles that fall from the rock

After, we emptied the net into a bucket and tried to find invertebrates. Later, we found a very microscopic invertebrate that we could not identify. We found a small log later and decided to flip it because we thought that a lot of insects would be under it. We flipped it and found three invertebrates. We found two Stonefly larvae and a small worm like critter that we think that is a leech.

         Stonefly Larva                               Leech                            Microscopic (?)

After we recorded the data, we checked a package of papers with two Appendixs. Appendix 1 shows the types of invertebrates that we could find in good, fair or poor water qualities. Appendix 2 can help you figure out what kind of invertebrate that you could have found could be. We checked Appendix 1 and found out that most of the invertebrates that we found were “Pollution sensitive organisms found in good quality water”. So it meant that the water quality was good. We got bucket of the river water and tested it on pH paper. pH is the level of the water quality. 1-5 would mean that the water is acidic, 9-14 would mean that it is basic and about 6-8 would mean that it is good water quality. So, we tested the water several times and found out that the average pH level was about 6.5-7 which means the water of the river is very good.

After we have finished at the river, as a class, we started our new experiment at the Oxbow Pond behind the school. You could clearly see that the water quality will be not like the river because the colour of the water was extremely mucky and it was not clear and my general reaction was excitement because the water quality is different, there is a higher chance that we will find different invertebrates. As expected, we have found different types of invertebrates. In the pond, we found a couple of aquatic sow bugs, a single dragonfly suborder, quite some dragonfly nymphs and a water mite. And the interesting part about this is that if you look at Appendix 1, and if you find all these invertebrates, you will see that below all the invertebrates in that section, it will say that these invertebrates are pollution tolerant but are able to live in clean water also. That basically says it all. The colour of the water and the types of invertebrates that we found matches perfectly. This time, we did not scrape rocks and hope it flowed into our nets because one, there is no stream and two, if we scrub rocks, all we are going to get is mud. So what we did is we got our nets and swiped it around the water and collected particles of the pond. Later, we collected the cleanest pond water we could find, flipped the net over above our bucket and poured the water over the net so all the particles that have been caught in the net can flow into the bucket. It was quite hard to identify which of the things in the bucket were actual invertebrates or if they were merely a woodchip.

         Dragonfly Nymph             Snail, Nymph and Fish                      Dragonfly Suborder

As we did at the river, we collected water samples of the pond. We tested the water on pH paper and found out that the pH level was okay. The water was livable but not drinkable.

I bet that these experiments were one of the best science experiments that I’ve done. The fact of going in water with Chest Waders and collecting bugs was extremely cool for me. 100%, this experiment has helped me for this unit because I think I learn better when I do something rather than listening to the teacher speak the whole block. I helps more because I get more of a visual explanation of the unit because if we said that we were catching invertebrates, I wouldn’t know what they were and how it felt like to catch a real one. It also might help for others because they have fun doing the experiment and I heard that people understand and learn better when they have fun or interest in the experiment and I also think that even the people that don’t like a specific experiment will end up liking it because they probably had fun. In conclusion, this helped me understand more about invertebrates and water quality and I one hundred percent recommend this for the future grade 9’s and one thing. DO NOT MISS OUT ON THIS OR YOU WILL REGRET IT.

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