21.

2: Modeling the Breakdown of Organic Materials

Miles Coon
Block 7
May 2015
Purpose:

To observe organic material decomposition in different water

sources
A. Hypothesis: The Water with the most organic material inside
will break down first and clear up the fastest

Materials

Diluted Methylene dye

3 test tubes

graduated cylinder

diluted methylene blue dye

bottled eco-life water, tap water, and dirt water from lab 10.1

Procedure
1. Label each test tube with its respective water sample
2. Measure out 5 milliliters of each water sample and add 20 drops
of diluted methylene dye to each sample then place them on a
rack.
3. Observe the water over an hour and record results at 10 minute
breaks.

Data

Time

Observations

11:3

Completely dark blue

0
11:4

No real changes

0
11:5

The eco-life tube is slightly clearer but the other two are still

quite dark

12:0

Eco-life tube has cleared very quickly though still has a blue tint.

Sand water is a bit clearer but not much improvement, and tap still
hasnt changed.

12:1

Eco-life water is almost completely clear now and sand has gotten

slightly clearer. Tap water slightly clearer than when experiment

started but still fairly dark.

12:2

Sand water now with only traces of blue, eco-life water completely

transparent with no more blue. Tap water has made a little

improvement.

12:3

The Eco-life water is still crystal clear, the sand only has a little

more progress to go but the tap seems to have stopped clearing.

Conclusion

The eco-life water was had the most organic life by design, so
its no surprise that it was the first one to clear its tube. I was
surprised that the sand water cleared as much of its tube as it did. I
knew there was organics in the water but I expected there to be less
than the methylene was able to breakdown. Im rather glad that the tap
water had only a little organic material to break down as expected.
This would suggest that the tap water we drink doesnt contain a
microscopic jungle. In a practical matter this study shows us about
the dangers of drinking un-treated water. While all three tubes water
looked clean, this test clearly showed that two out of the three
waters were undrinkable and could possibly cause harm if ingested.