S.T.E.M. Fair 2013-2014

S.T.E.M. Fair 2013-2014

QUESTION Are permanent markers permanent?

Hypothesis I hypothesize that permanent markers

are permanent. The Sharpie will not come off the fabric . I believe this because the label says it is permanent and permanent is permanent.

Purpose The purpose of my investigation is to

determine if the Sharpie is permanent or not permanent.

Procedure

Materials 5 - 5cm x 5cm pieces of fabric 5 Different detergents 5 cups

Variables Manipulated – type of solvent Responding – the amount of marker

remaining Constant - size of fabric, amount of solvent ,

cups , soaking time - 24 hours, and Sharpie

Directions 1. Gather materials 2. Cut five pieces of 5cm x 5cm fabric out 3. Mark the five pieces of fabric with a Sharpie 4. Label one cup Bleach - fill with 200 mL of

bleach 5. Label one cup Soap and Water - fill with 200

mL of soap and water 6. Label one cup Oxi Clean - fill with 200 mL of

Oxi Clean 7. Label one cup Wisk - fill with 200 mL of Wisk

8. Label one cup Resolve - fill with 200 mL of

Resolve

Directions 9. Place one sharpie marked fabric in each

cup. 10. Soak for over night. 11. Remove fabric from each cup. 12. Rate each on a scale from 1 to 5 for

amount of Sharpie still remaining on fabric with 1 being nothing left and 5 being all left.

13. Repeat steps 2-11 for four more trials. 14. Calculate the average removal rate for

each solvent.

Photograph

Data SOLVENT REMOVAL RATE

SOLVENT TRIAL 1 TRIAL 2 TRIAL 3 TRIAL 4 TRIAL 5 AVERAGE

OXI CLEAN 3 3 5 5 5 4.2

SOAP AND WATER 4 5 5 5 5 4.8

BLEACH 2 1 2 2 2 1.8

WISK 4 4 4 4 4 4.0

RESOLVE 3 3 4 4 4 3.6

Rating Scale: 1 = no marker remaining 5 = all marker remaining 

Graph

Conclusion My hypothesis was incorrect.

Permanent markers are not permanent . Oxi Clean had an average of 4.2 marker removed. Soap and waters had an average 4.8 marker removed. Bleaches had an average 1.8 marker removed. Wisk had an average of 4.0 marker removed. Resolve had an average of 3.6 marker remove. If I had to do this again, I think I would use different fabric to see if the fabric was a factor in my results.