Science Fair Project Fall 2009 Science 373Tracie Ambrose

Question:What happens to soap when the water is removed?

Procedure: 1. Purchase three types of soap.2. Weigh soap.3. Float each bar of soap in water for five minutes.4. Determine which soaps float and which do not.5. Remove soap bar from water and put on microwave safe

plate.6. Microwave on high for two minutes.7. Allow to cool.8. Remove from microwave.9. Observe and take a picture of each bar of soap after the

microwave has removed the water.10. Weigh the soap.

Result: Dove soap, which has more water, was unable to hold any shape after being heated to the point of losing its water concentration.Ivory, which is noted for its ability to float because of the number of air pockets, made the largest shape. Dial soap, which is heaver and has less air incorporated into it, changed but overall the soap remained dense and closer to its original shape and size.

Hypothesis: Soaps that have more air will expand as the water evaporates because the air molecules expand.

Pictures Go Here: Data: weight Before

MicrowavingAfter Microwaving

Amount of water loss

Ivory 3.1 oz 2.6 oz .5 ozDial 4.5 oz 4.0 oz .5 ozLever 4.5 oz 4.2 oz .3 oz

FloatabilityFloated IvorySank Dial Lever 2000

Objective:To show that as water evaporates and air molecules expand, the soap expands to a greater degree.

Conclusion: Ivory soap has more air pockets and therefore floats in water. It also had the greatest increase in surface after the water molecules evaporated.Dial and Lever 2000 both maintained smaller shapes after the water evaporated. They both sank in water, which indicates that they have less air. This study indicates that Lever 2000 has

Science Fair Project Fall 2009 Science 373Tracie Ambrose

less water and therefore has more solids than either Ivory or Dial.

Materials: Lever 2000 bar soap, Ivory bar soap, Dial bar soap, three microwave safe plates, microwave, a clear bowl for holding water, a scale, water.

References: Hammond, Richard. Richard Hammond's Blast

Lab. London: Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd, 2010. Print.

Helmenstine, Anne Marie, and Ph.D.. "Ivory Soap Trick - Making Foam in the Microwave." Chemistry - Periodic Table, Chemistry Projects, and Chemistry Homework Help. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2009. <http://chemistry.about.com/od/demonstrationsexperiments/a/soaptrick.htm>.

"Soap Soufflé - How to Blow-up Soap in the Microwave at Steve Spangler Science." Science Projects Experiments, Educational Toys & Science Toys at Steve Spangler Science. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2009. <http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/00000053>.

YouTube- Growing Soap Monster!! ." YouTube

- Broadcast Yourself. . N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2009. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxGFpFO5Xaw>.

Making Soap Clouds