Biology - HOT Science Lab

Student
Problem Statement: Which solution makes the biggest bubbles
Safety: Make sure that the bubble solution is poured on top of trash bags on the tables, report
any spills immediately to the teacher. Use napkins routinely to clean up your lab area.
Vocabulary: scientific method, hypothesis, independent variable, dependent variable, controlled
experiment, quantitative, qualitative
Materials (per group):
3 different kinds of clear dishwashing
liquids
commercial bubble solution
water
glycerin
rulers
straws
plastic trash bags to cover tables
Four 50-ml beakers
Procedures:
1. Mix three bubble solutions in separate beakers using the following proportions of liquids:
5 ml dishwashing liquid, 30 ml water, and 5 ml plain glycerin. Note: If you want to make
a lot of bubble solution, just use larger quantities of each ingredient, keeping them in the
1:6:1 proportion.
2. Put 40 ml of commercial bubble solution in a fourth beaker.
3. To test a solution, pour it onto the plastic trash bag on your table top, put your straw into
one of the small bubbles and blow more air into the bubble. Continue blowing air into the
bubble until it bursts.
4. Using centimeters, measure the diameter of each bubble print left behind on the trash
bag.
5. Repeat this procedure three times for each of the different solutions.
6. While you are doing this activity, make some observations about the colors and other
physical characteristics of the bubbles.
7. Record your group‘s results on the data sheet.
8. Complete the class data table and write a conclusion for the activity.
Biology HSL Page 266
Curriculum and Instruction