2644 - CSUN ScholarWorks - California State University, Northridge

56 · Journal of Student Research Abstracts
in a micro-pipette and injected into the egg suspension. Then sperm was placed in the egg suspension with the
blunt end of a toothpick. The fertilized eggs were then counted and the procedure was repeated three more
times. The body spray reduced the fertilization rate to 40% +or -4%, while the control values were at 90.3%
+or -5%. The results suggest that even a body care product such as body spray can have an effect on the fertilization
rate of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. Therefore, we should be continually of what we
put into the drainage systems since such substances can pollute the oceans and lead to the mutation or destruction
of marine life.
2763
EFFECTS OF MULTI-VITAMINS ON THE GROWTH OF PEA PLANTS
Matt Gilpin, Kristen Kamrnrad and B. Van Duzee (teacher). Saugus High School, 21900 West Centurion
Way, Saugus 91350.
This study examined the question of possible involvement of multi-vitamins in the growth rate of pea plants.
The peas were germinated in a solution of one vitamin to thirty nine milliliters of water. The vitamins were
Sav-on brand multi-vitamins with Beta Carotene. The experimental pea plants were watered with the solution
once daily, while the controlled pea plants were watered with normal tap water. The results of the experimental
pea plants' growth rate over one month was compared to the growth rate of the controlled peas. It was found
to have no effect on the pea plants because they grew at the same growth rate. We set up two controlled groups
and two experimental groups each containing six pea plants and both experiments obtained the same results.
2764
THE EFFECTS OF ACID RAIN ON THE HEIGHT OF BEAN PLANTS.
Baa Zhen (Anna) Guan and Steve DeGusta (teacher). John F. Kennedy, 6715 Gloria Drive, Sacramento, CA
95831.
The purpose of this experiment was to determine if acid rain containing nitric acid (pH 3) would act as a
bean plant growth enhancer. A rain of nitric acid, component of acid rain, into tree's roots has been known to
act as a fertilizer to the tree. Nitrogen is one of the three major nutrients for trees and plants. In soil, ammonium
and nitrate are the principal forms of nitrogen available to plants. Nitric acid is a strong acid that is completely
dissociated to hydrogen and nitrate ions in dilute water solution. This means plants can get one of the
principal forms of nitrogen available to them from a mixture of nitric acid and tap water. In this experiment I
test the effects of acid rain with a pH of three on Burpee's stringless green pod beans (Phasolus vulgaris). To
test the effects, two groups of ten bean plants were grown in containers filled with solution. This way of growing
plants is called hydroponics, the raising of plants in nutrient mineral solution without earth around the
roots. The experimental group of bean plants was grown in containers filled with acid rain solution (pH 3), a
mixture of tap water and nitric acid, and the control group was grown in containers filled with tap water (pH
8.7). The heights of both groups of bean plants were measured daily and the average daily net growth of the
experimental group was compared to the average daily net growth of the control to see if acid rain had any
effect on the height of bean plants. Even when the absolute difference between the two groups' daily net growth
was at maximum, the T-test still produced a p > 0.1. This meant that any difference that did exist between the
net growth of the experimental and the control groups of bean plants was due to chance alone. Acid rain at a
pH level of three had no effect on the height of bean plants.
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