Updating search results...

Search Resources

4 Results

View
Selected filters:
  • hard-water
Soap vs. Shampoo Surfactant Lab
Read the Fine Print
Educational Use
Rating
0.0 stars

Students learn about the properties of solutions—such as ion interactions, surface tension and viscosity—as they make their own soap and shampoo and then compare their properties. Working as if they are chemical engineers, they explore and compare how the two surfactants behave in tap water, as well as classroom-prepared acidic water, hard water and seawater using four tests: a “shake test” (assessing the amount of bubbles produced), a surface tension test, a viscosity test, and a pH test. Then they coalesce their findings into a recommendation for how to engineer the best soap versus shampoo. The activity may be shortened by using purchased liquid soap and shampoo from which students proceed to conduct the four tests. A lab worksheet and post-quiz are provided.

Subject:
Chemistry
Physical Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
TeachEngineering
Author:
Dahlia Amato
Date Added:
02/03/2017