Name: Nicholas Mack

Block: 3

Group Members names: Jake Sasfai

The Effect of Salt on the Adhesive & Cohesive Properties of Water
Introduction
Water (H2O) has many functions that allow it to be one of the most important and
versatile compounds on Earth. The compounds polarity, or unequal sharing of its
electrons, allows it to bond with other water molecules (hydrogen bonding). Hydrogen
bonding causes water to have a number of properties. Two of these properties are
cohesion and adhesion. Cohesion is the ability for a water molecule to stick to another
molecule. This is caused by the attraction of a slightly negative oxygen atom to a slightly
positive hydrogen atom. The cohesive property of water allows a chain of molecules to
move upward against the force of gravity. This property is essential to water transport in
plants. Adhesion is the ability of water to stick to other surfaces. In the case of water
transport, waters adhesive property allows the compound to cling to the wall of a root
and continuously move. The combined forces of adhesion and cohesion are linked
together in a process known as capillary action, which allow water to be transported in
an upward motion across a surface.
After studying these properties, my partner and I wondered whether a foreign substance
would effect the cohesive and adhesive properties of water. For this experiment, the
foreign substance that was chosen was tablesalt (NaCl) due to it commonality as a
compound. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether different
concentrations of salt would affect the process of capillary action. We used three
separate concentrations of salt, allowing three trials for each (plus three control trials
with no salt added). For each trial, a strip of paper was submerged into a pre-determined
amount of water for an allotted amount of time. At the end of this experiment, we would
see whether our predictions were correct.

Problem (question)
The major question that was addressed in this experiment is whether different
concentrations of tablesalt (NaCl) affect water absorption during capillary action.
Hypothesis (statement)
If the salt concentration in 50 mL of water increased, then the amount of water
absorbed during capillary action will decrease.
Materials (list)
The materials used include:

12 strips of paper (approx. 1 x 15 cm.)

Weighboat

Tablesalt (approx. 8 grams needed)

Scissors

150 ml of water

Beaker

Ruler (w/ cm)

Timer or Clock

Scale

Procedure:
1. Fill a beaker with exactly 50 mL of water (control variable).
2. Obtain and determine the mass of a weightboat. Use this weightboat
throughout the experiment (control variable).
3. Cut 12 strips of paper. Each strip must have the same dimensions (control
variable).
4. Submerge 1 strip into the water for exactly 30 seconds. of the strip should
be submerged while should remain above the surface.
5. Remove the strip from the beaker and measure the distance the water traveled
(in cm).
6. Record. (Results are dependent variables)
7. Repeat the process for the next two strips and record all data.
8. Empty beaker & add 50 mL of water.
9. Obtain three more strips.
10. Add 1.0 g of tablesalt to water. Determine this amount by putting the
weighboat on the scale (zeroed) and adding salt until reaching desired amount.
(salt concentration is independent variable).
11.

Mix water and salt for 7 seconds.

12. Submerge first strip into water for 30 seconds. (time for submersion is a
control variable)

13.

Take out and record.

14.

Repeat for next two strips and record all data.

15.

Empty beaker and add 50 ml of water.

16.

Obtain 3 more strips.

17.

Add 2.0 g of salt to water and mix.

18.

Submerge each strip one at a time for 30 s. Record all.

19.
20.
21.

Empty beaker and add 50 ml of water

Obtain 3 more strips.
Add 5.0 g of salt to the water and mix.

22.

Submerge each strip one at a time for 30 s.

23.

Record all data.

Result
7
6

Amount
Water
Travele
d (in
cm)

5
4
3
Trial 1

Trial 2

Trial 3

Trial # and Amount of Salt Added

DATA RESULTS FOR TRIALS 1-3 BAR GRAPH
Category/ Trial #
(A - None) Trial 1
Trial 2

Distance Traveled (in cm)

6
5.5

Trial 3
(B 1.0 g salt) Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
(C 2.0 g salt) Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
(D 5.0 g salt) Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3

6
4.0
4.0
4.3
3.5
3.5
3.2
3.0
3.3
3.1

Error Analysis:
Although the experiment went relatively well, there were two major errors made.
The first error was the type of water used. After the experiment concluded, it was
realized that the water tested was tap water and contained many minerals that
could have affected the outcome of the experiment. If the water was pure, there
might have been a greater increase or decrease in water absorption. Should this
experiment be done again, students should distill the water by boiling it to elimate
those minerals. The second error involved an unnecessary conversion. For the first
two trials of Category A, the results were accidently measured in inches, not
centimeters. Although the numbers were converted to centimeters using a
mathematical equation, the answers were rounded. This affected the accuracy of
our data and pointed out its inconsistency. Should this experiment be performed
again, all measurements should be in centimeters and the student should check to
make sure that he or she is using the proper units.
Discussion and Conclusion:
This experiment sought to prove that increasing concentrations of salt would decrease the amount of
water absorbed by a paper strip during capillary action. Although the experiment had some errors, the
data from this investigation did prove the original hypothesis. Based on the data, the amount of water
absorbed decreased from Category A to Category D. In Category A where no salt was added, the paper
strip absorbed an average length of 5.7 cm of water between three separate trials. However, once 1.0 g
of salt was added to the same amount of water, the results began to change dramataically. With Category
B, the paper strip absorbed an average length of 4.1 centimetes of water and in Category C, where the
amount of salt was doubled; the paper strip absorbed an average length of 3.4 centimers of water. When
that amount of salt was doubled in Category D, the amount of water absorbed further decreased to an
average length of 3.2 cm. This data proves that doubling up the salt concentration leads to a greater
decrease in water absorption, proving that the hypothesis was correct. Based on this interpretation of the
data, it can be concluded that the effectiveness of capillary action is determined by water type and the
substances in it. If water contains a high percentage of table salt (NaCl), then less water will be absorbed
compared to water with no substances in it. Salt, therefore, could limit nutrient intake in organisms such
as plants, which rely on capillary action to receive water. If the water in the soil contains salt or any type
of related substance, than the plant could absorb less water, causing stunted growth.

Sources

Cambell Biology AP 1st Edition by Cain pgs. 29-30

Article: What are Dependent, Independent & Controlled Variables?
http://www.ehow.com/info_8360093_dependent-independent-controlledvariables.html