Which substance help cut flowers to live longer? By: Jonathan Valenzuela, Andy Fuentes

Materials 6 empty containers 6 empty containers 3 teaspoons of sugar 3 teaspoons of sugar 6 Flowers with stems and leaves 6 Flowers with stems and leaves 3 teaspoons of Aspirin 3 teaspoons of Aspirin

procedure One cup of water was added to each of the six containers. Added to each container was one of the following: ½ ½ teaspoon of either sugar or ground aspirin 1 teaspoon of either sugar or ground aspirin 1½ teaspoon of either sugar or ground aspirin

Day 1 The leaves of the flowers in all 3 containers with aspirin changed from green to a brownish color. The leaves of the flowers in all 3 containers with aspirin changed from green to a brownish color. The leaves in the containers with sugar, turned yellow at the tips. The leaves in the containers with sugar, turned yellow at the tips.

Day 2 Flowers with sugar had a touch of brown on the yellowing sections at the edge of the leaf. Flowers with sugar had a touch of brown on the yellowing sections at the edge of the leaf. In all 3 containers, the flowers with aspirin had a larger brown area than previously. In all 3 containers, the flowers with aspirin had a larger brown area than previously.

Photos Day 2 ½ tsp aspirin1½ tsp aspirin1 tsp aspirin ½ tsp sugar 1½ sugar1 tsp sugar

Day 3 The flowers with aspirin had completely brown leaves and half of the stems were brown. The leaves on the containers with sugar were equally brown, yellow and green. The stems remain green.

Photos Day 3 ½ tsp aspirin1½ tsp aspirin1 tsp aspirin ½ tsp sugar 1½ sugar1 tsp sugar

Day 4 The stems of the flowers with sugar were still green and the leaves were 1/4 brown. The stems of the flowers with sugar were still green and the leaves were 1/4 brown. The stems of the flowers with aspirin were completely brown and so were the leaves. The stems of the flowers with aspirin were completely brown and so were the leaves.

Photos Day 4 ½ tsp aspirin1½ tsp aspirin1 tsp aspirin ½ tsp sugar 1½ sugar1 tsp sugar

Day 5 The leaves on the flowers with sugar were ½ brown. Stems and petals remained fresh and green. The leaves on the flowers with sugar were ½ brown. Stems and petals remained fresh and green. The leaves on the flowers with aspirin were totally brown and dry. Stems and petals are dead. The leaves on the flowers with aspirin were totally brown and dry. Stems and petals are dead.

Photos Day 5 ½ tsp aspirin1½ tsp aspirin1 tsp aspirin ½ tsp sugar 1½ sugar1 tsp sugar

Conclusion What we proved is that sugar substances will keep flowers alive longer because sugar provides nourishment to living things in the form of fructose, glucose and lactose (C12 H22 O11). This is a carbohydrate group. We speculated on the amount of aspirin, which proved to be too much. Large doses of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) cause acid based imbalance. This created more of a chemical decomposition than organic. So sweeten your flowers if you want them to live longer.

Final Pictures Aspirin group ½ tsp sugar 1½ sugar1 tsp sugar

chart green/yellow1 gree/yellow/1/4 brown2 1/2 brown3 3/4 brown4 brown5 brown drop6 brown dry7 petals and stems dry8 OBSERVATIONS OF SUGAR AND ASPIRIN EXPERIMENT Days Quantity 1/2 tsp sugar tsp sugar /2 tsp sugar /2 tsp aspirin tsp aspirin /2 aspirin