The Solvents

Question How permanent are permanent markers?

Purpose The purpose of this project to determine which permanent markers brand is most permanent. This is important because if you need to remove permanent marker you can DECIDE by looking at this Project.

WE HYPOTHISIZE THAT THE DETERGENT WILL REMOVE THE MOST MARKER.

CM X 1O CM CLOTHS 1 QUARTER 4 PERMANENT MARKERS 4 JARS OR CONTAINERS 100 ML OF TAP WATER 100 ML OF ALCHOL 100 ML OF DISH DETERGENT 100 ML OF HAIR SPRAY

Manipulated variable – solvents Responded variable – The amount of permanent marker removed Constant variables – size of cloth, amount of marker used, and the size of cup.

DIRECTIONS  cut cloth into cm x 10 cm pieces.  Trace a quarter of each cloth piece.  color in circle with sharpie.  Fill one cup with 100 ml water. label cup.  Fill one cup with 100 ml alcohol. label cup.  Fill one cup with 100 ml dish detergent. Label cup.  Fill one cup 100 ml with hair spray. Label cup.  place one cloth piece in each cup.  Let soak for 24 hours.  Remove cloth from cup and rate using the rating scale 0 to 10 with 0 being no change in stain and 10 being stain completely removed.  Repeat steps 4-10 for four trials

SCIENCE PICtures

GRAPH OF WINNERS

Our hypothesis was incorrect. Hair spray, winning by one tenth, is the best solvent for removing permanent marker. The average stain removal rate for hairspray was 9.7, alcohol was 9.6, detergent was 4.0, and water was 3.8. If we had to do this again we might try to shake the jar instead of letting it soak over night.