Our Analytical essay is our explanation or our results, our trials and errors, our conclusions, and our research.
In our deep project we decided to add acid from different sour candies and watch the decreasing pH level affect the growth of elodea. We used Sour Patch kids, Sour Skittles, and Pop Rocks. We also had an X-tube (a tube containing nothing aside from the normal conditions elodea would grow in). Our hypothesis was that the Sour Patch Kids and Sour Skittles would affect the elodea the most because they contain the white pounder stuck to it. That white powder on the candy is acid. Pop rocks don't have much acid which is why we thought it wouldn’t affect the elodea. Our hypothesis was correct, the Sour Patch Kids made the elodea lose pigmentation and the skittles made the elodea lose the green color and become an orange ish red ish color.
Connection;
During the research part of our experiment we found that the human body has an average pH level of about 7.35 to 7.45. When the pH level is below 7.35 it is known as acidemia above 7.45 is Alkalema. Acidemia is a drop in pH due to an increase in the blood's hydrogen ion content. Alkalema known as Alkalosis is an unusual pathophysiological situation marked by the body's accumulation of extra acids or alkalis.Therefore, fatigue, paralysis, coma, and death in coma are the clinical effects of a low blood pH, which are caused by acidemia. During our experiment we found that our sour candies pH levels had a lower result compared to our one non-sour candy, which could result in acidemia in humans when consumed in large amounts (very very unlikely tho). The sour candied-water showed lower pH levels that resulted in our elodea cells to bunch up or turn clear before they died.
Our project went smoothly with 0 errors however, we had a few close calls. For instance, one day we left the cap off the tube. Mold began to grow in the tube and infected the water and elodea. Thankfully we were done experimenting on elodea and the mold did not affect the experiment or our results. Another time, when we began the experiment we wanted to try and dissolve the whole Sour Patch Kid Candy in the water. Obviously that isn’t the most effective way to go about our experiment especially since we just wanted the white powder stuck to it. This is why we decided to shake the bag containing candy so the powder fell off the gummy part of the candy. Finally, when measuring the pH level we decided to use the same pipet. When we saw results that didn’t make sense we realized it was because we used the same pipet mixing the water content from different tubes giving us mis information. One thing we regret not doing was taking before and after photos of the elodea. If we had done this we would have had something to compare the photos we did take under the microscope to. Though we had close calls, our results were never impacted.
Sofie and Mae had a hard time coming up with a deep project. In the beginning they wanted to test on ants and see at what pressure they can survive in. They found it took them 15 minutes to catch one ant that they later lost. They decided it would be somewhat cruel and immoral to kill so many ants so they decided to switch projects. When they settled on the candy acid project there were some doubts that any results would show. They believed their project would flop. When results did show in their project they were surprised and happy.
When our experimenting was done we decided to look at the elodea under a microscope. Doing that allowed us to see really how the acid was affecting the elodea. The microscope was a big part of our project as it allowed us to see deeper than just the color the elodea was turning, but it let us see the cells alive or dead. The microscope also allowed us to take close up pictures of the elodea that we were later able to use in our lab report, poster, and website. Though using the microscope took up a good three classes it really helped us not only see but understand what was happening to the elodea. If anyone decides to do this project in later years we strongly recommend the usage of a microscope.
If another class wanted to do this project/experiment modified here is what we suggest;
Our project was very concise and straight to the point, which is helpful for a deep project. If your deep project is like a tree then it has branches. Think of branches as an unsolved question that the answer is crucial to the end result. One tree has many branches. Our project was a single branch of an idea.The tree our branch comes from is about acid affecting living things. The branch we chose was acid affecting plants. So the main takeaway for anyone who wants to do a deep project like ours or just a deep project in general is to not base your project off a whole idea (the tree) but rather a lingering question within a big idea (the branch). If you base your deep project off a tree, then you will have many branches to answer.
If someone wants to do a project like ours, here are our suggestions for projects like ours. Maybe a group could use acid from one candy and test it on different types of “elodea-like” plants. Also, a group could use the same plant with the acid from the same candy but place the tube in different environments (exposed to sunlight, dark, cold, warm ect.). A group could also do the same experiment that we did but uses all different and/ or more sour/acidic candies. We would recommend taking before, during, and after photos of the elodea as it is one thing we wish we had done. Taking those photos allows you to compare your results which can be helpful and useful for the lab report, poster, and website. We also would strongly recommend using the microscope. The microscope helped us understand what was happening in each tube and it provided good photos.
We learned a lot in our deep project, mainly the effect acid has. We watched as acid changed the color of elodea and the pH level. We watched as Sour Patch Kids made the elodea turn white and as the Sour Skittles made the elodea lose pigmentation then turn orange ish red ish. We watched as the pH level dropped, and we looked at the elodea from the microscope. The microscope was the most useful tool in our project as it allowed us to see farther than the human eye. Our main takeaway is there are lots of acids in candy that can affect living things and cause lots of unnatural occurrences (color, pH level ect.).