======Oil Spill Cleanup======


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**Materials: **{{$demo.materials_description}}\\
**Difficulty: **{{$demo.difficulty_description}}\\
**Safety: **{{$demo.safety_description}}\\
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**Alternative titles:** Simulated Marine Oil Spill
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  - Fill a tin pan halfway with water.  
  - Pour a small amount of vegetable oil onto the water’s surface to simulate an oil spill. Observe how the oil spreads and floats.  
  - Try cleaning the oil using cotton balls, paper towels, sponges, or a spoon/medicine dropper. Compare which method works best.  
  - Add a few drops of dish soap to the water and oil mixture. Observe how the soap disperses the oil into smaller droplets.



====Links==== 
Oil Spill Cleanup Experiment | Kitchen Science for Kids - Boundless Brilliance: 
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📄 Oil Spill Experiment - Little Bins for Little Hands: [[https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/oil-spill-experiment/]]\\


====Variations====
  * Add blue food coloring to the water for better visibility of the oil.  
  * Use different oils (olive, canola, motor oil—handled with care) to compare cleanup difficulty.  
  * Create a timed cleanup challenge with limited tools for students.  
  * Place toy animals into the water and simulate a rescue operation to connect with real-world oil spill impacts.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Wear rubber gloves if using motor oil or to avoid mess.  
  * Do not taste or ingest any materials.  
  * Dispose of oil and materials responsibly—do not pour oil down the drain.  
  * Supervise young children closely during cleanup activities.




====Questions to Consider====
  * Why does the oil float on the water? (Because oil is less dense than water and does not dissolve in it.)  
  * Which cleanup method was most effective? Why?  
  * Why does dish soap work differently than cotton or paper towels? (Soap molecules have hydrophobic and hydrophilic ends that break oil into smaller droplets, dispersing it into the water.)  
  * How do oil spills affect marine animals? (Oil coats feathers, fur, and skin, making it difficult for animals to stay warm or move.)  
  * What real-world methods are used to clean up oil spills? (Booms, skimmers, dispersants, and absorbent materials.)