Oil Spill Cleanup

This demonstration models an oil spill in water using vegetable oil. Students explore how oil floats on water, test different cleanup methods, and learn how dish soap helps break up oil.

1. Fill a tin pan halfway with water.
2. Pour a small amount of vegetable oil onto the water’s surface to simulate an oil spill. Observe how the oil spreads and floats.
3. Try cleaning the oil using cotton balls, paper towels, sponges, or a spoon/medicine dropper. Compare which method works best.
4. Add a few drops of dish soap to the water and oil mixture. Observe how the soap disperses the oil into smaller droplets.

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• 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.

• 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.

• 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.)