Conclusion:
From the completion of various methods, experimental results reveal that Windex increases the basicity of Lake Michigan while vinegar additions increase the acidity of Lake Michigan. Changes in temperatures, corresponding to the Midwest's seasons, alters the pH levels of household cleaners' solutions.
Discussion:
As indicated earlier, the purpose of this project was to determine the consequences, whether positive or negative, of different household cleaning products on Lake Michigan. Thanks to previous research, Lake Michigan's aquatic environment was accurately simulated by experimenting with alkaline water and a dilution ratio of 1 mL of Windex : 40 mL of alkaline water. Although the water's pH level was originally an 8, Windex's pH value of 10 increased the solution's basicity to 9. Even at a low dilution ratio, the presence of ammonia in Windex is strong enough to balance the solution's basicity at a middle point. Despite the assumption that chemical contamination is too insignificant to affect the environment, its pH concentration is high enough to alter the water. On the other hand, some people decide to use vinegar solution as a window cleaning product because its organic label appears better for the environment. When added to alkaline water with the dilution ratio of 15 mL of vinegar : 415 mL of alkaline water, the solution's pH level equalized at 7. Although vinegar's pH value is 2, the solution appeared very similar to the water's condition. This means that vinegar does not cause as large of a pH change in alkaline water as Windex does. Within this situation, at an average temperature of 22.5 degrees C, the distilled/white vinegar is less detrimental to the stability of Lake Michigan. Another necessary component of this experimental process was the changing the temperature of the cleaning product solution. With the Windex, the litmus paper measured a pH value of 9 at 7.2 degrees C, but a value of 8.5 at 99.6 degrees C. As the temperature of the alkaline water increases, the basicity of the Windex solution decreases. This is due to the higher amounts of kinetic energy that the water molecules possess. The water particles easily spread throughout the Windex and absorb energy from the cleaning product. A similar result occurred with the distilled vinegar, but on the opposite end of the spectrum. At 14.2 degrees C, the pH level of the vinegar solution was 7, but at 71.4 degrees C, the acidity changed to an 8. An increased temperature forces the solution to meet equilibrium at a more neutral pH. This means that both manufactured and organic cleaners have reduced damage on Lake Michigan in warmer seasons. Additional methods, such as titration, were used to determine the presence of acetic acid in vinegar. First, the molarity of each trial was calculated before finding the average weight percentage. The average weight percentage of acetic acid was 4.8%; although this is a low amount, it has a large effect on the overall acidity of the vinegar. In general, these methods were very informative as to the effects of different household cleaners in a lake environment. Windex increases the basicity while vinegar increases the water's acidity. Temperature can cause alterations in the pH level of a solution, generally forcing it to a more neutral point. Either way, even the smallest contamination of Lake Michigan's atmosphere can create a domino effect of instability for all organisms.
-Gretchen Koomjohn
From the completion of various methods, experimental results reveal that Windex increases the basicity of Lake Michigan while vinegar additions increase the acidity of Lake Michigan. Changes in temperatures, corresponding to the Midwest's seasons, alters the pH levels of household cleaners' solutions.
Discussion:
As indicated earlier, the purpose of this project was to determine the consequences, whether positive or negative, of different household cleaning products on Lake Michigan. Thanks to previous research, Lake Michigan's aquatic environment was accurately simulated by experimenting with alkaline water and a dilution ratio of 1 mL of Windex : 40 mL of alkaline water. Although the water's pH level was originally an 8, Windex's pH value of 10 increased the solution's basicity to 9. Even at a low dilution ratio, the presence of ammonia in Windex is strong enough to balance the solution's basicity at a middle point. Despite the assumption that chemical contamination is too insignificant to affect the environment, its pH concentration is high enough to alter the water. On the other hand, some people decide to use vinegar solution as a window cleaning product because its organic label appears better for the environment. When added to alkaline water with the dilution ratio of 15 mL of vinegar : 415 mL of alkaline water, the solution's pH level equalized at 7. Although vinegar's pH value is 2, the solution appeared very similar to the water's condition. This means that vinegar does not cause as large of a pH change in alkaline water as Windex does. Within this situation, at an average temperature of 22.5 degrees C, the distilled/white vinegar is less detrimental to the stability of Lake Michigan. Another necessary component of this experimental process was the changing the temperature of the cleaning product solution. With the Windex, the litmus paper measured a pH value of 9 at 7.2 degrees C, but a value of 8.5 at 99.6 degrees C. As the temperature of the alkaline water increases, the basicity of the Windex solution decreases. This is due to the higher amounts of kinetic energy that the water molecules possess. The water particles easily spread throughout the Windex and absorb energy from the cleaning product. A similar result occurred with the distilled vinegar, but on the opposite end of the spectrum. At 14.2 degrees C, the pH level of the vinegar solution was 7, but at 71.4 degrees C, the acidity changed to an 8. An increased temperature forces the solution to meet equilibrium at a more neutral pH. This means that both manufactured and organic cleaners have reduced damage on Lake Michigan in warmer seasons. Additional methods, such as titration, were used to determine the presence of acetic acid in vinegar. First, the molarity of each trial was calculated before finding the average weight percentage. The average weight percentage of acetic acid was 4.8%; although this is a low amount, it has a large effect on the overall acidity of the vinegar. In general, these methods were very informative as to the effects of different household cleaners in a lake environment. Windex increases the basicity while vinegar increases the water's acidity. Temperature can cause alterations in the pH level of a solution, generally forcing it to a more neutral point. Either way, even the smallest contamination of Lake Michigan's atmosphere can create a domino effect of instability for all organisms.
-Gretchen Koomjohn