Activity 1.7 and 1.8 - Further applications II

Learning Aims:

Here students investigate which chemicals can be used to remove different stains.
Materials:

See classroom materials Activity 1.7 and Activity 1.8

Worksheets with related experiments:

  • Worksheet 1: Introduction and safety information 
  • Worksheet 2: How are stains and dirt removed from clothes? 
  • Worksheet 3: The influence of temperature on wash performance 
  • Worksheet 4: Laundry detergents then and now 
  • Worksheet 5: Laundry detergents and the environment 
Suggestions for use:

In their detective teams students can cover, for example,

  • the differentiation between pure substance and mixture and/or
  • what a chemical reaction is (basic level definition).

Activity 1.8 can be complemented with an industrial visit to a sewage treatment plant.
Source for Worksheets 1-5:

Henkel (2008): Sustainable washing for a clean environment – Chemistry for beginners (11 – 13 year old). Access to complete unit at http://sustainabilityreport.henkel.com/dialogue/integrated-dialogue/dialogue-examples.html (under Stakeholder --> Scientists and Universities; Germany; “PDF-Download: Chemistry for Beginners”).