Ryan's birthday present evolved into an AWESOME Science Fair Project using OWI-750 Salt Water Fuel Cell Car kit
NaCl H2O
FUEL
What kind of salt will make a salt water
powered car run the longest?
If the kind of salt is changed will that
change the length of time the fuel cell will run?
Independent Variable
The kind of salt used.
Dependent Variable
Change in the length of time the fuel cell
will run.
Hypothesis
If Sea Salt is used the Salt Water Fuel Cell
Car will run for the longest amount of time.
Materials
1.
Salt Water Fuel Cell Kit
2.
Magnesium sheet, air cathode, nonwoven fabric, refill kit
3.
Slotted screwdriver
4.
Stick
5. 5
kinds of salt
6.
Measuring cup
7.
Water pitcher with room temperature H2O
8.
Diagonal cutter
9.
Timer
10.
Measuring spoon
11. Eyedropper
12.
Paper towels
13.
Computer
Procedure
1. The
first step is to gather all the items from the materials list.
2. The
second step is to build the salt water fuel cell car from the kit with the
slotted
screwdriver
and diagonal cutter.
3. The
third step is to pour ½ cup of water from the pitcher then add ¼ tsp. of
whatever salt you are testing and stir with a stick.
4. Use
the eyedropper to gather the salt water and place 5 drops on the non-woven
fabric which is on top of the air cathode.
Then place the magnesium sheet on top and lock the fuel cell with the
plastic top.
5. In
the fifth step place the fuel cell into the car and hold the car in the air.
Start the timer as soon as the wheels begin to turn. Stop the timer when the
wheels completely stop.
6.
Complete a Length of Time the Fuel Cell Ran test table for 5 trials.
7.
Repeat steps 3 through 6 for all 5 types of salt.
8.
Enter your data in the computer to make a spreadsheet for making graphs.
9. All
tests where done in the same room and air temperature. Use the refill kit for new supplies for each
type of salt.
| |
Table Salt
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
| |
Time
|
566
|
1212
|
449
|
655
|
496
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Softener Salt
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
| |
Time
|
872
|
1424
|
189
|
0
|
0
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Epsom Salt
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
| |
Time
|
32
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Ice Melting Salt
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
| |
Time
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Sea Salt
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
| |
Time
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
| |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Results
The date was entered in the computer. Then
line graphs were made to show the trend in each of the 5 tests for the 5 kinds
of salt. In looking at the line graphs
it shows a trend of the second test being the longest in the two salts that
worked. Then the times returned to more average times. It also shows that 3 of the salts that were
tried didn’t produce the necessary reaction to make the fuel cell work.
Data Analysis
The average length of time the fuel cell ran
for each test was calculated. A 3-D Bar chart was made with the average for
each type of salt. The results showed
that the hypothesis of sea salt making the fuel cell run the longest was
incorrect. The data shows the sea salt didn’t make the motor start at all. This could be because it is too concentrated
from the amount of salt used. The Epsom
salt test had only the first test start the motor as this is not really a salt
so it will not work for this fuel cell.
It is thought that there was energy left in the motor from the previous
table salt test that gave a false start for Epsom salt Test 1.
Average Length of Time the Fuel
Cell Ran
|
Table Salt
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
Average
| |
Time
|
596
|
1212
|
449
|
655
|
496
|
682
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Softener Salt
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
Average
| |
Time
|
872
|
1424
|
189
|
0
|
0
|
497
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Epsom Salt
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
Average
| |
Time
|
32
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
6
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Ice Melting Salt
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
Average
| |
Time
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Sea Salt
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
Average
| |
Time
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
| |
Conclusion
It was observed that once the fuel cell was
loaded into the car with the table salt that the motor quickly started. The second test was the best then the times
returned to more average times. This
happened with the Softener salt as well except that the last two tests the
motor didn’t start. This could be
because the softener salt pellet had completely dissolved into the water by the
last two tests. Which created too much salt in the water for the fuel cell to
work as above 20% salt to water will make the car work less efficient or not at
all. It is thought that this is the same
reason the ¼ tsp. of sea salt in the hypothesis didn’t make the cell work. It was observed in the Ice melting salt that
the motor didn’t start because there are other chlorides in the mixture that
prevented the NaCl from working on the magnesium. The project could have been made better if
OWI sold a track to fit the car or the car fit other tracks that are sold.
Since it didn’t fit any tracks the car had to be held to run the tests.
Practical
Application
Here is where
each type of salt is usually used and what it is made up of: The Scientific name for Table salt is NaCl,
Sodium chloride. Table salt is for seasoning food and preserving food. The
Scientific name for Sea Salt is NaCl also. Sea Salt Is used for seasoning food
at the end of cooking. The Scientific name for Epsom Salt is MgSO4* 7H2O,
Magnesium sulfate crystals which is not actually a salt. Epsom Salt is used for
many health and gardening purposes as a natural alternative. The Scientific
name for Softener Salt is NaCl. Softener Salt is used to improve how soaps and
detergents work. It also helps prevent
scale build-up in water heaters and pipes. The Scientific name for Ice Melting
Salt is NaCl KCL MgCl CaCl2, Sodium chloride, Potassium chloride, Magnesium
chloride, and Calcium chloride. Ice Melting Salt dissolves to lower the
freezing point of ice and then starts to melt the ice.
The car contains a fuel cell which is an electrochemical
cell that uses a fuel to make energy that is an electrical energy. The cell
will continue working as long as the reactant and oxidant flows are constant.
An air-depolarizing battery is used in this cell. The battery needs an anode, a
cathode, and an electrolyte. The magnesium sheet is the anode. The porous carbon sheet provides the cathode.
This experiment will test different kinds of salt water which is the
electrolyte. The salt water will react with the magnesium sheet and the carbon
sheet to create an electrical current. Knowledge was gained about different kinds of salts and
an electrochemical cell that uses fuel to make energy. This experience will teach whoever has done
the tests, how to make good salt water for gargling when sick.
Abstract
NaCl H2O
FUEL
Physical
Category
6th
Grade Center
This project uses a Salt Water Powered Car made by OWI
INC. The hypothesis is if Sea Salt is
used the Salt Water Fuel Cell will run for the longest amount of time. What kind of salt will make a salt water
powered car run the longest? If the kind of salt is changed will that change
the length of time the fuel cell will run?
To test the hypothesis, first gather all the items. Then
build the car from the kit. All tests were done with ½ cup of water and ¼ tsp.
of each of the 5 types of salt. Follow
the instructions in the kit for preparing the fuel cell and loading it in the
car. Then hold the car in the air and
start the timer when the wheels begin to turn record the stop time in the table
for each of the 5 tests.
The line graphs
show a trend of the second test being the longest in the two salts that worked.
Then the times returned to more average times.
It also shows that 3 of the salts tried didn’t produce the necessary
reaction to make the fuel cell work. The
hypothesis of sea salt making the fuel cell run the longest was incorrect. The
data shows the sea salt didn’t make the motor start at all. I believe this is
because it is too concentrated from the amount of salt used.
Bibliography
“Air-depolarized-battery.”Encyclopedia Britannica. 9 Dec. 2012
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/56126/battery/45851/Air-depolarized-batteries
“Anode.”Encyclopedia
Britannica. 9 Dec. 2012
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/26508/anode
“For Your Home.”Morton
Salt. Morton Salt, Inc. 9 Dec. 2012
http://www.mortonsalt.com
Kurlansky, Mark. Salt:
A World History. London, England: Penguin Books, 2003.
Pentland,
William. “Salt Water Fuel Cells – Coming Soon?”Forbes. 9 Dec. 2012.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/williampentland/2012/03/27salt-water-fuel-cells-coming-soon/
