Nate Rodriguez

Dr. Taylor
1/25/15
Dish Soap and Plant Growth
Hypothesis: I hypothesize that the dish soap will negatively affect plant growth and
development, and result in abnormal coloration and smaller size. I also hypothesize that it will
take 50% dish soap and 50% water to kill the pinto bean plant.
Materials and Methods: The following are materials we will use: red plastic cups, soil, seeds,
Dawn liquid dish soap, and water. The experiment will be conducted in the greenhouse adjacent
to the Science building. I will obtain 12 plastic cups and place holes at the bottom of each of
them in order for the water to drain. I will also plant 3 bean seeds in each container at a depth of
0.5 to 1.0 inch deep. 3 of these cups will contain the control group of plants, which will receive
20 ml of ordinary water. 9 total will receive 20 ml of a solution containing water and dish soap.
For 3 of these, the solution will be 1 ml of dish soap and 19.5 ml of water. The other 3 will
receive 2.5 ml of dish soap and 19 ml of water. The remaining 3 cups will receive 5 ml of dish
soap and 18 ml of water. The plants will be watered three times a week, on Monday, Wednesday,
and Friday afternoons. Watering will begin when the seeds to sprout from the soil.