Electrolytes Paper

* State problem/ prurpose:

The purpose was to find out wether energy drinks or orange juice had more electrolytes. The purpose for this experiment is that Natalie and Ximena as athletes believed that energy drink had more electrolytes than regular orange juice we drink for breakfast.

* Hypothesis

Possible if orange juice has more electrolytes then our statement is false.

* Material

* Copper wire, bare, 24-gauge (around 1.5 meters [5 feet]); available at most hardware stores

* Wire cutter

* Ruler

* Pen cap from a disposable ballpoint pen; make sure the cap does not have a metal clip.

* Any plastic tube, plastic cylinder, or rubber cylinder approximately 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) long and up to 1 cm wide may be substituted.

* 9 V battery

* 9 V battery clip

* Wires with alligator clips for making connections, should have clips on both ends, and be about 15 cm (6 inches) long (2)

* Binder clip

* Small plastic, glass, or ceramic bowls, not metal (8)

* Masking tape

* Permanent marker

* Sports drink(s) of your choice, room temperature

* Science Buddies Kit: The kit includes distilled water and sports drink powder. To make the sports drink, mix 1/4 of the drink mix with 1/2 cup (120 mL) of distilled water.

* Orange juice of your choice, room temperature

* Distilled water (dH2O), room temperature; available at most grocery stores

* Tap water, room temperature

* Measuring cup or beaker, 1/2-cup capacity

* A digital multimeter, for example, this one from Amazon.com

* Paper towels

* Lab notebook

* Procedure

1. Using the wire cutter, cut two pieces of copper wire, each about 15 centimeters (cm) (roughly 6 inches) long.

2. Make a conductance sensor like the one shown in Figure 1 below:

a. Wrap one piece of wire around the pen cap near one end a few times, leaving a 5 cm (2 inch) tail of wire.

i. Wrap the wire very tightly around the plastic...