investigatory Project The Feasibility of Saltwater as an Alternate Source of Energy
Chapter I
Introduction

A. Background of the Study

Philippines is a country that is surrounded by water. Saltwater is very abundant in our country; so, this study tries to find more uses of the saltwater. In this study, saltwater is used as a battery of a light bulb to prove that it can be a source of energy. This will possibly help solve the energy crisis that our country is suffering now.
A compound can produce electric energy when it has enough oxygen in it. Saltwater is a kind of a compound that can possibly produce energy. Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) is also used in this study, to have more oxygen in the compound. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a very pale blue liquid which appears colorless in a dilute solution, slightly more viscousthan water. It is a weak acid. It has strong oxidizing properties and is therefore a powerful bleaching agent that is mostly used for bleaching paper, but has also found use as a disinfectant, as an oxidizer, as anantiseptic, and in rocketry (particularly in high concentrations as high-test peroxide or HTP) as a monopropellant, and in bipropellantsystems.[1] The oxidizing capacity of hydrogen peroxide is so strong that the chemical is considered a highly reactive oxygen species.
Hydrogen peroxide is naturally produced as a byproduct of oxygen metabolism, and virtually all organisms possess enzymes known asperoxidases, which harmlessly and catalytically decompose low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen. Oxygen helps a compound ro produece more energy.
This study will try to help our country especially today that the country is suffering energy crisis.
B. Statement of the Problem
Our country is now suffering energy crisis. People are paying their electric bill almost half of their salary. Others can’t afford it, while other parts of the Philippines don’t have any source of energy. In this study, this will try to solve some of our problems. Saltwater is everywhere and it is abundant in our country. This can possibly solve the energy crisis that our country is suffering now.
*Specifically, this study tries to answer the questions:
→ Can saltwater be a source of energy?
→How do saltwater produces energy?
→Will it be able to light a bulb?
→ Is it comparable with the present energy source?
C. Hypothesis
Saltwater can be a source of energy.
It can be able to light a bulb.
It is safer and cheaper source of energy than the present source of energy.
D. Significance of the study
This study will try to help our country’s problem concerning in electrical energy. This will try to use the saltwater as a source of energy because the saltwater is very abundant especially in our country. Energy is very important, especially electrical energy, worldwide. Nowadays, our countrymen are spending lots of money ust for the electric bill. This study will provide safer and cheaper source of energy.
E. Scope and Limitations
In this study, it will need more oxygen in the water to conduct more electricity. As soon as there will be no more oxygen in the water, it can’t provide more electricity. It will not be able to light a bulb. We may use larger container to be able to get more electricity and heat is also needed in this study to have more oxygen in the saltwater. Although, the saltwater is not a very strong source of energy but it is cheaper and safer source of energy than the present source of energy.
F. Definition of terms
Hydrogen Peroxide- a kind of chemical that contains lots of oxygen. (H2O2)
Chapter II
Review of Related Literature
Any compound can produce electricity even a juice. Using saltwater as an alternative source of energy will be cheaper. Saltwater is a kind of compound that can produce energy. The more oxygen in the compound, the more energy can be produced. The saltwater can also be heated to produce more oxygen in the compound because heat produces oxygen. The Hydrogen Peroxide is added because it can add more oxygen to the compound. These materials are safer and cheaper than the materials used in today’s energy source. The materials used here, are the materials that can help the compound produce more energy.
To get the energy from the compound, the magnesium electrodes and the iron electrodes are used. They are the types of electrodes than can get the energy from the compound to the bulb. The electrodes will not work if they are too near to each other. So, it is recommended to use larger containers in able to keep them apart.
These materials will be used to know that the compound, saltwater, can be used as a source of energy. Hydrogen Peroxide is a very pale blue liquid which appears colorless in a dilute solution, slightly more viscous than water. It is a weak acid. http://www.miniscience.com/projects/airbattery/ http://www.exo.net/~pauld/summer_institute/summerday15current/saltwaterwaterbattery.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/hydrogen_peroxide Chapter III
Methodology
A. Materials Warm saltwater solution 300mL
1pc. Miniature Bulb
1pc. Miniature base 2pcs. Pair of insulated solid copper wire
2pcs. Pair of alligator clips
1pc. Magnesium electrode 1pc. Iron electrode Wooden board
Plastic container
Hydrogen Peroxide 5mL
Dropper
B. Procedure
In this study, the solid copper wires will be tight by the screws to the base of the miniature bulb. Then, the alligator clips will be connected to the wires. The other sides of the alligator clips will be connected to the iron and magnesium electrodes. Both electrodes will be placed at the opposite sides of the container. The warm water will be placed in the container and enough salt will be added, that you can see salt particles at the bottom of the container. Hydrogen Peroxide will be added to the solution. The electrodes will be secured, making sure that they will not touch each other and the alligator clips will not touch the saltwater solution. It will be observed by the researcher.
c. Testing of the project
In this study, there will be 3 trials. In every trial, there will be different amount of saltwater that will be used. In the first trial there will be 300mL of saltwater, in second trial, there will be 400mL of saltwater and in the fourth trial, there will be 500mL of saltwater. In every trial, there will be 3 replicates adding different amount of Hydrogen Peroxide.
D. Observation
The light of the bulb will be observed and how long it will last. The brightness of the bulb will be also observed by the researcher.
Chapter IV
Results and Discussions
In this chapter, the results of the experiment will be observed by the researcher. Through tabular form, the results will be shown and after this, it will be discussed.
Table 1: The table of the researcher’s observation in the 1st trial
Amount of saltwater Amount of Hydrogen Peroxide Brightness Time lasted (light)
300mL 5mL dim 2min.
300mL 10mL bright 2.4min
300mL 15mL brighter 3min
Table 2: 2nd trial
Amount of saltwater Amount of Hydrogen Peroxide Brightness Time lasted (light)
400mL 5mL bright 2.3min.
400mL 10mL bright 2.5min
400mL 15mL brighter 3.4min
Table 3: 3rd trial
Amount of saltwater Amount of Hydrogen Peroxide Brightness Time lasted (light)
500mL 5mL bright 2.5min.
500mL 10mL bright 2.6min
500mL 15mL bright 3.5min
In the first trial, 300ml of saltwater was used in the experiment but there are different amount of Hydrogen Peroxide. Based on the results observed, the amount of Hydrogen Peroxide used affects the brightness and the time lasted by the bulb to light.
In the second trial, more amount of saltwater was used but the same amount, as the first trial;, of the Hydrogen Peroxide was added. The brightness was affected by the different amount of saltwater and the time was longer with the help of the Hydrogen Peroxide.
In the third trial, more amount of hydrogen peroxide was added. The brightness was the same as the second trial but the time was longer.
Chapter V
Conclusion and Recommendation
It was concluded that the saltwater can be a source of energy. With the help of the Hydrogen Peroxide, more energy can be gotten from the compound. The more saltwater that will be used, the longer time will the bulb light.
More experimentation and study is recommended by the researcher. Maybe there are cheaper products that can be used as an alternative for the Hydrogen peroxide, magnesium and iron electrodes.
Acknowledgements
The researcher would like to thank the almighty God for his guidance, Mrs. Balve Granido for the lessons she taught to make this investigatory project successful, to the parents whose support is untiring specially their financial support and to all classmates that gave their support willingly and for their help without demanding an exchange.
Bibliography
http://www.miniscience.com/projects/airbattery/ http://www.exo.net/~pauld/summer_institute/summerday15current/saltwaterwaterbattery.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/hydrogen_peroxide