It's Our Air - 1-6 Making and Using Ozone Indicators
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
How can we find out if there is ozone in the air around our school?
Where on campus can we find the most ozone?
TIME NEEDED: 90 minutes
MATERIALS:
(included)
Potassium iodide
White filter paper
Cornstarch
Glass or plastic stirring rod
Measuring spoons
Masking tape
String
Hole punch
Small paint brush
Beaker, 250 ml
Distilled water
Aprons
Hot plate
Hot pad
Safety goggles (optional)
Low-temperature drying oven (optional)
Heat-safe glass plate (optional)
Microwave oven (optional)
Distilled water in a spray bottle
Thread
Psychrometer (optional)
Distilled water
Schoenbein color scale (included)
Relative humidity Schoenbein Number Chart (included)
TOPICS: ground-level ozone
TYPES: data collection, data analysis
NC ESSENTIAL STANDARDS for Earth/Environmental Science:
EEn.2.5.1. Summarize the structure and composition of our atmosphere
EEn.2.5.5 Explain how human activities affect air quality
MAKING AND USING OZONE INDICATORS ACTIVITY
In the hands-on activity, students check for the presence and relative amounts of ozone in the air using Schoenbein strips they make with filter paper, cornstarch, and potassium iodide.
MAKING AND USING OZONE INDICATORS - TEACHER TO TEACHER TIPS
The quick video below has tips for doing this activity from Mark Townley, an award-winning, North Carolina high school teacher. Mark helped develop It’s Our Air and has used each of these activities with his students.
OTHER MODULE 1 (AIR POLLUTANTS & THEIR SOURCES) ACTIVITIES AND VIDEOS
1-2 Combustion and Combustion Equations
1-4 The Criteria Pollutants and a Closer Look at Ozone
1-5 NC & Local Sources of Air Pollution
1-6 Making and Using Ozone Indicators (this activity)