Landfill in a Bottle:

Methane Production

Student Page

Adapted from an activity in Bottle Biology by Mrill Ingram, Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co., 1993.

Hypothesis: Methane is produced when organic material decomposes.

Materials:

2 Liter bottles with caps

Soil

Variety of organic material (grass clippings, fruit, leaves, vegetables, etc.)

Water

Funnel

Matches

Safety goggles

Procedure:

Methane is produced when organic material decomposes.

Using the funnel, pour about 5 cm of soil into the 2 liter bottle.
Put a variety of organic materials into the bottle. The bottle should be no more than 1/4 full.
Pour 500 mL of water into the bottle.
Cap the bottle tightly.
Shake the bottle to mix the contents
Put the bottle in a warm and sunny location.
Leave the bottle capped for 4 days.
Discuss ideas for control bottles and set them up.
Put on your safety goggles.
Light the end of the wooden splint.
Dim the lights in the room.
While one person unscrews the cap a second person should hold the lit end of the splint over the opening of the bottle.

Observations: Record your observations in the space below. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Conclusion:: Did your observations support your hypothesis? Defend your answer.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Follow up:: On a separate piece of paper name one variable in this experiment that you could investigate in a follow up experiment. Describe how you could carry out this experiment.

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