Duckweed Experiment

The hypothesis was rejected in this experiment, based on the results. The results were much different than hypothesized before the experiment. It was hypothesized that the lower concentrations of CLR, Jar E and Jar D, would be healthier and more likely to reproduce than the higher concentrations of CLR, Jar B and C. However, as shown in the actual results, Jar E and D with the lower concentrations of CLR died quicker than Jar B and C. The CLR and water solutions acted as a fertilizer, so the greater the amount of CLR, the longer it stayed healthy or, in the case of Jar C, it even helps the duckweed fronds to reproduce. Ingredients in CLR, when mixed at a certain ratio with water, is actually helpful to the duckweed. There are many experimental
errors that may have and did happen to cause skepticism in the results. In Jar C, a spider fell into the solution and died, which may have been what caused the growth in Jar C but not in any of the other jars. The water mixed in with the CLR was regular tap water and any bacteria in there may have encouraged or prevented growth in the duckweed. Purifying the water used in the experiment may have produced different results or they may just be more accurate or even the same results.
Covering the jars with a thin mesh cover, which would have prevented the spider from falling in but still would allow air to reach the experiment, would have very likely caused different results in Jar C. If the spider had not fallen into the jar, Jar C may have produced the same results as the rest of the jars instead of being an outlier in the experiment. When picking out the duckweed, the selection could have been more accurate or specific, picking duckweed that would have been more similar in size and root length. Some of the duckweed that was selected may have been already reproducing, making there seem as if there is growth in the duckweed when actually the extra frond was just missed when looking over. The experiments of other groups were similar and yet different from this one. The duckweed in many other groups died faster the higher the concentration of whatever substance was being mixed in with the water. In the lower concentration jars or beakers, the duckweed still died, but not as quickly; however in this experiment, the lower the concentration of CLR, the faster the duckweed
died. The chemical substances used in the groups, seemed to prevent the reproduction of duckweed or it just eliminated some fronds altogether. When using CLR at home, there is minimal concern with damaging the environment if there was a spill or something similar. In fact, CLR can even be used to help plants, not necessarily at a fertilizer, but as lime remover if you have build up on plants leaves from using hard water. However, most other chemicals that are used at home should be watched; much damage can be caused from careless use or storage of chemicals.