Home > Science Experiments > Dissolved Oxygen - Experiment 1 - Decay and Dissolved Oxygen: How does the amount of decaying matter affect the level of dissolved oxygen in water?

1. Printable Version
2. Download PDF
3. Cite this Page
4. Tweet This

Experiment 1
Decay and Dissolved Oxygen: How does the amount of decaying matter affect the level of dissolved oxygen in water?

Purpose/Hypothesis

In this experiment, you will allow different amounts of food to decay in water and measure any changes that occur in the level of dissolved oxygen.

To begin the experiment, use what you have learned about dissolved oxygen to make a guess about what will happen when the food starts to decay in the water. Will the level of dissolved oxygen in the water decrease or increase? Will the amount of change depend on the amount of decaying food? This educated guess, or prediction, is your hypothesisAn idea in the form of a statement that can be tested by observation and/or experiment.. A hypothesis should explain...

Join eNotes

The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:

eNotes Pass

1. Introduction
2. What affects the level of dissolved oxygen in water?
3. How does a low level of dissolved oxygen affect the ecosystem in the water?
4. Experiment 1 - Decay and Dissolved Oxygen: How does the amount of decaying matter affect the level of dissolved oxygen in water?
5. Experiment 2 - Goldfish Breath: How does a decrease in the dissolved oxygen level affect the breathing rate of goldfish?
6. Design Your Own Experiment