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Absorption

Absorption is when a material soaks up a liquid or gas and holds it inside.

Think of it this way

A dry sponge sits next to a bowl of water. You press the sponge into the bowl, and it pulls the water in. The water fills the tiny holes inside the sponge and stays there. Lift the sponge out, and it holds the water inside its body.

Explaining absorption by grade level

Think about cleaning up an oil spill with a pad. The pad soaks up the oil like a sponge soaks up water. The oil goes into tiny holes inside the pad. Some pads soak up more oil than others.

Projects that explore absorption

Detergent Types and Oil Spill Cleanup

When a material soaks up a liquid and holds it inside, that is absorption in action. Polypropylene pads work this way during oil spill cleanup — they draw oil out of water and trap it inside. Adding detergent to the mixture, though, may change everything. The question is whether detergent helps the pads soak up oil more effectively, or whether it blocks absorption altogether.

Medium