Andrew's Senior Project: Copper Sulfate & Plant Development

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around an experiment conducted by Andrew, a 12th-grade student, exploring the physical effects of copper sulfate on early plant development. Participants share observations, experiences, and relevant information regarding copper sulfate's impact on plants and its applications in various fields.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Andrew presents his senior project on the effects of copper sulfate on plant development and invites feedback.
  • Some participants express surprise at the potential issues copper sulfate poses for plants.
  • One participant mentions the unique flora that has evolved in areas with historical copper mining, indicating the metal's toxicity to plants.
  • Another participant shares their own experience with copper sulfate and copper nanoparticles in toxicity assays, noting interest in the effects on different plant species.
  • Participants discuss the use of copper sulfate as a fungicide in agriculture and aquaculture, with one sharing personal experiences related to its application in golf course water hazards.
  • There are mentions of using copper-based products for algae control in pools.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the relevance and applications of copper sulfate, but there are varying perspectives on its effects on plants and its broader implications, indicating that multiple views remain in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some participants reference specific concentrations and applications of copper sulfate, but the discussion does not resolve the potential impacts on plant health or the nuances of its use in different contexts.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to students, educators, and professionals in agriculture, environmental science, and botany, as well as those curious about the effects of chemical substances on plant development.

Andrew333
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Hello, I'm Andrew and I'm in 12th grade. If you are interested, I would like to share a presentation showing the process, observations, results of an experiment showing the physical effects copper sulfate can have on early plant development. I, with much help from some intelligent members of Physics Forums, completed this experiment as my senior project and wish to contribute the results in some way to a science community that may find the information possibly useful or, at the least, interesting. The link below should direct you to it. Please leave a reply to this thread if you have any thoughts, questions, or corrections. Enjoy and thank you very much.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1didDWgExe3VjG1DSgEdOFnfRarr92K0bR_8l_95k3rs/edit?usp=sharing
 
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Very nice! I wasn't even aware copper sulfate was an issue for plants!
 
The old tailings zones from eg UK's prehistoric & Roman copper mines have a distinct flora, of strains evolved to tolerate the metal's toxicity.

Also, IIRC, when a pH-reagent mix-up at a water treatment plant in UK liberated a surfeit of copper ions from the area's domestic piping, a lot of people took ill...
 
Andrew333 said:
Hello, I'm Andrew and I'm in 12th grade. If you are interested, I would like to share a presentation showing the process, observations, results of an experiment showing the physical effects copper sulfate can have on early plant development. I, with much help from some intelligent members of Physics Forums, completed this experiment as my senior project and wish to contribute the results in some way to a science community that may find the information possibly useful or, at the least, interesting. The link below should direct you to it. Please leave a reply to this thread if you have any thoughts, questions, or corrections. Enjoy and thank you very much.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1didDWgExe3VjG1DSgEdOFnfRarr92K0bR_8l_95k3rs/edit?usp=sharing

Very nice Andrew. During my Bachelor studies I have also worked with Copper sulfate and some copper nanoparticles for toxicity assays. It is interesting to see the effects on a different plant species now. Keep up the good work!
 
Nice project Andrew! And thanks for keeping us updated on it, it is appreciated.

For those not familiar with it, Copper Sulfate is used in low concentrations (50ppm), as a fungicide in both agriculture and aquaculture. I used to live near a golf course where the water hazards (ponds) were periodically treated with Copper Sulfate to kill the algae without harming the fish.

Again, Nice Job.
Tom

(p.s. other uses at: https://www.greenwaybiotech.com/blogs/news/7-reasons-to-keep-copper-sulfate-handy-in-your-home)
 
Tom.G said:
For those not familiar with it, Copper Sulfate is used in low concentrations (50ppm), as a fungicide in both agriculture and aquaculture. I used to live near a golf course where the water hazards (ponds) were periodically treated with Copper Sulfate to kill the algae without harming the fish.

Now that you mention it, I think I used to treat my pool with a copper based product to kill the algae that would grow.
 

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