Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

i am extremely behind schedule and im still in the beginning stages.

my idea is to test the effect of electrolytes on organisms like daphnia (spelling?). however i need to be more specific on what electrolytes to use and how to use them.

if anyone has ANY ideas about this, i beg you to help me.

Thanks,
Aaron

Aaron,

You may want to repost this question on the Life Sciences section. It would probably get you a more informed response.

I played with one of those lettle buggers too. In high school 40 years ago. Then when I was in college engineering school, I discovered my great presentation on the electric field of the bug was actually amplifier noise.

With pure water, nothing happened. With salt water, the bug died. With a little salt, it "worked" a little better.

Probably no help to you, but I thought you might like the story. You also spelled it correctly.

More specifically, the electrolyte should reflect what your objective is and how you are trying to measure what ever it is.

If it is electrical, you need to ionize the water for conductivity. Just be sure the measurement does not disturb what you are trying to measure.

If it is chemical, such as the effect of alcohol, caffene, sugar, etc. you are heading away from what I can help you with.

Robert Reavis