Pesticides
Gutter, Nadine Robeson High School
723-1700
Objectives
1. The student will understand the definition of a pesticide.
2. They will recognize why pesticides are used.
3. The student will understand why certain pesticides are no longer
used.
4. The student will be able to make a judgement about the use of
pesticides.
5. The student will understand the nature of an enzyme.
Materials
a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables
petri dishes
water
vegetable oil
florence flask
a variety of pesticide containers
naphthalene
data sheets
damaged fruits/vegetables/leaves
labels
graduated cylinders
two small stuffed animals exactly alike
sewing needle
thread
black tape
two small plants exactly alike
wood splints, cotton balls, paper, cotton cloth
Recommended Strategy
Preplanning
1. Display the fresh fruits and vegetables and the pesticide containers
on the demonstration table.
2. Pour about 20 mL of the vegetable oil into a florence flask and label
it "human body fat".
3. Pour about 20 mL of the water into a florence flask and label the
flask H20.
4. Place a small amount of the naphthalene crystals into a petri dish
and label the dish "DDT"".
5. Prepare the two small stuffed animals by labeling them as baby #1
and baby #2. Tape or sew back the ears, arm, eyes, nose, etc. of #2.
6. Prepare the two plants by labeling them as plant #1 and
plant #2. Remove the leaves from plant #2.
Introduction
Begin the demonstration by having the students observe the damaged
vegetables/fruits/leaves. Get some oral responses to the question,
"what happened to this produce?" Have students circle demo table to
observe the fruit/vegetable display. Ask students if they can get the
same or better quality items near where they live. Relate quality and
quantity of produce to pesticide use by farmers. At this time you
should point out the different types of pesticides that were brought in
the containers on the demo table. Briefly discuss pesticide use in
relation to limited resources and growing world populations. Tell
students that chemists are constantly working to produce pesticides
that do not have negative effects on the environment.
Procedure
1. Discuss the pesticide classes chlorinated hydrocarbons, defoliants
and organophosphates in this order. The student should record the
class, name, helpful and harmful effects of a particular pesticide on
his data sheet.
2. Demonstrate the actions and effect of the pesticides by simulation.
Below are some simulations which show actions and effect of some
pesticides. Students should do each simulation before the action or
effect of the pesticide is covered in the discussion.
action/effect simulation
a)how DDT builds up in the bodies drop a few of the naphthalene
of aquatic animals and plants crystals into a florence flask
mammals eat filled with 20 mL of water
b)how DDT builds up in toxic drop a few of the naphthalene
amounts in the fatty tissues of crystals into a florence flask
mammals filled with 20 mL of vegetable oil
c)to show the effect of defoliants use plant #1 and plant #2
on forest use cotton and cotton cloth
d)to show defoliant effect after a use wood splints and paper
second application (losses to industry)
e)to show birth defects caused by use baby #1 and baby #2
defoliants
f)to show how organophosphates have students contract and
inhibit the enzyme relax their arm muscles:then
acetylcholinesterase have them continuously
contract the arm muscle 5
or 6 more times
3. At the end of the demo ask students the following questions:
On the basis of the data collected,decide if:
a) pesticides should be continued to be used
b) pesticide use should be banned
c) chemist should continue working to develope pesticides that do not
produce negative effects on the environment. Give reasons for your
answer.
References
Medeiros, Robert W. Chemistry, A Modern Perspective. D. Van Nostrand Company:
New York, London, Cincinnati, Toronto, Melbourne, 1973. pp. 300-314.
Jarvis, Bruce and Paul Mazzocchi. Form and Function. Harper and Row:
New York, Hagerstown, San Francisco, London, 1978. pp. 12-60.
Stryer, Lubert. Biochemistry. W. H. Freeman and Company: San Francisco,
California, 1981. pp880-893.
Cram, Donald and Jane. The Essence of Organic Chemistry. Addison-Wesley
Publishing Company: Menlo Park, California, 1978. p. 139.
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