In this Activity, students compare several different window cleaner recipes to determine the purpose each ingredient in a window cleaner serves. They use different combinations of water (solvent), isopropyl alcohol (wetting agent), and ammonia (grease cutter). They then develop their own "New and Improved" recipe to test its performance against commercial window cleaner. The Activity ties in with consumer chemistry. Instructors could also discuss the hydrolysis reaction between ammonia and a fat that allows ammonia to work well as a grease cutter. Interdisciplinary extensions for art, business, and language arts classes could be to develop a marketing campaign for a window cleaner, including written advertisements, videotaped commercials, and container designs.
Journal Staff; 2002, 79, 1360A.