Getting the nation’s largest subway system back up and running at full speed is crucial to New York City’s recovery from superstorm Sandy. But it is likely to be a long, complicated, and very expensive task. Jason Lindsey aka “Mr. Science” with Hooked on Science explains why by using a few ingredients from around the house.

Ingredients

n 2 Transparent Cups

n Warm Water

n Salt

n 2 White Plates

n 2 Steel Wool Pads

Instructions

n STEP 1: Fill each cup ¾ of the way with warm water. Mix 3 tablespoons of salt into one of the cups of warm water. Label the cup “saltwater.”

n STEP 2: Place one of the steel wool pads into the cup of saltwater and one of the steel wool pads into the cup of water without salt.

n STEP 3: After 5 minutes place the steel wool pad in the saltwater onto a white plate and the steel wool pad in the water without the salt onto the other white plate. Wait a few days and observe.

Explanation

After a few days the steel wool pad in the saltwater will have more rust. The salt makes the water a better conductor. That means more electricity can pass through, which produces more oxygen. The more oxygen present the more rust forms. Go to www.hookedonscience.org for more experiments that might get you and your family “Hooked on Science.”