What Absorbs

and Repels Water

Soak It Up!

What a mess! There is water everywhere! How will you clean it up? Materials that soak up liquid are absorbent. Not all solids can absorb liquids. Some solids repel liquid. Repel means push away.

What You Need

What You Do

1. Test the solids below. Will they absorb or repel water?
2. On a piece of paper, write what you think will happen.
3. Then, write what you see happen.

On a piece of paper, use a chart like the one below to record your predictions and observations.

Solid	Prediction	Observation
paper	absorb         repel	absorbs         repels
sponge	absorb         repel	absorbs         repels
plastic	absorb         repel	absorbs         repels
waxed paper	absorb         repel	absorbs         repels
cloth	absorb         repel	absorbs         repels

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Show What You Know!

Complete some questions about the reading selection by clicking “Begin Questions” below.