Name: ___________________
Class: _________
Student Directions: Read the following sections and answer each question using your knowledge of
science and the information provided.
Section 1
Background Text
In class, while learning about weather, Joe and Jackie learned that all rain has some acid in it. However, in places where
large amounts of smoke are released into the air, gases such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are released from
smoke into the air. In the air, these acidic gases become water droplets that make up clouds. Then these acids are
released in the form of rain back to the earth. Acid rain harms the environment by killing seeds and eggs of many plants
and animals. It also weathers and wears away parts of rock thus decreasing their size and mass.
Joe and Jackie’s teacher showed the class how an acidic solution of water mixed with vinegar could cause the rock,
Limestone to weather away just like when acid rain comes into contact with limestone in nature. This happens because
when an acidic solution such as acid rain comes into contact with Limestone a chemical reaction occurs that causes the
rock to weather and wear away. The bubbling that occurs when acid rain comes into contact with the Limestone
demonstrates that a chemical reaction occurred and caused a new substance to form (the gas in the bubbles). Picture 1
shows the bubbles formed from the chemical reaction of the acid rain and Limestone interacting. Picture 2 shows the
effect of acid rain on a Limestone statue over time.
Acid rain and Limestone
Picture 1
Picture 2
Joe and Jackie designed an experiment to study the effects acid rain has on the weathering and wearing away of rocks
over time. They used a vinegar and water mixture to make the acid rain and tested it with 3 different rocks. They
poured the acid rain over the 3 rock types for 3 months. They measured the mass of each rock to see how much of the
total mass was lost due to the weathering of the rock. Each month they recorded the amount of mass lost due to
weathering.
Table 1:
Trial #
Rock 1
Rock 2
Rock 3
Average
Total Mass Loss of Weathered Rock by Acid Rain Over Time
1 month
2 months
3 months
5g
10 g
15 g
7g
12 g
17 g
8g
15 g
20 g
6.7 g
8.4 g
17.3 g
Part 1- Organize and Present Data
1) Calculate the averages for the total mass of rock weathered away each month. Use the averaged data to
construct a line graph (below) to show how acid rain affects the total mass of a rock due to weathering.
Be sure to:
Average Total Mass Loss of Weathered Rock (g)
Effect of Acid Rain on the Total Mass of a Rock
Time in Months
Part 2- Analyze Data and Construct Explanations
2a. Use evidence to explain the trends in your graph.
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2b. What can you conclude about the effects of acid rain overtime on the amount of rock that weathers away. Use
evidence to support your answer.
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Part 3- Critique a Hypothesis
Before Joe and Jackie did their experiment, they formed the following Hypothesis:
Hypothesis: Rocks will weather away and lose mass if acid rain is applied. If we design an experiment using random
rocks from our neighborhood then the weathering rate will be the same because we live in the same town.
3. Your teacher asks you to identify the strength and limitations of Joe and Jackie’s hypothesis. Be sure to use
information and evidence from their experiment and the background information in your explanation.
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