I.
Format and Title Page:
The Effects of Acid Rain on Building Materials
Theodore Sauyet
Partners: Cecelia Tamburro, Joey Day
Mrs. Spinelli
Acid Rain Lab Report
II.
Introduction:
Problem:
Acid rain has a varying affect upon various building materials.
Background:
Acid rain is rain with a pH below 5.6. This lowered pH is the result from pollution by
cars, factories, volcanoes, and the like. This rain disrupts plant growth, as all plants
operate within a certain pH range. Also, extremely acidic acid can dissolve many
things, from rubber to aluminum. So, rain with an extreme pH could be extremely
dangerous.
Many buildings made from limestone and marble have stood for thousands of years,
so these may be the strongest acid rain resistant. However, acid rain is a fairly new
development, mainly arising from within the last century.
Hypothesis:
If the resistance to acid of various building materials is tested, then limestone will
have the greatest resistance because it is often used to build with.
Variables:
Independent:
Time
Dependent:
Weight
Control:
Amount of Acid
III.
Materials:
1. 4 Containers with matching lids.
2. Graduated cylinder
3. Acetic Acid
4. pH paper
5. Safety goggles
6. Masking Tape
7. Limestone Chips
8. Marble Chips
9. Red Sandstone chips
10. Granite
11. Triple beam balance
12. Tweezers
13. Pencil/Pen
14. Paper
IV.
Safety:
Not getting the acid in anyone’s eyes.
Not throwing the rocks.
V.
Procedure:
1. (Day 1) Label all the containers with name, date, period, rock type.
2. Zero the balance.
3. Create a data table.
4. Weight out 10 grams of each substance and record weight.
5. Make qualitative observations & record.
6. Place each sample in its respective container.
7. Find the pH of all samples & record.
8. Place the lid on the container and shake it.
9. Replace on counter.
10. (Day 2) Find the pH of all samples and record.
11. Remove the rock sample using tweezers and dry as best as possible without
damaging it.
12. Find the mass of the dried sample and record.
13. Record all qualitative data.
14. Put the sample back in the container and shake.
15. Replace on the counter.
16. Replace steps 10-15 with the other samples.
17. (Day 3) Find the pH of all samples.
18. Remove the rock sample using tweezers and dry as best as possible without
damaging it.
19. Find the mass of the dried sample and record.
20. Record all qualitative data.
21. Repeat steps 17-20 with the other samples.’
22. Place all samples in trash.
23. Wash out containers and put away all supplies.
VI.
Data/Observations/Calculations:
Limestone:
Mass (g)
pH
Qualitative
Marble:
Mass (g)
pH
Qualitative
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
10
4
Black/White, very
fine speckled gray,
rugged, powdered.
9.6
4
Uniformly gray,
sharp edges.
9.2
5
Smooth faces,
sharp edges, gray
with black
speckles.
10
2
White, powdery,
9.7
4
Off-white,
9
5
Off-white, sparkly,
Sandstone:
Mass (g)
pH
Qualitative
Granite:
Mass (g)
pH
Qualitative
VII.
rough faces,
smooth edges.
powders easily,
smooth edges.
small potholes.
10
3
Reddish Brown,
Coarse chunks
9.9
4
Big chunks
burgundy, sharp
edges, smooth
sides.
9.8
4
Large chunks,
smooth edges,
sharp corners.
10
2
Multiple colors,
very smooth.
9.9
2
Different colors,
clear acid,
roughish, smoother
than other rocks
9.8
3
Variety of shapes
& colors, all
smooth.
Analysis and conclusion:
The hypothesis was: if the resistance to acid of various building materials is tested,
then limestone will have the greatest resistance because it is often used to build with.
This was not proved; in fact it was disproved by the data. Limestone had the lowest
weight at the end of three days, 9.2g to 9.8g for the highest. Also, the pH of the
limestone acid was closer to the minimal pH for acid rain, 4 to start vs. the others of 2
or 3. Seeing as 4 is closer to 5.6 than 2 or 3, it eliminates the possibility that limestone
would fare better closer to the normal acid rain pH.
On the second day only one member of the group showed up. This member of the
group also happened to have a broken collarbone; so several things might have gone
wrong, measurements being among them. Also, the rocks on the second and third
days the samples were not given enough time to dry off completely and therefore all
measurements are higher than they should be. The third thing that went wrong was
the fact that when removing the samples from the acid, small particles of rock could
be seen in the acid. This means that not every part of the sample was measured,
making the measurements just slightly below what they should have been. While
these may seem to cancel each other out, they are in fact higher because much more
acid was absorbed than particles left behind.
The lab could be improved if the samples could be run through a filter after being in
the acid and given several days to dry, in order to arrive at the correct weight for the
sample. Also, if the samples were what would have been used in the building it more
accurately could have tested whether or not the finished buildings were susceptible to
acid rain, rather than the raw material.