Corrosion of Acid Rain

Juliana LamondGrade 9

The Problem

• How does acid rain affect different materials?• I wanted to see how different materials would corrode over

time• Would wonders of the world always be there to enjoy, how

would acid rain affect them?

Acid Rain

• Pollutants go in air (sulfur dioxides, nitrogen oxides)• React with water molecules• Convert to acids• Acid deposition- wet deposition• Lack of plant growth, animals, bacteria• Freshwater• Buildings• Takes years to show the effect

Hypothesis

• If rocks, plants, sticks, and metals are soaked in acids similar to acid rain, then metal will corrode the most.

Materials

• Gloves• Eye goggles• 25 ml Sulfric acid• 25 ml Nitric acid• 25 ml Tap water• 2 plants• 4 beakers• Stick• Rock• Nail• Screw• Scale

Procedure

• Acidic solution was poured into various cups (the control)• 25 ml each of sulfric, nitric, and water• One plant was watered with solution, one with tap water• Different materials were weighed and placed in cups• After 24 hours, different materials were removed

Graphs

0 5 10 15 20 25 300

0.5

1

1.5Nail

Grams

Number of Hours Soaked0 5 10 15 20 25 30

19202122232425

Screw

Grams

Number of Hours Soaked

Conclusion

• If rocks, plants, sticks, and metals are soaked in acids similar to acid rain, then metal will corrode the most.

• Nail- lost .94 grams• Screw- lost 3.24 grams• The rock and stick did not corrode• Was supported, metals corroded the most• More trials• The plant watered with the acidic solution turned brown and

died, and the plant watered with tap water stayed healthy

Thank You!

• Effects of Acid Rain. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2009. http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/thomas.wolosz/acid_rain.htm.

• Essortment. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2009. <http://www.essortment.com/all/ acidraineffect_rqmz.htm>. • ScienceMaster. N.p., 2009. Web. 15 Nov. 2009. <http://www.sciencemaster.com/ jump/earth/acid_rain.php> • Sugar, Photosynthesis, and pH Tests Reveal Inhibitory Effect of Acid Rain on Hedera helix L. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2009. <https://www.msu.edu/

course/lb/145/luckie/inquiriesS2005/streamI/FlyingHellfish/hellfish.html>.

• US Enviornmental Protection Agency. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2009. <http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/effects/>.

• Conservation Association. "Acid Rain." Green Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2010. <http://www.greeneducation.org.hk/English/focus/ acid_rain_eng.htm>.