The Effect of Acid Rain on Plants

Susan Base, Jessica Best, Amy Crook, and Tya Dawson

Materials

• greenhouse

• 5 half flats

• 180 bean seeds

• Acids of varying pHs

• Distilled water - to serve

as a control

•Soil Soil

•Digital camera - to record Digital camera - to record

appearanceappearance

•Rulers to record growth Rulers to record growth

(height in cm) of the plants(height in cm) of the plants

Research Questions

1. How will different concentrations of acid affect

the growth and appearance of bean plants?

2. At what rate will each group of plants

deteriorate?

3. What is the ideal acidity of liquid for the bean

plants to thrive?

4. How does this relate to acid rain in our

environment?

Research Questions

1.The lower the pH level the more damage caused

to the plants. Measurements for 11/22/02

Plant # of Days Level of Acidity Height (cm) Appearance#1 24 pH-1 12 Poor#2 24 pH-1 22.9 Poor# 3 24 pH-1 20.2 Poor#4 24 pH-1 19.1 Poor#5 24 pH-1 16.7 Poor#6 24 pH-1 15.9 Poor#7 24 pH-1 18.8 Poor#8 24 pH-1 24.2 Poor#9 24 pH-1 23.3 Poor

#10 24 pH-1 13.3 Poor#11 24 pH-1 18.1 Poor#12 24 pH-1 11.7 Poor#13 24 pH-1 21.5 Poor#14 24 pH-1 22.3 Poor#15 24 pH-1 18 Poor#16 24 pH-1 20.6 Poor#17 24 pH-1 17.7 Poor#18 24 pH-1 19.1 Poor

Research Questions

2. Deterioration: the decline in the health and

growth of the plants in the specified tray.

Control: most successful

pH-1: least successful of the acid groups

Nitric: most successful of the acid groups

Research Questions

3. The ideal acidity would contain pH levels between 5 and 7,

similar to that of water.Measurements for 11/22/02

Type # of Days Level of Acidity Height (cm) AppearancepH5 24 pH5 44.6 GoodpH5 24 pH5 23.2 GoodpH5 24 pH5 29.1 GoodpH5 24 pH5 26 GoodpH5 24 pH5 27.2 GoodpH5 24 pH5 16.1 GoodpH5 24 pH5 26.5 GoodpH5 24 pH5 24.2 GoodpH5 24 pH5 28.7 GoodpH5 24 pH5 17.6 GoodpH5 24 pH5 24.1 GoodpH5 24 pH5 25.7 GoodpH5 24 pH5 27.5 GoodpH5 24 pH5 28 GoodpH5 24 pH5 25.3 GoodpH5 24 pH5 24.5 GoodpH5 24 pH5 26 GoodpH5 24 pH5 22.6 Good

Research Questions

4. Serves as a model to acid rain to our because the

higher acid concentration the less likely plants would

be able to survive Measurements for 11/22/02Plant # of Days Level of Acidity Height (cm) Appearance

#1 24 pH-1 12 Poor#2 24 pH-1 22.9 Poor# 3 24 pH-1 20.2 Poor#4 24 pH-1 19.1 Poor#5 24 pH-1 16.7 Poor#6 24 pH-1 15.9 Poor#7 24 pH-1 18.8 Poor#8 24 pH-1 24.2 Poor#9 24 pH-1 23.3 Poor#10 24 pH-1 13.3 Poor#11 24 pH-1 18.1 Poor#12 24 pH-1 11.7 Poor#13 24 pH-1 21.5 Poor#14 24 pH-1 22.3 Poor#15 24 pH-1 18 Poor#16 24 pH-1 20.6 Poor#17 24 pH-1 17.7 Poor#18 24 pH-1 19.1 Poor

The Five Groups of Plants

Control Group: Tray 1Distilled Water

BEFORE

Control Group: Tray 1Distilled Water

AFTER

pH -1 : Tray 2BEFORE

pH -1 : Tray 2AFTER

pH 1 : Tray 3BEFORE

pH 1 : Tray 3AFTER

pH 4 : Tray 4BEFORE

pH 4 : Tray 4AFTER

pH5 : Tray 5BEFORE

pH5 : Tray 5 AFTER

Descriptive Statisticsby solution

Bar Chart of Solution and Appearance

Final Appearance

Final Height Measurements

Methods/ProcessMethods/Process Watered/Measured on November 12th,16th,19th,22ndWatered/Measured on November 12th,16th,19th,22nd

Solutions measured in designated squirt bottlesSolutions measured in designated squirt bottles

Same person measured her designated tray.Same person measured her designated tray.

Only one person took photographs to ensure appearance accuracyOnly one person took photographs to ensure appearance accuracy

We will first calculate the amount of acid to add to the distilled water to We will first calculate the amount of acid to add to the distilled water to

obtain the desired pH. obtain the desired pH.

Hypothesis based on our Hypothesis based on our processprocess

The concentration of the acid used to water the plant will be inversely proportionate to The concentration of the acid used to water the plant will be inversely proportionate to

the height of plant growththe height of plant growth

The higher concentrations of acid will cause the leaves to turn yellow or be smaller The higher concentrations of acid will cause the leaves to turn yellow or be smaller

than the leaves of the plants that have been treated with lower concentrations of acid.than the leaves of the plants that have been treated with lower concentrations of acid.

The plants' rate of deterioration will depend on the concentration The plants' rate of deterioration will depend on the concentration

of the acid within waterof the acid within water

The plants treated with the higher acidic pH levels The plants treated with the higher acidic pH levels

will deteriorate more quickly than those with lower pH levels.will deteriorate more quickly than those with lower pH levels.

Acid Rain on a larger scaleAcid Rain on a larger scale

acid rain is a huge contributing factor to the harm of ecosystems. acid rain is a huge contributing factor to the harm of ecosystems.

Acid rain is generally made up of acidic gases that have dissolved in rain- Acid rain is generally made up of acidic gases that have dissolved in rain-

water. water.

Rain-water usually has a pH level of about 5Rain-water usually has a pH level of about 5

Acid Rain usually has an average pH level of 4.4, but it can be lowered to 4 Acid Rain usually has an average pH level of 4.4, but it can be lowered to 4

or even 3 due to the acidic gases in the environment. or even 3 due to the acidic gases in the environment.

These gases are generally the pollutants of energy companies and other These gases are generally the pollutants of energy companies and other

highly polluting sources in our environment.highly polluting sources in our environment.

Acid Rain Prevention

• SO2 emissions from power stations can be SO2 emissions from power stations can be reducedreduced

• Alternative energy sources such as hydroelectric, Alternative energy sources such as hydroelectric, wind, solar, and geothermal powers can be used wind, solar, and geothermal powers can be used instead of burning fossil fuelsinstead of burning fossil fuels

• Anything that consumes less energy overall Anything that consumes less energy overall should be usedshould be used