Collaborators: Julianne Rodgers, Samantha Smithers, Logan Shytle, and Kylee

Brown
Introduction and Problem:
According to the EPA, Acid rain is a broad term referring to a mixture of wet and dry
deposited material from the atmosphere that contain higher than normal amounts
of nitric and sulfuric acids. Wet deposition refers to acidic rain, fog, and snow. As
this acidic water flows over and through the ground, it affects a variety of plants
and animals. The severity of the effects depends mainly on how acidic the water is,
but it also can depend on the chemistry, buffering, and the types of plants and
animals that consume it. In areas where the weather is dry, the acid chemicals may
become dust or smoke and fall to the ground through dry deposition, sticking to the
ground, buildings, homes, cars, and trees.
The precursors of acid rain formation result from both natural sources, such as
decaying vegetation, and man-made sources, primarily emissions of sulfur dioxide
(SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) resulting from fossil fuel combustion. For instance,
electric power generation relies on burning fossil fuels, like coal. Acid rain occurs
when these gases react in the atmosphere with water, oxygen, and other chemicals
to form various acidic compounds. The result is a mild solution of sulfuric acid and
nitric acid. When sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released from power plants
and other sources, prevailing wind blow these compounds across state and national
borders, sometimes over hundreds of miles.
Acid rain causes acidification of lakes and streams and contributes to the damage
of trees at high elevations (for example, red spruce trees above 2,000 feet) and
many sensitive forest soils. In addition, acid rain accelerates the decay of building
materials and paints, including irreplaceable buildings, statues, and sculptures that
are part of our nation's cultural heritage. Prior to falling to the earth, sulfur dioxide
(SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) gases and their particulate matter derivatives
sulfates and nitratescontribute to visibility degradation and harm public health
(EPA). Overall, due to our heavy use of fossil fuels, and our dependence on
automobiles, acid rain has caused a plethora of ill effects since the Industrial
Revolution and will continue to be an issue. One of its most profound effects is upon
vegetation. Problem: The problem addressed in this experiment is the question:
What are the effects of acid rain on vegetation (grass)?
Hypothesis: If we test the effects of acid rain on grass, then the grass tested with
just water will grow 3 cm and the grass tested with acidic water will decrease by 2
cm.
Materials:
3 bottles of grass
water
Sulfuric acid
Sunlight

Parts of the Experiment:

Control group: grass without sulfuric acid

Experimental group: grass with varying amounts of sulfuric acid
Independent variable: percent concentration of water and sulfuric acid
Dependent variable: height of grass and health and color
Controlled variables: amount of sunlight, placement of bottles, days watered.

Procedure:
(The grass and bottles were already prepared from a previous lab)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Cut the grass so that all three bottles have the same height.
Find the pH of the water source.
Measure 100 mL of 6 pH, 3 pH, and 1.5 pH.
Pour 100mL of the 3 different water samples into 3 different grass samples.
Water the grass with their specific concentration every other day.
Record the data before and after.

Data:
Group

A (control)

pH level applied
after observations
of original was
taken
6

1.5

Group

pH level after
duration

A (control)

Original condition
of the grass

Height of grass

Original height,
color, and health
(green and
healthy).
Original height,
color, and health
(green and
healthy).
Original height,
color, and health
(green and
healthy).

2 inches

Conditions of the
grass after the
duration
medium root
length, thickest,
but thinner than
original length of
root
longest root

Height of grass

2 inches

2 inches

3.5 inches

4 inches

1.5

length, most
growth
thinner, tips are
brown (dead), dry,
shortest root
length

2 inches

Data Analysis:
In this lab, each group was required to pour 100m of different pH of water into three
different samples of grass. Sample A was the control group. The control group had
100 mL of just water (6pH) poured into it every other day. This sample started at
two inches tall, and after two weeks, it only grew an inch and a half. It started off
looking very healthy, green and thick, and after the duration it was only a little
thinner than how it originated. The second sample was sample B. This sample was
watered with 100 mL of 3 pH water. The original height was trimmed to two inches
tall, and it started off very healthy. After two weeks, the grass grew two inches,
having the most growth out of all of the samples. This sample grew the longest
roots, and maintained its healthiness and vibrant green color. Lastly, sample C was
watered for two weeks with 100 mL of 1.5 pH water. This sample started off the
equivalent to the other samples, very healthy, green, and thick. After the duration
of two weeks, this sample withered away, becoming decreasingly lush and
increasingly brittle and brown. The roots became substantially shorter and dry,
making the negative effects of pH evident. In result, sample B had the best turn out.
Although, when our results were compared to anothers, their control group had the
best results while our control group did not. This could be due difference in
tolerance levels of the plants. Some plants can tolerate more acidity than others.
Conclusion:
In this lab, the hypothesis being: If we test the effects of acid rain on grass, then
the grass tested with just water will grow 3 cm and the grass tested with acidic
water will decrease by 2 cm was relatively supported by the results of the
experiment. The growth of the grass watered with regular water rather than acidic
water did in fact experience growth, but to the extent that was predicted. Though
the hypothesis did predict growth it did not state that the control group with
experience the most growth. In our experiment, sample B (not the control)
experienced the most growth of 2 inches, having a length of 4 inches in total. From
the lab, it was determined that our specie of grass was tolerant to a certain amount
of acidity in the water. When comparing our information to another group's, we
found that their control reaped the best results while our groups best result resided
in the plant watered with a small dose of acidity. This could be attributed to various
things, like tolerance levels. Their plant may be very sensitive to acidic water, while
ours may be able to tolerate more. Also, human error could be a reason as to why
our group's control group did not produce the best results. Error could be found in
when and how the plants were watered, as well as the consistency in sunlight and
pH levels.

Two elements, sulfur and nitrogen, are primarily responsible for the harmful effects
of acid rain. Sulfur is found as a trace element in coal and oil. When these are
burned in power plants and industrial boilers, the sulfur combines with oxygen to
form sulfur dioxide (SO2). Nitrogen makes up about 78% of the atmosphere. When
heated to the temperatures found in steam boilers and internal combustion engines,
it can combine with oxygen from the atmosphere to form nitrogen oxide and
nitrogen dioxide. Nitrogen oxide and Sulfur dioxide can come from natural or human
made (anthropogenic) sources.Volcanoes and sea spray are typical natural sources
of SO2. Lightning is the most common natural source of NOx. Contributions from
natural sources are generally small compared to those from anthropogenic sources.
According to the EPA, the sources of anthropogenic emissions of pollutants can be
divided into 3 groups: point sources, area sources, and mobile sources. Point
sources include factories, power plants, and any other large "smoke stack" facilities.
Area sources consist of smaller facilities which occur in greater numbers. These
include residential heating equipment, small industry, and other categories in which
it is impractical to analyze each individual emission source. Mobile sources include
anything that can move.
Acid rain has many effects on natural and man-made materials. Acid rain
accelerates the decay of building materials and paints, including irreplaceable
buildings, statues, and sculptures that are part of our nation's cultural heritage"
(EPA). This is not only an issue for humans, but it is also a major issue for plants and
animals. Acid rain can cause the premature death of many plants, and once it
contaminates water, it can poison the animals dwelling in such waters. The most
obvious environmental effect of acid rain has been the loss of fish in acid sensitive
lakes and streams. According to the EPA, acid rain affects lakes and streams in two
ways: chronic and episodic. Chronic is the long-term acidification results from years
of acidic rainfall. It reduces the buffering capacity and increases the acidity of the
water. Episodic acidification is a sudden jump in the acidity of the water. This can
result from a heavy rainstorm. In regards to forests, trees lose their natural defenses
due to acid rain, making them more vulnerable to diseases. Acid rain also deposits
nitrates, leaving the soil with high levels of nitrogen. Nitrogen is an important plant
nutrient, but some forest systems may not be able to use all they receive, leading to
nitrogen saturation. If runoff were to occur, it could cause eutrophication in lakes.
Thus, leading to unwanted growth of algae and the death of fish and other plants.
Acid rain has devastating effects, causing issues for humans as well as plants and
animals. As humans continue to utilize fossil fuel as an energy source, and as
transportation vehicles become more and more prevalent throughout the world, we
may find ourselves in a situation of immense ecosystem damage and destruction.
Reducing the use of fossil fuels through a greater use of clean energy, such as wind
or solar power, is necessary to reduce acid deposition: While we have made
progress in reducing the acidity of rainfall, and are beginning to see positive effects
in our environment, it is not yet possible to declare victory. We still must continue to
reduce our emissions of atmospheric pollutants. Clean fuels, renewable energy and
increased efficiency are important ways to reduce our dependence on coal and oil
as a source of energy (EPA).

Citations:
"Environmental Effects of Acid Rain." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d.
Web. 01 May 2015. <http://www.epa.gov/region1/eco/acidrain/enveffects.html>.
"Acid Rain Facts, Acid Rain Information, Acid Rain Pictures, Acid Rain Effects National Geographic." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2015.

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