All Partners names: Ashley D, Erin M, Nicole B, Nathalie B

Date of Experiment: 1-8-16

Date of Laboratory Report: 1-8-16

Acid Rain Lab Report

INTRODUCTION
In this experiment the type of stone least affected by acid rain is being tested. All three types of stones were
expected to be affected by the acid rain, how much depended on the type of stone. Acid rain is caused by pollutants
being released into the air and condensing into rain, which falls down to the earth. Any rain with a pH of 5.5 or
lower is considered acid rain. As the acid rain falls to the earth it can erode stone which is sometimes used to build
monuments, buildings, and statues. It can also damage trees, and many other things.

PROBLEM
How does the the type of rock effect the change in mass when exposed to vinegar over a 4 day period?

HYPOTHESIS
If a piece limestone is exposed to vinegar than overtime the mass will decrease the most because the acid in the
vinegar will erode the substance and decrease its surface area the most.

VARIABLES
Independent Variable: Type of Stone (Limestone, Granite, Marble)
Dependent Variable:Change in mass of rock
`Constants:
-Volume of vinegar used (100 ml)
-Mass of stone
-Time soaked in vinegar (4 days)
-pH of vinegar
-surface area of stone
-all rocks pre-soaked in water
Control: Testing the same type of stone (3) with distilled water instead of vinegar

MATERIALS

Limestone
Marble
Granite
250mL beakers
Graduated cylinder
Distilled vinegar (Acetic Acid)
pH indicator
pH meter (digital)
Distilled water
Digital scale
Paper Towels

SAFETY
Make a bulleted list of all safety procedures conducted in the experiment (even if they werent on
the handout)
Wear goggles and aprons
No food or drinks in the lab
Wear close-toed shoes, roll back long sleeves, and pull back long hair

Carefully place rock samples in glass to not break the glass

PROCEDURE
1. Pre-soak all rock samples in distilled water for 24 hours.
2. Choose a sample of rock from the distilled water and pat dry with paper towels.
3. Place the rock sample of the zeroed scale. Add or remove rock samples until total mass reaches 50
grams (+/- 3 grams)
4. Record the initial mass of the sample in Data Table 1.
5. Place the rock sample into the properly labeled 250 mL beaker.
6. Using a graduated cylinder, measure out 100 mL of vinegar and pour into the labeled beaker with
the rock sample (replace vinegar with distilled water for control group).
7. Pour a small sample of vinegar and small sample of distilled water into separate beakers (from their
original samples)
8. Measure each solutions pH with a digital pH meter and with 5 drops of Universal Indicator
solution (Use the color chart provided to determine the initial pH)
9. Record initial pH and pH color in Data Table 1.
10. Allow the rock samples to soak in vinegar and distilled water for 4 days.
11. Remove all rock samples from the beaker using a pair of tweezers and place on a dry paper towel,
12. Pat the samples dry with another paper towel.
13. Place all samples on a zeroed scale.
14. Record final mass of samples in Data Table 1.
15. Repeat steps 8 and 9 to measure final pH.

Clean Up Procedure
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Return all rock sample to the correct beaker by the scales.

Discard of solution in the waste beaker in the hood.
Remove tape from beaker and throw away.
Wash and dry beaker and tweezers and return to lab cart.
Discard of paper towels in the trash bin.
Wash hands with soap and water.
Return goggles to cabinet.
Stand at your lab station for safety check by teacher.

RESULTS
Data Table
1: The
Effect of
Vinegar
on the
Change in
Mass of
Different
Building
Materials

Solution

Type of
Material

Initial
Mass
(g)

Final
Mass
(g)

Change
in Mass
(g)

Initial Final
pH
pH

Initial pH
Color
Final pH Color

Vinegar

Granite

47.4

47.3

-0.1

yellow

yellow

Vinegar Limestone

52.5

48.5

-4

5.2

yellow

blue-green

Vinegar

Marble

49.5

45.7

-3.8

yellow

blue-green

Distilled
Water

Granite

48

48.2

0.2

5.5

blue-green

green

Distilled
Water Limestone

50.6

50.6

7.1

blue-green

blue

Distilled
Water

49.6

49.4

-0.2

7.1

blue-green

blue

Marble

Calculations
The change in mass (g) was calculated by subtracting the initial mass (g) from the final mass (g). For example, to
get the change in mass (g) of limestone soaked in distilled water, subtract 50.6 grams from the final temperature of
50.6 grams to get a change in mass of 0 grams. The same calculations would be done for each type of stone and
solution for each trial performed.

CONCLUSION
The hypothesis of this experiment suggests that Vinegar will decrease the mass of a rock when soaked in Vinegar
over a 4 day period. The data from the charts support the hypothesis. The data table shows that Vinegar does affect
the mass of rocks. Limestone rock when mixed with vinegar over the course of 4 days lost -4 grams. Marble had a
decrease of -3.8 grams. Granite decreased by 0.1 grams when mixed with vinegar. This proves that vinegar did
have an affect on the mass of each rock being tested. Because vinegar is a replacement for acid rain, in the case of

acid rain, granite would be the best material to use for building a statue because it had the smallest change in mass
(g), with a change of -0.1 grams, compared to a change of -4 grams with limestone and a change of -3.8 grams with
marble. Our hypothesis for this experiment was proved correct because limestone was thought to have the greatest
change in mass (g) when soaked in vinegar. After conducting the experiment, limestone had the largest change in
mass of -4 grams.

VALIDITY
One improvement that could be made to the experimental design of the lab would be to test more trials. By
testing more trials, it could increase chances in finding a possible pattern in the data or possibly seeing if
there is a consistency in the data. In this experiment, if more trials were tested more types of rock could be
tested also. By testing more rock samples the best possible rock sample could be found out of a larger variety
of stones instead of just three.
One variable held constant was the volume of the vinegar/distilled water used, which was 100 mL. This is a
variable held constant because if more or less vinegar/distilled water was used, it could have a different effect of
each rock. So by holding constant and using the same volume of vinegar/distilled water for each solution, type of
material, and trial, it will keep consistency and and wont change or affect any of the data collected. Another
variable held constant in the experiment was the initial mass of the materials being tested. Although each material
wasnt exactly 50 grams, but it had to be within 3 grams both ways, meaning the mass of each stone was relatively
about the same. If the mass of each stone being tested was not very close to being the same, there could have been
different results and could have an affect on each stone because the greater mass could mean more change in mass
or less mass could mean a smaller change in mass. The final variable being held constant is how long the materials
were soaked in their solution. This is because if each material in each solution was soaked for different amount of
times, then the results would be unclear and invalid. If a material was soaked for a longer period of time, then there
could be a larger change in mass (grams); and if a material was soaked in vinegar or distilled water for a shorter
period of time, then there could be a smaller change in mass (grams); making the data and results invalid.