Laura Trombetta

23 October 2014
Period 5

EFFECT OF ACID RAIN ON DIFFERENT STONE

OBJECTIVE
Acid rain causes many problems around the world today. It breaks down and damages structures
that are made of certain materials. In this experiment, several different types of stones are tested
in a substance (vinegar) which is acting as acid rain. Because acid rain can have a pH of
between 5 and 5.5, vinegar can be substituted and still get similar results because its pH is
around 2.2 (Helmenstine). The acidity is stronger, making the effects more exaggerated. The
experiment is only conducted within 24 hours so the stronger acidity will make the stones
damage faster. The independent variable is the type of stone tested. The dependent variable is
the percent change in mass of the stones.
INTRODUCTION
Acid rain is precipitation with a higher level of acid in it than normal. It is caused by gases and
elements being mixed with the moisture in the air to make the rain more acidic than it would
normally be. Precipitation needs to have a pH of between 5 and 5.5 in order to be classified as
acid rain (Watson). Acid rain can be a threat to the environment in some areas where the animals
may not be able to survive in those conditions. Acid rain not only eats away at plants and
animals habitats, it also damages architectural structures. This experiment tests which types of
stones are more easily damaged by acid rain than others.

EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURE

Materials
Ziplock bag
Sharpie markers
graduated cylinders
vinegar, 20 mL per sample tested to soak samples in for 24 to 48 hours
electronic balance
samples of stone: limestone, quartz, red sandstone, granite composition
pH paper
safety goggles, lab aprons
Procedure
1. Before using any other materials, put on safety goggles and a lab apron. Gather all supplies.
2. Use the Sharpie marker to label the 4 bags with a different type of stone: limestone, pink
quartz, pea stone, and granite composition. Put name on all the bags.
3. Pour 20 mL of vinegar into the graduated cylinder and then pour that into the bag labeled
limestone. Repeat that same process with bags labeled pink quartz, pea stone, and granite
composition. Close the Ziplock bags.
4. Using pH paper, measure the pH of the vinegar of one bag and record it in the data table.
5. Place each stone separately on the electronic balance and record the mass in the data table.
6. One by one, place the pieces of stone into the corresponding bags, sealing the bag after. Place
the bags in a spot where they can sit undisturbed for 24 hours.

7. After 24 hours, record the pH of the vinegar again. Drain out the vinegar while holding the
stone (from the outside of the bag) in the bag. Then remove the stone from the bag and place it
on the balance. Record data.

DATA
Mass and pH of Stones
Type of
Stone

pH of
vinega
r
before
3

pH of
vinega
r after

Pink
Quartz
Pea Stone

Granite
Compositi
on

Limestone

Initial
mass
of
stone
1.46
g
2.59
g
1.11
g
6.83
g

Mass
after
24
hours
1.04
g
2.4 g

Differen
ce from
initial to
end
-0.42

Percent
Differen
ce

-0.19

-7.6%

1.13
g
6.85
g

+0.02

+1.79%

+0.02

+0.29%

-33.6%

Characteristics of Stones
Type of Stone
Limestone

Before
Sandy/flaky/grey

In bag
Very bubbly

Pink Quartz
Pea Stone

Pink+white/hard/solid
Looks
layered/speckled
Shiny/black+silver

Small air bubbles

Small amount of air
bubbles
bubbles

Granite Composition

After
Turned water
brown/was sandy
Slightly dissolved
No change
No change

INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA

Mass Difference

MD Pink

MD Pea Stone

MD Granite

Limestone

Quartz

1.13-

Composition

2.59-

1.11=0.02

6.85-6.83=0.02

1.46-1.04=0.42
Percent Difference
Limestone

(PD) Pink Quartz

1.46+1.04=2.52.59+2.4=4.99
2.5/2=1.25

4.99/2=2.495

2.4=0.19
(PD) Pea Stone
1.11+1.13=2.2
4

0.42/1.25=.3360.19/2.495=.07

2.24/2=1.12

.336*100=33.66

0.02/1.12=0.01

(PD) Granite
Composition
6.83+6.85=13.68
13.68/2=6.84
0.02/6.84=0.0029
0.0029*100=0.29

pH of Vinegar Before and After

(Grams)
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Stone Type
Limestone Before

Limestone After

Pink Quartz Before

Pink Quartz After

Pea Stone Before

Pea Stone After

Granite Composition Before

Granite Composition After

Percent Mass Change of Stones

5
0
Stone
-5
-10
-15
-20
-25
-30
-35
-40

Limestone
Pink Quartz
Pea Stone
Granite Composition

Conclusion
1) Limestone, out of all the stones tested, was damaged the most by the acid rain.
2) According to the evidence in the data table, the initial mass of limestone was 1.46 grams and
after soaking in vinegar for 24 hours it diminished to 1.04 grams. This shows that the mass
change of limestone was -33.6% because the mass went down. Pink quartz started off at 2.59
grams and after soaking in vinegar, it was 2.4 grams. This stones mass decreased by 7.6%. The
initial mass of the pea stone was 1.11 grams. The ending mass was 1.13 grams. This stone
showed an increase of 1.79%. Granite composition started off as 6.83 and ended as 6.85 grams.
This is an increase of 0.29%. Limestone definitely acquired the most damage out of the four
stones. Its mass decreased by 33.6%, which is much more than the other stones.
3) Limestone was damaged the most by the acid rain because of its chemical makeup. It is made
of a substance called calcite. When the two substances mix, they produce a fizz, which the
qualitative data table supports. When the limestone was dropped into the bag of vinegar, it
started bubbling (King). The observations in the qualitative data table show that the limestone
appeared sandy and flaky while the other rocks were mostly solid and hard. Because
limestone was flaky, it was much more corrosive than the others. That would make its mass go
down much more than the other stones.

References
Helmenstine, Anne M. "pH of Common Chemicals." About Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct.
2014.
King, Hobart. "The "Acid Test" for Carbonate Minerals and Carbonate Rocks." Geology.com.
N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.