Purpose: to show how acid rain affects plants, and how we can reduce it’s effects
Hypothesis: if our rain is acidic with a high pH, then it will harm my plants, affecting their growth and liveliness, especially since we are one of the highest rain pH level states.
Acid Rain Experiments – Experiment 7 – Observing the Influence of Acid Rain on Plant Growth
Acid rain most often damages plants by washing away nutrients and by poisoning the plants with toxic metals. It can, however, have direct effects on plants as well. In this experiment you will observe one of the direct effects of acid water on plant growth. The experiment will take about two weeks.
Materials
5 cups or jars distilled water white vinegar …show more content…
The pH of the vinegar/water mixture should be about 4. If it is below pH 4, add a sprinkle of baking soda, or a drop of vinegar, stir well, and recheck the pH. If it is above pH 4, add a drop or two of vinegar and again recheck the pH.
Measure the pH of the distilled water using either pH paper or a garden soil pH testing kit. If the pH is below 7, add about 1/8 teaspoon baking soda, or a drop of vinegar, stir well, and check the pH of the water with the pH indicator. If the water is still acidic, repeat the process until pH 7 is reached. Should you accidentally add too much baking soda or ammonia, either start over again or add a drop or two of vinegar, stir, and recheck the pH.
Label the pH of each jar (I have 5 jars), 2 of which are from local ponds, one tuckertown pond, one worden’s pond. Both had a pH around 6.5.
Pour about a cup of distilled water into the cups.
Pour about a cup of the vinegar/water mixture into the acid-philodendron and acid-begonia