Environmental Chemistry: Acid Rain, Weathering, and Erosion

Grades 7-college.

Learn about the effects of acid rain on both naturally occurring surfaces and man-made surfaces. In this activity, students expose many rock materials and metals, both naturally-occurring and common in construction, to an acidic environment and examine the reaction of these materials in contrast to the same materials exposed to normal rain (tap water). They will also see how the rates of erosion and weathering may increase rapidly depending on the degree of acidity in the precipitation. There are enough materials for 15 groups. Includes one bag each of marble, brick, granite, limestone, and sandstone chips, one bag of steel, copper, and zinc shot, three packages of sulfuric acid concentrate (to make 500 ml each), 120 disposable measuring cups, teacher’s manual, and student copymasters.