Name Period Date

Acid Rain

Driving Questions
How does acid rain form?

Does acid rain affect our public water sources?

Background
Acid rain is a form of precipitation with an unusually low pH. Rain with a pH of 5.6 or lower is considered to
be acid rain. The acidity has harmful effects on the environment and living systems. Gases produced during the
burning of fossil fuels (particularly coal) are the primary cause of acid rain. These gases react with water in the
air, forming acids that become part of the precipitation.

Acid rain lowers the pH of lakes and streams, which can kill or harm many of the organisms in those
environments. Acid rain can also harm plants and other terrestrial organisms by lowering the pH of the soil.
Acidic soils release metal ions such as aluminum ions into the water in soils that may be harmful to plants and
other organisms. In addition, acid rain accelerates the decay of building materials (such as limestone and
marble), metals (such as bronze), automotive paint, and other coatings. Prior to falling to the ground, these
gases and their particulate matter derivatives (sulfates and nitrates) contribute to visibility degradation and can
harm public health.

You will be performing the following chemical reactions that will produce the common gases that contribute to
the formation of acid rain:

a) sodium bicarbonate + HCl + water → sodium chloride + water + carbon dioxide gas

NaHCO3(s) + HCl(aq) → NaCl(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)

b) sodium bisulfite + HCl + water → sodium chloride + water + sulfur dioxide gas

NaHSO3(s) + HCl(aq) → NaCl(aq) + H2O(l) + SO2(g)

c) sodium nitrite + HCl + water → sodium chloride + water + nitrogen dioxide gas

NaNO2(s) + HCl(aq) → NaCl(aq) + H2O(l) + NO2(g)

Materials and Equipment

For each student or group:

 Data collection system
 pH sensor
 Erlenmeyer flask, 100-mL
 1-hole rubber stopper for flask
 Glass tubing for rubber stopper
 Flexible tubing to fit glass tubing, 20 cm
 Graduated pipet and pipet bulb
 Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), 5 g
 Sodium bisulfite (NaHSO3), 5 g
 Sodium nitrite (NaNO2), 5 g
 1 M HCl, 15 mL
 Water or deionized water, 60 mL

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 Beaker, 100-mL  Wash bottle containing distilled or deionized water

 Graduated cylinder, 25-mL  Balance (1 per class)

Safety
Add these important safety precautions to your normal laboratory procedures:

 Consult the manufacturer's MSDS for instructions on handling, storage, and disposing of hydrochloric acid,
sodium bisulfite, and sodium nitrite. Keep these instructions available in case of accidents.

 Students creating sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide should work under a vented hood.

 Wear a lab coat and safety glasses.

 Do not touch the hydrochloric acid (HCl). Handle the pipet containing HCl with extreme care.

 Do not remove the rubber stopper from the Erlenmeyer flask once the reaction has started.

 After completing the lab, wash your hands.

Sequencing Challenge
The steps below are part of the Procedure for this lab activity. They are not in the right order. Determine
the proper order and write numbers in the circles that put the steps in the correct sequence.

Determine the Assemble the gas Analyze the Bubble CO2 into Repeat the gas
initial pH of a generator. results. the sample of generation and
sample of water. Determine the distilled water pH measurement
relative impact of while measuring for SO2 and NO2
the three gases pH. gases.
on the pH of
water.

Procedure
After you complete a step (or answer a question), place a check mark in the box () next to that step.

Note: When you see the symbol "�" with a superscripted number following a step, refer to the numbered Tech
Tips listed in the Tech Tips appendix that corresponds to your PASCO data collection system. There you will find
detailed technical instructions for performing that step. Your teacher will provide you with a copy of the
instructions for these operations.

You will create CO2, NO2, and SO2 gas as follows:

Mix sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) with hydrochloric acid (HCl) to produce carbon dioxide gas (CO 2).
Mix sodium nitrite (NaNO2) with hydrochloric acid (HCl) to produce nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) gas.
Mix sodium bisulfite (NaHSO3) with hydrochloric acid (HCl) to produce sulfur dioxide gas (SO 2) gas.

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 Student Inquiry Worksheet

Part 1 – Create carbon dioxide (CO2) gas and measure its effect on the pH of
water

Set Up

1.  Start a new experiment on the data collection system. �(1.2)

2.  Connect the pH sensor to your data collection system. �(2.1)

3.  Display pH on the y-axis of a graph with Time in the y-axis .�(7.1.1)

4.  Measure 20.0 mL of water using a graduated cylinder.

5.  Pour the water into the 40-mL beaker.

6.  Thoroughly rinse the pH electrode with distilled water.

7.  Place the rinsed pH electrode in the beaker.

8.  What do you think will happen to the pH of the water when you dissolve these gases in it? Which gas
will produce the largest change in pH?

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9.  Obtain a sample of powdered sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) from the teacher.

10.  Measure 5 grams of NaHCO3, and place the measured NaHCO3 in the Erlenmeyer flask.

11.  Assemble the flask, stopper, glass tubing or barbed connector, and flexible tubing.

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Use glycerin to lubricate pH sensor

the connection

Note: If necessary, use glycerin to lubricate the connection so that the glass tubing connector and the flexible
tubing is well seated in the rubber stopper

12.  Pipet 4 mL of 1.0 M hydrochloric acid (HCl) into the Erlenmeyer flask and immediately stopper the
flask.

CAUTION: Hydrochloric acid is a strong acid. Handle it with care. Flush any spillage with a lot of water.

Collect Data

13.  Place the free end of the flexible tubing in the water in the beaker. Immediately start recording data.
�(6.2)

14.  Record data for about 200 seconds (until the change in pH stops or stabilizes), and then stop recording.
�(6.2)

15.  What is happening to the pH of the water as you add CO2 into it?

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16.  Name your run to reflect the sample type, �(8.2) and save your file. �(11.1)

17.  Determine the starting and ending pH for the run, �(9.1) and record these values in Table 1 in the Data
Analysis section of this worksheet.

18.  Dispose of the contents of the flask and beaker as directed by your teacher.

19.  Thoroughly rinse the pH electrode using the wash bottle.

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 Student Inquiry Worksheet

20  Rinse the beaker, flask, and tubing with water.

Part 2 – Create sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas and measure its effect on the pH of water

21.  Repeat the steps in Part 1 using 5 g sodium bisulfite (NaHSO3) instead of NaHCO3.
You will create SO2 by mixing sodium bisulfite (NaHSO3) with hydrochloric acid (HCl) to produce
sulfur dioxide gas (SO2).

22.  What is happening to the pH of the water as you add SO2 gas into it?

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Part 3 – Create nitrogen dioxide (NO2) gas and measure its effect on the pH of
water

23.  Repeat the steps in Part 1 using 5 g sodium nitrite (NaNO2) instead of NaHCO3.
You will create NO2 by mixing sodium nitrite (NaNO2) with hydrochloric acid (HCl) to produce
nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

24.  What is happening to the pH of the water as you add NO2 gas into it?

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25.  Save your experiment, �(11.1) and clean up according to your teacher's instructions.

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Data Analysis

1.  Sketch the graph of the changes in pH versus time for each of the three gases tested. Label each run on
the graph.

2.  Complete Table 1 by calculating the change in pH (maximum pH – minimum pH).

Table 1: pH measurements for acid rain samples.

Gas Maximum Minimum pH Change in pH

pH

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Sulfur dioxide (SO2)

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)

Analysis Questions

1. Discuss how each of the three gases produced affected the pH of the water.

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 Student Inquiry Worksheet

2. Compare the change in pH for each type of gas tested. Which showed the greatest and which the least
change in pH? Based on this information, which gas could potentially cause the most damage in a
natural environment?

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3. In the three reactions of gas dissolving in water, what caused the reduced pH of the water?

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Synthesis Questions
Use available resources to help you answer the following questions.

1. Which of the gases in this experiment are due to man-made pollution that causes acid rain? What
are some important sources of these gases?

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2. Coal from states in the western United States, like Montana and Wyoming, has a lower percentage of
sulfur impurities than coal found in the eastern United States. How would burning low-sulfur coal
change acid rain?

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3. Discuss the relationship between acid rain and the sulfur and nitrogen cycles.

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4. What are some ways to treat the effects of acid rain?

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5. What are some ways to prevent the formation of acid rain?

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6. Although carbonic acid produces only a small decrease in pH of water, why is it of concern in the
environment?

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Multiple Choice Questions

Select the best answer or completion to each of the questions or incomplete statements below.

1. Which of the following is true about acid rain?

A. Acid rain is linked to NO2 and SO2 molecules in the atmosphere.

B. Acid rain can result in the death of many species of water-dwelling organisms when it causes the
pH of lakes to decrease to a level outside their tolerance.
C. Acid rain affects soil chemistry and the ability of plant roots to take in nutrients.
E. All of the above are true.

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2. Which of the following play important roles in the formation of acid rain?

A. Gases in the atmosphere.

B. Buffers in soils and water.
C. Water in the atmosphere.
D. A and C.

3. In general, rain exerts harmful effects on ecosystems when it falls below a pH of

A. 3.6.
B. 4.6.
C. 5.6.
D. 6.6.

4. Acid rain has been linked to

B. Damage to fish through reactions that create high aluminum concentrations in the water.
C. Reduced nutrient uptake by tree roots.
D. Weakening trees, so they become more susceptible to other types of damage.
E. All of the above.

Key Term Challenge

Fill in the blanks from the list of randomly ordered words in the Key Term Challenge Word Bank.

1. Acid rain affects a variety of plants and animals. It can also accelerate the dissolving of ____________
found in soils and rock. The strength of the effects of acid rain depends on many factors. The lower the
____________ of the rain, the greater the negative effect. Rain with a pH that is ____________ than 5.6 is
considered harmfully ____________. Some ____________ have chemicals that ____________ (neutralize) the
effect of acid rain, whereas other soils do not. If acid rain does not become ____________ in the soil, it can
drain into ____________ water, lowering its pH.

2. Some types of ____________, such as plankton, certain insects, crustaceans, and trout eggs are especially
susceptible to damage due to ____________ pH of the water. Acid rain reduces crop ____________ and forest
growth rates. Acid rain may remove ____________ layers from plant leaves, causing the plants to be more
____________ to disease. Scientists believe that acid rain causes increased concentrations of toxic
____________ dissolved in surface water. Acid rain can damage concrete, stone, and metal structures.

3. pH is a measurement of the ____________ of hydrogen ions [H+] in water. pH values normally range from
0 through 14: the lower the value, the higher the concentration of ____________. pH can be a measure of
____________, with values below 7 becoming increasingly acidic as the value approaches 0. Therefore, the

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____________ the pH, the ____________ the concentration of hydrogen ions and the ____________ the
acidity. A pH of 7 is ____________—neither ____________ nor basic. pH values greater than 7 are considered
____________. Practically speaking, a ____________ of 6 to 8 is considered to be in the ____________.

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Key Term Challenge Word Bank

Paragraph 1 Paragraph 2 Paragraph 3
buffer susceptible higher
surface resistant lower
neutralized protective hydrogen ions
rocks organisms hydronium ions
soils soils neutral zone
pH inner acidic zone
lower methylmercury pH
higher iron neutral
basic destructive acidity
acidic acidic
concentration
mass

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