Abstract:
The experiment is to test the acidity of the rain water in Lawrence. In order to conduct the experiment rain water is needed. Litmus paper will be dipped in it and a LaMotte pH Tablet will be dissolved into it. The hypothesis generated for this experiment is that the acidity of the rain water in Lawrence will be between pH levels 4.5 and 5.5. The results showed that there is no acidity in the rain water; in fact it was basic with a pH level of 8. The results happened because the air in Lawrence is clean.
Introduction:
Lawrence is known as one of the most polluted cities in the area. The air in the city is continuously being polluted by the hundreds of cars in the city. One of the effects of pollution in the atmosphere is acid rain. Acid rain is caused through a chemical reaction between sulfur dioxide and nitrogen combined with water, oxygen and other chemicals. These pollutants can be carried easily by the wind and dissolved by water causing it to combine with rain, snow, sleet and fog. Acid rain is harmful to all parts of the environment. It causes health problems in humans, its harms forests, and it damages lakes and streams making their pH levels more acidic. The pH level that determines acidity is 4-4.5 and anything less that 7 is considered to have some acidity in it. Normal water has an average pH of 5.6. The experiment conducted was to determine whether Lawrence rain was acidic or basic. A sample of rain water was taken and a paper was tested, then a tablet was dissolved in the water to find the pH level of the water. The hypothesis stated that the acidity of the rain water in Lawrence will be between pH levels 4.5-5.5. The final results showed that Lawrence’s rain water had no acidity at all, the pH level was 8.
Materials and Methods:
Before the experiment, 10mL of rain water was gathered from Lawrence.
First, the Red Litmus Paper was dipped in the water and the reaction of the paper was recorded under observation. Then, a LaMotte