1. Neutralizing Acid Rain
Group 6: Derek Chai, Josh Zeng, Terry Zhao, Patrick Zhang

2. Research Question
What effects do additives used by florists and botanists have on the pH of soil affected by acid rain?

3. Background
Acid rain – rain more acidic than normal rainwater (less than 5.6 pH) – sulfuric acid or nitric acid
pH of a solution is a measure of how many hydrogen ions are within the solution
Acidic = 0-6
Neutral = 7
Basic = 8-14
Effect of acidic soil – causes soil erosion, ”leaching"

4. Variables Independent: Amount of and type of additives in the soil
Dependent: Resulting pH level of acid rain-affected soil
Controlled: Concentration of acid, amount of soil, amount of additives, type of soil, temperature of solution

5. Materials Solution of sulfuric acid at 5 pH 500 mL beakers pH meter
Soil
Additives (fertilizer, crushed egg shells, fungicide, manure, worm castings)

6. Procedure Gather all materials
Fill a 500 mL beaker with 400g of soil, so that the beaker + the soil is 400g
Place the pH meter into the middle of the soil
Record the pH until the pH stabilizes (Logger Pro, reading every other second)
Repeat step 2
Spread fertilizer throughout the soil
Pour 50 mL of the sulfuric acid solution evenly throughout the soil
Repeat steps 3-4
Repeat steps 2-8 for a total of three trials
Repeat steps 5-9 for each additive

7. Data Collection
Mass of beaker + soil: 400g
pH of control: 5.29

8. Data Collection

9. Data Collection

10. Data Collection

11. Data Collection

12. Data Collection

13. Data Analysis Fertilizer: pH increased by 4.6
Fungicide: pH increased by 1.4
Eggshell: pH increased by 4.4
Manure: pH increased by 4.2
Worm Castings: pH increased by 4.3

14. Conclusion Higher increase in pH = better at neutralizing acid rain
Fertilizer
Eggshells
Worm Castings
Manure
Fungicide

15. Evaluation pH meter was unreliable
Could use universal indicator solution
Calibrate more often
Additives were not evenly spread throughout soil
Use a stirring rod to mix it more evenly
Solution was not distributed evenly
Use a watering can
Water had impurities
Boiled our own water, used purer water
More / larger trials (so impact of uncertainty will be smaller)

16. Bibliography
Gilbert, Natasha. "Acid Soil Threatens Chinese Farms." Nature News. Nature Publishing Group, 11 Feb Web. 01 June 2017
"What Is Acid Rain?" EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 01 Mar Web June 2017.
WikiHow. "How to Calibrate and Use a PH Meter." WikiHow. WikiHow, 30 May Web. 01 June 2017.