Test for Negative Effect on Statues and Buildings

Method

1. In this experiment, we will substitute dilute hydrochloric acid for acid rain and calcium carbonate (limestone) chips for composition of the statues. All the calcium carbonate chips must be from the same source and must have the same weight- 2 grams. First, I will add the dilute hydrochloric acid to the calcium carbonate chips. We will weigh each chip before the experiment to ensure they have the same mass. Each sample will receive 30ml of solution, however the concentration of acid in each solution will vary. With each sample, we will increase the amount of water in the solution by 5ml while decreasing the volume of distilled water by 5ml. So for example, the first sample will receive 25ml of hydrochloric acid and 5 ml of distilled water, the second sample will receive 20ml of hydrochloric acid and 10ml of distilled water, etc. One sample should have a neutral pH, containing 0ml of hydrochloric acid and 30 ml of distilled water.

2. After preparing the samples, we will leave them in test tubes in the same location at room temperature (28 °C) for a week. The samples should be sealed to prevent other chemicals from entering and affecting the pHs of the samples.

3. After a week, we will weigh each chip again and record each sample's change in mass. We will then repeat the experiment three times to ensure reliability.

Prediction
The chip that was placed in the solution with the highest concentration of acid should lose the most mass. The chips placed in solutions with lower concentrations of acid should lose less mass, and the chip placed in the neutral solution should have lost no mass. From this we can conclude that dilute acid such as acid rain can corrode limestone statues and buildings, whereas pure distilled water does not.

Equipment
*Electronic Balance
*Test Tubes
*Test Tube Rack
*Limestone/Marble Chips
*Measuring Cylinders

Safety
*Wear goggles while handling acid to prevent acid from splashing into eyes.
*Long hair should be tied back.
*Skin contact with acid should be avoided; caution should taken when handling acid.

CORMS

C (Change): The concentration of acid in each sample.
O (Organism): N/A
R(Repeat): Repeat 3 times to ensure reliability
M (Measure): The change in mass of each sample after a week.
S (Same): Each sample should have the same mass and receive the same volume of solution. All samples should be kept at the same location and at the same temperature, room temperature (28°C).

*Hydrochloric acid can be substituted for sulphuric acid in this experiment to properly simulate the sulfuric acid present in acid rain.