DOST-SEI⫼Project STAR⫼RSH⫼2015⫼ Page 1 of 2

ACID ATTACK: SIMULATING THE EFFECT OF ACID RAIN

Acid rain pertains to a rain that is more acidic than the usual rain. It is a relatively complicated problem affecting soil and water chemistry, including the organisms living on land and in the water. Air pollution is one of the causes of acid rain. Human activities, like the burning of fossil fuels coming from industrial plants, are the major causes of acid rain (US EPA, 2008). In this activity, students will simulate the effect of acid rain by testing the effects of various liquids (with varying pH) using an egg as a model. In this activity, students will be able to:

1. Design an experiment highlighting the effects of liquids with varying pH

2. Observe the effect of acidic liquids on eggs

3. Correlate the effect the acidic liquids with that of acid rain

4. Discuss ways on how to minimize the negative impacts of some human activities on the

environment

Materials Clear plastic cups Cola Vinegar Water Permanent markers Eggs Procedure: 1. Students will be grouped into four (4). 2. Students will be given enough time to: a. think of an experimental design that will simulate the effect of acid rain b. formulate a hypothesis c. identify the variables in the study—dependent, independent d. identify the different set-ups: control set-up, experimental set-up e. select materials based on the experimental design (Note: students can add additional materials other than the materials presented by the teacher) 3. Students will present their design before proceeding with the experimentation.

DOST-SEI⫼Project STAR⫼RSH⫼2015⫼ Page 2 of 2

4. Students will present their output using the following format:

Hypothesis of the study

Variables of the study Set-up Materials to be used Dependent Independent Control Experimental

Guide Questions 1. What is your study about?

2. What is your hypothesis?

3. What are the variables in your study? Dependent? Independent?

4. What changes in the egg’s characteristics do you want to observe?

*5. What are the effects of your set-up(s) in the egg’s morphology?

*6. How are these observations related to the effects of acid rain?

8. What can you suggest to reduce the occurrence of acid rain?

Reference:

United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). 2008. Learning about acid rain. Available from:

http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/education/teachersguide.