Method  

Collecting rainwater or snow  
    1. Leave four glass jars in a suitable place outdoors- where it can not be disturbed or cause any injury- until it rains or snows.

    2. When the jar contains at least 2 in. of rainwater use pH paper to measure its pH. Record this value in the data table.

    Preparing the experiment  
    3. Use a hammer to break off 3 pieces of concrete and same with the brick. The pieces must be about 1 inch so that it will suspend in a beaker.

    4. Cut 12 pieces of string approximately 30 cm long. Tie a piece a piece of string to each of the roof shingle, concrete, brick, and nail.

    5. Ask an adult to prepare a 0.05 molar [M] solution of sulfuric acid; this will represent acid rain. Do this by adding 25 ml 1M sulfuric acid to the measuring cylinder; make this up to 500 ml of distilled water.

    Conducting the experiment  
    6. Pour the 0.05M sulfuric acid into the four jars and make sure there is approximately equal amount in each.

    7. Pour the faucet water into the four jars into the four jars and make sure there is approximately equal amount in each.

    8. Pour the rainwater or snow into the four jars and make sure there is approximately equal amount in each.

    9. Use the pH paper to measure the pH of the sulfuric acid in one of the jars. Compare it to the color on the indicator chart. Record your observations.

    Use the pH paper to measure the pH of the faucet water in one of the jars. Compare it to the color on the indicator chart. Record your observations.

    10. Use the pH paper to measure the pH of the rainwater in one of the jars. Compare it to the color on the indicator chart.Record your observations.

    11. Take one piece each roof shingle, brick, concrete, and nail. Take the free end of the string attached to each and tie it to the chopstick.

    12. Suspend each piece of material in the sulfuric acid jars. Adjust the length of the string by rolling the pencil so that the material is immersed in acid and not touching the bottom of the jar.

    13. Suspend each piece of material in the faucet water jars. Adjust the length of the string by rolling the pencil so that the material is immersed in acid and not touching the bottom of the jar.

    14. Suspend each piece of material in the rainwater jars. Adjust the length of the string by rolling the pencil so that the material is immersed in acid and not touching the bottom of the jar.

    15. Observe the materials in each jar for ten days and see if there are any changes. Record your observations for Day 1, Day 2, Day 5, Day 12, and Day 16 on the chart.

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