Acid Rain Effect On Building Materials

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INVESTIGATING THE EFFECT OF ACID RAIN ON BUILDING MATERIALS LAB REPORT Acid rain is defined as precipitation that has a pH lower than 5, 6. One of the ways acid rain is formed is that water reacts with sulfur dioxide that has been previously oxidized in the atmosphere. Afterwards, sulfur dioxide becomes sulfur trioxide when it has been oxidized. 2SO2 (s) + O2 (g) → 2SO3 (g) The product of the reaction between sulfur trioxide and water is sulfuric acid. SO3 (g) + 2H2O (l) → 2H2SO4 (aq) Acid rain can cause a lot of negative effects and one of them is the damage of building materials. The aim of this investigation is to investigate the effect of acid rain on building materials. In this experiment we will use limestone or calcium carbonate as the building material and sulfuric acid. Research question: How is the mass of limestone affected when reacting with sulfuric acid? Hypothesis: The mass of limestone (CaCO3) will decrease and this is due to that building material is disintegrated by acid rain. When sulfuric acid reacts with calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate is formed. It is soluble in water and therefore can easily dissolve in the water that is produced. CaCO3 (s) + H2SO4 (aq) → CaSO4 (aq) + CO2 (g) + H2O (l) Independent variable: concentration of sulfuric acid Dependent variable: mass of CaCO3 Controlled variables: choice of building material - calcium carbonate (limestone), temperature, pressure, surface area, volume PROCEDURE Materials: * 50 cm3 H2SO4(aq) with concentration of 3.00 mol dm-3 with pH value 0 * Limestone tablets * 100 cm3 measuring cylinder * 100 cm3 beaker * Electronic balance * Tongs * Heat lamp Method: 1) Using 100 cm3 measuring measure out cylinders 50 cm3 H2SO4(aq) with a concentration of 3.00 mol dm-3 and pour it in the 100cm3 beaker 2) Take one limestone tablet and using the

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