Acid+Rain's+Impact+on+Plant+Growth

Key Terms: Acid rain, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, pH, acidity, growth
 * THE EFFECTS OF ACID RAIN ON PLANT GROWTH. Luc & Abby.** The purpose of this experiment was to observe the effect that acid rain has on the growth of plants. Acid rain is defined as precipitation with a pH of five or less. Its two main components are sulfuric and nitric acid at a 9:5 ratio. After the seeds germinated, acid at different concentrations was added to corresponding cups, each of which received equal treatment in order to observe the variations in growth. The grass grew at very different rates that corresponded to the concentration of acid they received. The original hypothesis stated that the grass receiving a higher pH, or more acid, would grow less over the course of three days, and this is precisely what happened. Holding true to what is currently happening in the real world, the grass watered with a more neutral solution grew much more rapidly and to a higher point than that receiving more acid. This study proves that the acid rain does effect the growth of plants.

Edwards, R. Cockenzie power station ‘the dirtiest in Europe’. Retrieved February 18, 2009, from The Sunday Herald Web site: [] media type="file" key="audacity.mp3"