EekoWorld Knows
“Protecting the Environment Means Protecting
Yourself.”
You can
be an EekoWorld scientist today, making our world a better place to live
tomorrow. Go online and explore ecosystems, see first-hand the effect
pollution has on ecosystems and develop your own method of reducing
pollution.
Try This At Home
Acid rain is a major pollution problem found in many regions of
the United States. Acid rain occurs when chemicals enter the
atmosphere and react with water and oxygen. The acid produced falls
to the earth causing damage to plants, animals and man-made
structures.
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You can see the effects of acid rain on plants by conducting the
following experiment.
(Click on pictures left to see a larger image)
Collect it:
• 4 plastic cups
• dirt / potting soil
• water
• nail
• seeds
• vinegar
• spray bottle
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Do it:
1. An adult should help you with the experiment.
2. Poke 3 small holes in each cup using a nail.
3. Fill four small cups with dirt.
4. Plant 4-6 wild flower seeds in each cup. (spread evenly)
5. Water plants. (keep moist, not saturated)
6. Continue to water and care for plants until 2-3 inches of foliage is
present.
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Experiment:
1. Fill a small spray bottle with vinegar. (eye protection)
2. Continue to water and care for plants.
3. Spray foliage 2 times a day with the vinegar (acid) mixture.
4. Continue until plants show visible signs of damage.
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Results: You should notice visible signs of wilting and browning after you
spray the foliage. The plants will continue to brown and droop while
they slowly die.
After you have conducted the experiment the fun does not have to end.
Use the list below to chose a category that represents your data.
Acid rain devastation seen in:
• less then 2 days
• 2 - 5 days
• more than 5 days
E-mail
your results to us.
As the results come in, we will tabulate them on this web page to
compare your results with other scientists across the country.
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