ACID RAIN

To what extent does acid rain

affect the growth of the plant
Symbiosis Centre for in terms of height and quality
Management Studies of soil?

Date: 10th March

TWEESHA AGRAWAL 1381 21020621417
Section D SAHIL GUPTA 1389 21020621483
KRISHA JAIN 1331 21020621460
NAMAY KHURANA 1352 21020621255
VANI AGARWAL 1383 21020621426
SHREYANSH PINCHA 1373 21020621373
 DEDICATION SLIDE

Crepe Jasmine was used for this

project as this plant is very
Crepe jasmine
dedication commonly found in many parts of
the country, thus it would help us in
yeilding accurate results for this
project.
 INDEX
1. AIM OF THE TOPIC
2. INTRODUCTION
3. HYPOTHESIS AND
SAMPLING METHOD
4. VARIABLES
5. MATERIAL REQUIRED
TOPICS WE'LL COVER 6. RISK ASSESSMENT
7. PROCEDURE
8. DATA
9. ANALYSIS
10. DISCUSSION
11. EVALUATION
12. APPLICATION
13. CONCLUSION
14. BIBLIOGRAPHY
 OBJECTIVE - to find out to what
extent do the different pH levels
ranging from 4.4 to 8.8 of acid rain

Aim/ affect the growth of the Tagar plants in

terms of height and the quality of the
soil?
Objectives
AIM - to learn more about how acid
rain affects plant life and its adverse
affects on the environment.
 INTRODUCTION

Our world is changing very rapidly, every day there is some new technology that is coming into
the market and every day some new factory is erected for the production of these technologies.
We will be focusing on the impact that acid rain has on the environment. As acid rain falls on the
ground, it raises the amount of aluminum in it, this water then leaches into the streams and water
bodies, rapidly increasing the acidity of water, some organisms are able to tolerate the high
acidity but those who aren’t able to die. When the level of acidity of the soil increases, it reduces
the ability of plants to absorb water, thus die of thirst. Acid rain also reduces the amount of
minerals and nutrients present in the soil, thus stunting the growth of plants. To explore these
affects, we have conducted a few experiments.
 HYPOTHESIS
The plant that will receive the solution having a pH of 4.4 will show the least growth
whereas the plant receiving the solution with a pH of 8.8 will show the most growth.

SAMPLING METHOD
Each plant will be watered with a different solution and each solution will have a different
pH values, therefore each plant will show a different growth trend as plants that will
receive a lower pH will show the least growth.

 MATERIAL RISK
REQUIRED ASSESSMENT
- 4 different concentrations of Hydrochloric
Acid 1. This investigation will be using Hydrochloric Acid, which will be
highly concentrated. Thus while conducting this experiment there is a
- 5 Beakers high chance of severe burns, if the fumes of the acid are inhaled they
- 1Dropper may cause nausea and dizziness, ingestion of the acid may be highly
fatal to any living being. The deposition of the acid should be done
- Distilled water
with utmost precision and safety as over dosage of the acid may ruin
- 5 Potted plants of the same height the entire experiment.
2. The disposal of the acid was done in a completely environmentally
- 1 Ph Meter
friendly way and all the precautions were taken as per the standards of
- 1 measuring tape or a long ruler the lab.

 VARIABLES
The pH of the acids used for this experiment have
been chosen with respect to the PH of the acid rain
Independent pH of the acids used for the which is 4.4. The same concentration of the acids

experiment have been used for all the three trials of the
experiment.

The growth of the plant is dependent on the amount of

Dependent Growth in terms of height. sunlight it receives, the amount of water it receives
and the concentration of acid that it will receive

The amount of water that each plant receives will be

Controlled Amount of water/acid the same throughout the experiment, and all the plants
will receive the same amount of water.

The time for all the specimens is going to be the same

Time
irrespective of the set. The species of all the five
Species
Constant plants in the three sets on which the experiment is
conditions
going to be conducted will be the same.
 PROCEDURE
1. A a set of five plants and make sure that they are of the same height.
2. Label them A1,A2,A3,A4 and A5.
3. Measure and note down the height of the plants.
4. Prepare four different concentrations of HCL.
5. Take five beakers and fill 100ml of water in each of them.
6. Add a few drops of the four acidic solutions to the four beakers and let the five beakers be as it is.
7. Water each plant with one beaker, and make sure to note down which solution you are adding to
which plant.
8. Repeat the same thing for three weeks and make sure that you water the same acid concentration
to the plant that you watered on day one.
9. Continue to measure the height of the plant with the help of a measuring tape and note it down
every week.
10. At the end of 3 weeks, you should have the data which shows the growth of the plant for three
weeks.
11. Repeat the experiment to get accurate results.
 DATA
Acid pH
Plant Name Week 0 Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Average growth
concentration Concentration

A1 0.1M 6.5 9” 9.5” 9.8” 10” 9.575

A2 0.125M 5.8 9” 9.4” 9.6” 9.9” 9.475

A3 0.5M 5.1 9” 9.4” 9.5” 9.7” 9.4

A4 0.25M 4.4 9” 9.2” 9.4” 9.5” 9.275

A5
No acid added 8.8 9” 9.8” 10.2” 10.8” 9.95
controlled

B1 0.1M 6.5 9” 9.5” 9.7” 9.9” 9.525

B2 0.125M 5.8 9” 9.4“ 9.5” 9.7” 9.4

B3 0.5M 5.1 9“ 9.2” 9.3” 9.6” 9.275

B4 0.25M 4.4 9” 9.1” 9.3” 9.6” 9.25

B5
No acid added 8.8 9” 9.7” 10.3“ 10.9” 9.975
controlled
 APPLICATION
This experiment showed that acid rain could have adverse
effects on the environment. Thus, it would be suggested that
the government implement laws and regulations to control the
number of harmful gases that are released into the atmosphere;
the government can make it compulsory for the industries to
install instruments like scrubbers to filter the gases before they
are released into the atmosphere, reducing the amount of
pollution in the atmosphere and preventing acid rain, but a
possible drawback for this solution is that installation and
maintenance of these devices are high, and the firms might
object against such rules.
 ANALYSIS
The above data shows us how each plant in both groups
reacted differently to the water that it was given, plants that
were given water that had a lower PH value reacted by
showing lesser growth than the plant that was given normal
water. The soil of the plants that received a lower PH started
to turn white and the leaves started to turn yellow, whereas
the plants that received normal water showed a normal
growth, the leaves were healthy and they had grown buds.
Plants that received the water having a PH of 4.4, showed
hardly any signs of growth and the quality of soil had
degraded.

In graph 1, we can see a decline in the average growth of

plants in set A. This is due to the decrease in the PH value of
water from Plant A1 to A4. A1 was watered with water with
a PH of 6.5, A2 with a PH of 5.8, A3 with a PH of 5.1, and A4
with 4.4. therefore, it can be said that as the acidity
increased, the plant's growth reduced. Plant A5 saw the
highest growth as it was watered with water with a PH of 8,
which is normal water; thus, it had the highest growth of all
five plants.

Similarly, in graph 2, it can be seen how to set B saw the

same trend, a decline in average growth could be seen from
B1 to B4 and B5 saw the highest growth.
If we closely look at the acquired results, a trend can be
identified, and we can see how there is a decline in the graph
from plant A1 to A4 and a sudden increase in the growth of
plant A5, a similar pattern can be identified in the growth of
plants from set B. we can see this trend because the pH
received by plant A1 was not acidic as the one received by
A4, the pH kept reducing for each plant till A4 and A5 got
the solution with the highest pH.
Average growth:

𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎: 𝑊𝑒𝑒𝑘1 + 𝑊𝑒𝑒𝑘2 + 𝑊𝑒𝑒𝑘3

3
A1 = 9+9.5+9.8+10 = 9.575
10
Similarly,
A2 = 9.475 B1 = 9.525

A3 = 9.4 B2 = 9.4

B3 = 9.275
A4 = 9.275

A5 = 9.95 B4 = 9.25

B5 = 9.975
 DISCUSSION
The above research shows us how acid rain affects the growth of the plant, it can be seen through the experiment that plants that
receive water with a high acidity show the least growth, and as the acidity reduces the growth increases, a trend was formed during
the experiment where, as the acidity of the water increased for the plants the plants started to show lesser growth and when the plant
received a highly basic solution it showed really good growth. When the pH level of the soil increases it damages the roots, thus
reducing their ability to absorb water, thus the plant dies of thirst.
Acid rain has many adverse effects on the environment, some of them being:
● It has an effect on the marine environment because acid rain causes the water to become more acidic, which is detrimental
to the aquatic ecosystem.5
● Even though some species can tolerate the higher acidity of water, it may affect the higher level of predators due to
bioaccumulation.
● Acid rain dries up on the soil, stripping it of essential nutrients like calcium and allowing aluminum to be released, reducing
the ability of trees and plants to absorb water.
● When acid rain is inhaled as smog, it can cause severe health issues in humans, such as respiratory problems.
● Apart from these effects acid rain also affects buildings made of limestone and cars, it physically affects the structure by
corroding it.

The points above show us the extent to which acid rain can prove to be harmful to the environment, therefore measures have to
be taken to prevent the release of gases like NO2 and SO2 in the atmosphere.
EVALUATION
This experiment proved that acid rain adversely affects the growth of the plants. The research proved this by watering 5
different plants with different concentrations of acid. The sampling method used for this experiment was to have 5 samples
that would be watered with different acidity of waters, the height of the plants would be measured each week, this would
show the growth of the plant, and will help analyze the effect of acid on the growth of the plant, apart from this observing
the texture of the soil would show the effect of acid on the soil, the repetition of the experiment makes sure that the data
acquired is accurate.

Strengths of the experiment conducted. Weaknesses of the experiment conducted.

Repeating the experiment will help

This experiment may not be valid for all species of plants as there are some plants
make the data obtained more valid and
that have a tendency to bare the higher acidity of soil.
reliable
 SUGGESTIONS

1) government should implement laws and regulations to control the amount of harmful gases
that are released in the atmosphere by the industries and manufacturing plants.

2) The Government should make the use of scrubbers compulsory for the industries and
plants, this will help filter the smoke that is released in the atmosphere thus making it less
harmful for the environment.
The experiment showed us that acid rain does affect the growth of plants, we can say
that after the plants were exposed to water that had a low PH value the rate of the
growth of the plant reduced as compared to that of the plant that was being watered
with water that had a higher PH, not only this but a clear difference in soil could be
noticed, the soil of that plants that received a lower PH had started to form a white
layer on it, whereas the soil that received a higher PH showed no such change. Even
though
the data collected is not enough to come to a conclusion, a tentative conclusion can be
given.

CONCLUSION
Therefore, it can be said that the hypothesis stated at the start of this IA was valid. The
plant that was given a pH of 4.4 solution grew the slowest, while the plant that was
given a pH of 8.8 solution grew the fastest.
Scientists believe that acid depositions from the acid rain directly reduces the yield of
radishes, carrots, beets and broccoli. Not only this but they also believe that due to acid
rain the waxy coating of the leaves gets damaged, this allows the acid to diffuse into
the leaves thus interrupting the process of evaporation of water and exchange of gases,
due to which the plant is no longer able to breathe.4 these things can be avoided if the
solutions to these problems are taken seriously and are strictly implemented.
Thus, to conclude it can be said that acid rain affects the growth of the plants to a very
high extent.
 1. What Is Acid Rain? 12 May 2020,

https://www.epa.gov/acidrain/what-acid-rain

2. EPA, Environmental Protection Agency,

www3.epa.gov/acidrain/education/site_students/whatcauses.html.

https://www3.epa.gov/acidrain/education/site_students/whatcauses.html

3. “Effects of Acid Rain.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 4 May 2020,

www.epa.gov/acidrain/effects-acid-rain.

https://www.epa.gov/acidrain/effects-acid-rain
4. "Experiment on the Impact of Acid Rain on Plants." ukessays.com. 11 2018.

UKEssays. 11 2020 <https://www.ukessays.com/essays/environmental-

BIBLIOGRAPHY
dedication
sciences/experiment-on-the-impact-of-acid-rain-on-plants.php?vref=1>.

https://www.education.com/science-fair/article/acid-rain-and-plant-growth/

5. Images, Photograph by David Woodfall/Getty. “Acid Rain.” Acid Rain Facts and

Information, 21 Feb. 2018, www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-

warming/acid-rain/.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/acid-rain/

6. Effects of Air Pollution & Acid Rain on Farmland, air-quality.org.uk/14.php.

http://www.air-quality.org.uk/14.php

7. Boumis, Robert. "Negative Health Effects of Acid Rain on Humans." 13 Aug. 2019
Web. 029 Nov. 2020.
https://sciencing.com/negative-health-effects-acid-rain-humans-24007.html