Lesson 3: Acids and their Environmental Effects
Objectives: The students will be able identify sources and effects of acid rain.
The students will be able to utilize scientific reasoning to form opinions about interdisciplinary subjects.
The students will participate in scientific inquiry.
Standards Addressed by lesson: Standards
Concept: Through two activities, online resources, and discussion, our learning community will focus on acid rain and its effects on our environment. This lesson should awaken students to the importance and relationship between society, political policy, science, and the environment. A goal of the class is to shape students into critical thinkers and responsible citizens.
Exploration: Students will observe acid rain and a sulfuric acid cloud on a micro-scale. The teacher will do the demonstration, "Acid Cloud." They are to analyze the data and compare the resulting color changes. The experiment employs control, independent, and dependent variables. If the students consider these they may be able to come to a conclusion as to the reactions and chemistry taking place.1
Data Collection: Students should observe and record the color changes that result from the reaction.
Concept Introduction: Refer to Discussion/Introduction for teacher demonstration explanations and how it applies to the environment. Refer to the EPA website for addition information about acid rain and its effects. Refer to “History.”
Application Activity: "Penny Wars" is a fun activity showing the effects of acid on metals. This can be related to the topic of acid rain and a discussion will follow the conclusion of the experiment about its effect and the severity on our world.3
History: Acid rain was first observed in the mid 19th century. “Acid rain” was coined in 1872 by Robert Angus Smith, an English scientist. Smith observed that acidic precipitation could damage plants and materials. It was not until the 1970s that it was considered an environmental concern.2
Websites:
EPA Effects of Acid Rain
http://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/acidrain/effects/index.html
References:
1. Fong, Man Wai. “A Demonstration of Acid Rain.” Asia-Pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching, Volume 5, 1, Article 4 (Apr., 2004). http://www.ied.edu.hk/apfslt/v5_issue1/fongmw/index.htm#contents
2. Environmental Protection Agency http://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/acidrain/
3. Environmental Protection Agency. “Acid Rain Experiments: Looking at Acid Effects on Metals.” Acid Rain. October 2006. http://www.epa.gov/docs/acidrain/education/experiment9.html