Acid Rain and Seed Germination Lab

Research the following questions to prepare for the lab: Acid Rain & Seed Germination. This lab will be the required
formal lab report for this quarter. Remember that this means it will need to include a background information section
and citations, so make sure to document the sources of your information!

1. What is acid rain?

2. What causes acid rain?

3. What is the pH of normal rain? Of acid rain?

4. How does acid rain impact ecosystems (especially plant species)?

5. How do you know a seed has germinated?

Sources:

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 Acid Rain and Seed Germination Lab
FORMAL LAB REPORT REQUIRED!!!!!
Introduction: What exactly is acid rain and how does it affect our surroundings? In this lab, rain solutions at various pH
levels are placed on seeds to show the cumulative effects of acid rain.

Background: Pollution from burning fossil fuels included nitrogen and sulfur compounds. They combine with water
vapor in the atmosphere to form low pH solutions, like sulfuric acid and nitric acid. When this water falls to the ground it
is called acid rain. In more precise terms, acid rain is precipitation with a pH of less than 5.6; a pH of 5.6 is generally
considered to be the pH of “normal” rainwater. Acid rain affects any organism living in ecosystems, especially plants. It
can damage forest, crops, soil, and buildings. In this investigation, you will perform an experiment to simulate and test
the effect of acid rain on the germination of seeds.

Purpose: How does acid rain affect the germination of seeds?

Materials: 10 seeds, 5 Petri dishes, paper towels, 4 rain solutions, water

Hypothesis:

Procedure: note – wash your hands after this lab

1. Obtain 5 Petri dishes and 10 seeds.
2. Place a paper towel and 2 seeds into each Petri dish.
3. Label each Petri dish with your period, group #, and which solution will be placed inside it.
4. Test the pH of each solution and record it in the data table.
5. Wet the paper towels inside each dish with its corresponding solution.
6. Place the dishes aside and measure growth of the root stem in mm every day in the data table.

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Data: Title: _______________________________________________________________________________
Rain Solution #1 Rain Solution #2 Rain Solution #3 Rain Solution #4 Water
pH = ________ pH = ________ pH = ________ pH = ________ pH = _______
Group Class Group Class Group Class Group Class Group Class
1 2 Avg. Avg.
1 2 Avg. Avg.
1 2 Avg. Avg.
1 2 Avg. Avg.
1 2 Avg. Avg.

Day 1 Root
Length
(mm)
Day 2 Root
Length
(mm)
Day 3 Root
Length
(mm)
Day 4 Root
Length
(mm)
Day 5 Root
Length
(mm)

Observations

Day 1
(Mon.)

Day 2
(Tues.)

Day 3
(Wed.)
Day 4
(Thurs.
)
Day 5
(Fri.)

Analysis:
1. Prepare a graph of average root length versus the number of days for each solution. Graph your group
AND class data.

2. Which solution had the greatest effect on seed germination? How do you know (use data to support)?

3. Which solution had the least effect on seed germination? How do you know (use data to support)?

4. Which rain solution(s) might be classified as acid rain? Why do you think so (use data to support)?

5. What is the relationship between human activities and acid rain?

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Acid Rain & Seed Germination Lab Rubric

Lab Report
Section Explanation of Information to Include Points
Concisely explains the purpose of the investigation
Title (e.g., the effect of additional nitrogen fertilizer on the growth rate of corn)
(should be a summary of the lab; look at your hypothesis for appropriateness) 2
Background Information
(should describe known, pertinent information about the independent and
dependent variables) 2
Purpose of the investigation
Intro
(should explain how the investigation answers a specific questions; give curricular
context) 2
Hypothesis
(may be written in the "if…then…reason" format) 2
Materials
Materials listed and procedure clearly stated
&
(should be written for another scientist to repeat your experiment)
Methods 5
Data recorded in tables
(should give data tables a title & label units) 6
Results
Graphs present
(should give graphs a title & label axis) 6
Results summarized and compared to hypothesis
(should reference specific data and state whether hypothesis is supported or refuted) 2
Identify errors
(should include experimental and experimenter error and include how each affected
results) 2
Conclusion Suggestions for improvement
(should discuss how procedure could be altered for improved results/refer to
experimental error) 2
Conclusion stated/results interpreted
(should be the most thought provoking section of the lab; discuss the meaning of
your results) 5
Appropriate citation of at least 2 sources
Literature
(should include citation within lab report; most likely background/conclusion
Cited
sections) 2
Appropriate use of scientific language
Language (should include correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling throughout the lab
report) 2

Total score 40

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