Question: how can you make acid rain for an science experiment

Sarah Thomas answered on 16 Jun 2011:

Well normal rainwater is around pH 5.6 to 5.7 because of the natural emissions in air like carbon dioxide. The acid in acid rain is due to sulfuric acid and nitric acid formed when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react with water vapor in the atmosphere, as Tim said.

To make acid rain for your experiment you will need the following materials:

– dropper or pipette
– distilled water
– glass jar with with lid
– bromothymol blue solution (this is an indicator)
– measuring cylinder
– test tube or other small container
– matches with high sulfur content

This is the experiment:

1. Add drops of bromothymol blue to 5 ml of distilled water in a test tube until the water becomes a light blue color. In the presence of an acid, bromothymol blue will turn yellow.

2. Place several matches in a glass jar. Light the matches. Cover the jar with its lid. The matches will give off carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulfur gases.

3. Allow the matches to burn out. Add bromothymol blue from the test tube to the jar. Replace the jar’s cover, and shake the jar vigorously.

4. Observe what happens inside the jar.

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Hope that helps!