What do you think of when you hear the word, acid? What about acid rain? Acid combined with water in the atmosphere is a serious problem for a number of reasons. One of these is the rapid erosion of rock.

Acid rain is the result of certain chemicals mixing with water in the air. For example, sulfur oxides from burning coal mix with water to make sulfuric acid and sulfurous acid. Nitrogen oxides also mix with water to make acid that rains down on all things, living and nonliving. This acid rain can be especially damaging to trees.

In this activity, you will observe the change in the size of rocks as acid flows over them. You will also choose the best graph types to illustrate this effect of acid on the different rocks.