Rainfall, Throughfall and the Effects of Acid Rain on Major Ions and pH:

A Rising Tide Project for Grades 9 through 12

Glossary

Classroom Activities
   pH
   Ions

Resources and Links

Glossary

Acid = a substance that liberates hydrogen ions when in an aqueous solution.

Acid Rain = precipitation such as rain, snow, sleet, hail, or dew that measures less than 7 on the pH scale. 

Best fit line = a line drawn on a plotted point graph that shows the relationship between variables.  

Base = a substance that accepts hydrogen ions; proton acceptor

Calibrate = to adjust the graduations of an instrument that is to be used for measurement. 

Chloride = a charged particle of chlorine; Cl^-; the nonmetal component of dissolved salt. 

Dependent variable = the quantity that changes because of the variation in the independent variable; in graphing, is utilized on the
vertical axis.

Deposition = the deposit of any organic or inorganic matter on the leaves or branches of any plant from the atmosphere. 

Event rain = a sample of rain that was collected on a specific date or at a specific time.

Extrapolate = to make an inference based on facts.

Fluoride = a charged particle of fluoride; F^-

Foliar interactions = the results of the presence of compounds around plants and trees such as deposition or leaching. 

Graph scale = the number quantity given to each grid on a graph.

Horizontal axis = a.k.a. the X-axis; indicates the information required of the independent variable on a plotted point graph. 

Hydronium ion = H⁺; a positively charged particle composed of hydrogen; found in acidic solutions. 

Hydroxide ion = OH^-; a negatively charged particle composed of hydrogen and oxygen in a ratio of 1 to 1; found in basic solutions.  

Independent variable = the experimental factor that is changed by the experimenter; in graphing, is utilized on the horizontal axis. 

Indicator = a substance or compound that is used to provide evidence for the presence or absence of a specific condition. 

Ion = any atom that has lost or gained one or more valence electrons thus carrying a positive or negative charge. 

Leaching = removing by a solution.

Monthly rain = a sample of rain that was collected over a time period of 30 days.

Neutralization = a chemical reaction that occurs between an acid and a base.

Nitrate = a polyatomic ion composed of nitrogen and oxygen in a 1 to 3 ratio; NO₃^-

Nitrite = a polyatomic ion composed of nitrogen and oxygen in a 1 to 2 ratio; NO₂^-

pH = the symbol for hydrogen ion concentration; a measure of the relative acidity or basicity of a solution. 

pH scale = the graduation in measurement of the balance of hydronium and hydroxide ions in a substance or compound. 

pH meter = an electronic instrument that is calibrated to measure the pH of a substance or solution. 

Pollution = the addition of harmful waste matter by human industry or natural phenomenon. 

Polyatomic ion = an ion that consists of two or more elements.

Precipitation = (1) water molecules that form in the Earth’s atmosphere as dew, rain, snow, or hail; (2) formation of insoluble complexes that settle out of solution. 

Seawater = salt water as it occurs in the oceans. 

Sulfate = a polyatomic ion composed of sulfur and oxygen in a 1 to 4 ratio; SO₄^2-

Sulfur dioxide = SO₂; a gaseous compound composed of sulfur and oxygen.

Sulfuric acid = H₂SO₄; a liquid acidic compound composed of hydrogen, sulfur, and oxygen. 

Throughfall = refers to precipitation that has had foliar interactions.

Vertical axis = a.k.a. the Y axis; indicates the information required of the dependent variable on a plotted point graph.