Acid Rain and Carrot Seed Germination
Hard
What happens to seeds when rainwater turns acidic? You set up five groups of 100 carrot seeds in paper towel rolls. The acid amounts range from zero to eight milliliters of nitric acid.
After 14 days you unroll the towels and count how many seeds have sprouted. The group with no acid has the highest germination rate. The group with the most acid has the lowest. More acid means fewer sprouts.
Hypothesis
The hypothesis is that the percentage of seeds that germinate will decrease as the amount of acid added to the water during germination time increases.
Method & Materials
You will need to count out 100 carrot seeds, lightly dampen two paper towels, place the seeds in a horizontal line on one paper towel, roll the paper towel up with the seeds in it, wrap the other paper towel around the first one, wrap a sheet of plastic wrap around the paper towels, and place the paper towel roll in a container of water with varying amounts of acid.
You will need 500 carrot seeds, a roll of plastic wrap, a roll of paper towel, 5 containers of acid rain pH solution of H20 and nitric acid, a graduated cylinder, and 5 glass canning jars.
Results
The results of the experiment showed that the trial with no acid had a higher number of seeds germinate, while the trial with all acid had the lowest percentage of seeds that germinated. This shows that acid rain can have a major effect on the germination of seeds.
Why do this project?
This science project is interesting and unique because it shows how acid rain can have a major effect on the germination of seeds, which is an important environmental issue.
Also Consider
Variations to consider include using a stronger acid level and recording data for a longer period of time to see how the plant grows and matures in an acidic environment.
Full project details
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