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Introduction:
Concepts:
An example of acid rain that is principally due to hydrochloric acid occurs in
Cape Canaveral, Florida when a space shuttle is launched. The space shuttle has two
solid rocket boosters that operate for the first two minutes of flight to provide the
additional thrust needed for the shuttle to escape the gravitational pull of the earth. The
incredible amount of energy comes from the oxidation of aluminum to alumina by
ammonium perchlorate. This reaction produces about 60 tons of HCl close enough to the
ground to cause severe environmental damage in areas within 20 miles of the launch site.
Summary:
In this lab you will observe a reaction between a gaseous acid and base. You will
then be asked to alter the reaction conditions and make new observations, speculating as
to how the new conditions affected the course of the reaction.
Procedure:
1. Take the lid off a clean, dry petri dish. Turn the lid over and place it on the
chart below. Put 12 drops of 6 M HCl in a circle on the inside of the lid. Use the
black dots for spacing the drops.
2. Place 1 drop of 6 M NH3 in the center of the dish bottom. Use the chart to
find the center.
3. Turn the lid over and place it on the dish. Slide the covered dish over a black
piece of paper.
4. Watch for a reaction in the petri dish, and record your observations.
5. Rotate the lid a few degrees and observe, and record your observations.
6. Repeat steps 1 - 3 using a clean, dry dish, but this time place the 12 drops of 6
M HCl on the bottom of the dish and the 1 drop of 6 M NH3 on the inside of the
lid. Record your observations.
7. Obtain a clear polystyrene cup. Place 1 drop of 6 M HCl in the bottom of a
cup and 1 drop of 6 M NH3 on the lid of a petri dish or on a chemical resistant lab
table. Carefully invert and place the HCl cup on top of the NH3 drop. Record
your observations.
8. Rotate the dish somewhat and observe. Record your observations.
9. Press your finger against the cup over the drop of HCl, and record your
observations.
10. Cup your hands around the sides of the cup and record your observations.
11. Hold a piece of ice on the side of the cup and record your observations.
12. Hold a piece of ice on the top of the cup over the HCl drop and record your
observations.
Al !
HCl + Cl2 +
NO + Al2O3 +
H2O
4. A challenge for your super students. Balance the following reaction for the space
shuttle launch assuming the following products:
NH4ClO4 + Al ! HCl + Cl2 + NO + Al2O3
+ H2O
Timeline:
Activity
Time (min)
Class business
5
Petri dishes
15
Cups
15
Discuss and compare results
10
Total
45
References:
1. Dr. Stephen Thompson, Chem Trek, Allyn and Bacon, 1989, Space Shuttle
Launches: An Example of Severe Local Hydrochloric Acid Deposition.
2. Pellett, Sevacher, Bendura and Wornom, HCl in Rocket Exhaust Clouds:
Atmospheric Dispersion, Acid Aerosol Characteristics, and Acid Rain
Deposition, Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association, April 1983.