Can An Antacid Tablet Like Tums Or Alka-Seltzer Be Used To Neutralize Acidic Soil, And Does One Work More Efficiently Than The Other?
School Name
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School
Grade Level
10th Grade
Presentation Topic
Botany
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Abstract
The purpose of this project was to study the effect of acid rain on Wisconsin Fast Plants (Brassica rapa), and determine whether or not an antacid tablet like Tums or Alka-seltzer could be used to neutralize the pH level of the soil once the acid rain had been added. In order to perform the experiment, there were five groups of Wisconsin Fast Plants (Brassica rapa) set up, one with plain soil and regular water (9 plants), one with plain soil and acid rain (6 plants), one with Alka-seltzer and plain water (15 plants), one with Alka-seltzer and acid rain (15 plants), one with Tums and plain water (15 plants), and one with Tums and acid rain (15 plants). The groups that needed it were watered with acid rain, which contained distilled water and about 13 drops of sulfuric acid, every third day, and data was taken on the same days using a Kelway pH meter. The qualitative results of this experiment showed that the antacid tablet Tums was able to neutralize the soil pH, but the plants’ appearances were notably less verdant than those of the controlled group. The Alka-seltzer groups had no plant growth, therefore they cannot be compared to the other groups (though their soil pH levels were significantly lower than the other groups’).
Recommended Citation
Bunch, Caroline, "Can An Antacid Tablet Like Tums Or Alka-Seltzer Be Used To Neutralize Acidic Soil, And Does One Work More Efficiently Than The Other?" (2016). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 198.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2016/all/198
Location
Kinard 115
Start Date
4-16-2016 12:15 PM
Can An Antacid Tablet Like Tums Or Alka-Seltzer Be Used To Neutralize Acidic Soil, And Does One Work More Efficiently Than The Other?
Kinard 115
The purpose of this project was to study the effect of acid rain on Wisconsin Fast Plants (Brassica rapa), and determine whether or not an antacid tablet like Tums or Alka-seltzer could be used to neutralize the pH level of the soil once the acid rain had been added. In order to perform the experiment, there were five groups of Wisconsin Fast Plants (Brassica rapa) set up, one with plain soil and regular water (9 plants), one with plain soil and acid rain (6 plants), one with Alka-seltzer and plain water (15 plants), one with Alka-seltzer and acid rain (15 plants), one with Tums and plain water (15 plants), and one with Tums and acid rain (15 plants). The groups that needed it were watered with acid rain, which contained distilled water and about 13 drops of sulfuric acid, every third day, and data was taken on the same days using a Kelway pH meter. The qualitative results of this experiment showed that the antacid tablet Tums was able to neutralize the soil pH, but the plants’ appearances were notably less verdant than those of the controlled group. The Alka-seltzer groups had no plant growth, therefore they cannot be compared to the other groups (though their soil pH levels were significantly lower than the other groups’).
