How does the acidity of a substance affect the formation of a cave?
The majority of caves are formed when limestone is dissolved by carbonic acid. In this experiment you will determine why acidic substances form caves by comparing how acidic and nonacidic solutions react with different geologic materials. You will use chalk, seashells, and rocks as the geologic materials. Chalk and seashells are both types of limestone. Carbonic acid, a mixture of carbon dioxide and water, is the same compound found in soda. Carbonic acid is a weak acid. It is carbonic acid that makes soda fizz. A liquid can also be a base or it can be neutral. Pure water is an example of a neutral. A mixture of baking soda in water is an example of a base. After determining the acidity of the liquids, you will place…
