Experiment: Solving Dissolving

It takes a long time for a cenote to form.

Rain water absorbs a gas (carbon dioxide) from the air and forms a weak acid. As this trickles down through tiny cracks in the limestone, the weak acid dissolves a mineral in the limestone called calcite. Over time the limestone is dissolved and a cenote is formed.

Collect:

• 1 piece of chalk
• 1 plastic tray
• 1 dropper
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup vinegar
• 1 egg carton
• 1 piece of limestone rock
• 5 rocks that look different

Try It:

  Put three drops of water on the chalk. - What happens?

 Put three drops of vinegar on the chalk. - What happens?

 Chalk is made from limestone. Vinegar is a weak acid.

 Try other liquids.- Did you find weak acids?

 Number your rocks and print the logbook sheet.

 Compare these rocks to the limestone. - Record your results.

"If vinegar does that to a rock, what does it do to my stomach?" - Dontay Caraway, SMM Youth Assistant.

Activity List