Chemistry of Cave Formation
Initial Publication Date: August 4, 2017
Summary
Students investigate what happens to calcium carbonate in an aqueous solution when the pH of the water changes.
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Context
Audience
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Speleothems, Mammoth Cave National Park![[creative commons]](/images/creativecommons_16.png)
See the course description, including links to all of the other teaching activities for this course.
Skills and concepts that students must have mastered
Basic safety in a Chemistry laboratory
How the activity is situated in the course
This is the first lab exercise related to caves, introducing our study of Mammoth Cave National Park.
Goals
Content/concepts goals for this activity
Students will understand that calcium carbonate (and therefore limestone) dissolves in acidic solutions and precipitates as a solution becomes less acidic.
Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity
Students will make the connection between what happens to powdered calcium carbonate in a chemistry laboratory and what happens as groundwater percolates through limestone bedrock.
Other skills goals for this activity
Description of the activity/assignment
Students investigate what happens to calcium carbonate in an aqueous solution when the pH of the water decreases, and then when it increases.
Determining whether students have met the goals
Working individually or in groups, students write a brief summary of their observations.
More information about assessment tools and techniques.Teaching materials and tips
- Activity Description/Assignment: Ormand chemistry of caves lab (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 16kB Aug4 17)
Other Materials
Supporting references/URLs
I co-taught this lab with a Chemistry professor, and used the Chemistry laboratory facilities.