Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

For my limestone rock experiment, I saw that the rocks in 100% vinegar lost over a gram in mass every time, while the ones in water barely lost 0.1 grams. I was just wondering if I was supposed to see more of an increase in mass from the water and I was doing the experiment wrong or if this is normal to see.

Hi Traewayne,
I think that is exactly the result you would expect to see from this experiment, which means you're on the right track! Vinegar (basically dilute acetic acid) is an acid and acidic solutions can act on rocks like limestone (calcium carbonate) and dissolve them. Water being neutral, does not have this corrosive effect on the limestone.
This is why too much industrial emissions of toxic gases like sulfur dioxide can combine with rain water forming dilute acids which can harm natural geological features as well as man-made monuments with time.
Best wishes,
MS