LAB

Title: Investigating Rocks and Minerals

Aim: To determine the appropriate percentage of limestone rocks
Apparatus/Materials: Tweezer/dropper/tongs, vinegar, plastic cup/
petri dish, plastic conainers, stones.
Method: Collect 50 small stones within Mandeville region. Wash
them gently in water and dried them in sunlight, The rocks were
placed in a cup, which contained vinegar. Then the observations were
recorded.
Calculations: There are 26 limestone rocks in the table. To find the
percentage 26 must be placed over 50 and then multiplied by 100.
26/50 x 100 = 52%
Discussion: Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the
mineral calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of
calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Most limestone are composed from
skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral. In this
experiment, each rock sample was placed in a plastic cup which
contained vinegar.Limestone reacts with vinegar. Like chalk and
marble, it reacts because it is a type of calcium carbonate. Common
rocks such as flint, granite, and sandstone are unaffected. Vinegar
works along contacts between mineral grains. Crystals that are tightly
bound together become looser as weathering products, such as
vinegar, form at their contacts.
Observation: Igneous rocks, such as granite, are usually the hardest.
Sedimentary rocks, such as sandstone, are usually the softest. Each
rock sample had different reactions when they were placed into
vinegar. The limestone rocks fizzed a lot of bubble, the slightly
limestone rocks fizzed a little and the rocks that were not limestone

did not fizz at all. Also when vinegar came in contact with the rocks,
ony some of the colour of the rocks were slighlty change to a lighter
colour.
Conclusion: Vinegar which contains acetic acid, react with the
minerals found in limestones called calcium carbonate and not with
other rocks such igneous rocks.