Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In this experiment I perform an electrical conductivity test of rainwater, collected in my garden, in northern Italy. It took me about 7 hours, during a rainy winter day, to fill the bottle. One liter of rainwater, at atmospheric pressure and at 15°C, should contain 30 ml of oxygen, 15 ml of nitrogen and carbon dioxide. Obviously rainwater can also dissolve other anomalous components, i.e. pollutants, in the air.
During this experiment I measured the pH of the water obtaining a reading of Ph lower than 5.6 - Rain normally has a pH between 5.6 and 6.2 while in some cases it has an acidity (pH 5.5 or lower), due to the dissolved carbon dioxide. If the rain absorbs more pollutants such as sulphates and nitrates present in polluted air, its pH becomes lower than 5.6, and we speak of acid rain. Among the pollutants present in the air we can find: sulphur dioxide (SO2) which produces sulphuric acid (H2SO4) or the various nitrogen oxides, mainly NO2 and NO3 commonly referred to as NOx.
Rainwater is of fundamental importance for the crops in our gardens. After the rain, in fact, the plants extract carbon dioxide from the acidic aqueous solution, obtaining a charge of energy that invigorates and stimulates growth.
Finally, I discovered that the rainwater collected in my area is not able to conduct electricity. I therefore wanted to conclude the experiment by dissolving salt in water to make the light bulb on.
This video is only for demonstration. I don't take any responsibility.
#electric #experiment #water
In this experiment I perform an electrical conductivity test of rainwater, collected in my garden, in northern Italy. It took me about 7 hours, during a rainy winter day, to fill the bottle. One liter of rainwater, at atmospheric pressure and at 15°C, should contain 30 ml of oxygen, 15 ml of nitrogen and carbon dioxide. Obviously rainwater can also dissolve other anomalous components, i.e. pollutants, in the air.
During this experiment I measured the pH of the water obtaining a reading of Ph lower than 5.6 - Rain normally has a pH between 5.6 and 6.2 while in some cases it has an acidity (pH 5.5 or lower), due to the dissolved carbon dioxide. If the rain absorbs more pollutants such as sulphates and nitrates present in polluted air, its pH becomes lower than 5.6, and we speak of acid rain. Among the pollutants present in the air we can find: sulphur dioxide (SO2) which produces sulphuric acid (H2SO4) or the various nitrogen oxides, mainly NO2 and NO3 commonly referred to as NOx.
Rainwater is of fundamental importance for the crops in our gardens. After the rain, in fact, the plants extract carbon dioxide from the acidic aqueous solution, obtaining a charge of energy that invigorates and stimulates growth.
Finally, I discovered that the rainwater collected in my area is not able to conduct electricity. I therefore wanted to conclude the experiment by dissolving salt in water to make the light bulb on.
This video is only for demonstration. I don't take any responsibility.
#electric #experiment #water
