Acid Rain What is Acid Rain Acid rain

Acid Rain

What is Acid Rain? • Acid rain is rain that has been acidic by pollutants in the made _______ air • There are three major pollutants: – Carbon dioxide (CO 2) – Nitrogen oxides (NOx) – Sulfur oxides (SOx)

Carbon Dioxide acidic • Normal rain is usually slightly ______, with a p. H of ___ 5. 6 – CO 2 dissolves in moisture in the atmosphere to form dilute carbonic acid ________ CO 2(g) + H 2 O(l) H 2 CO 3(aq)

Carbon dioxide • CO 2 occurs naturally in our atmosphere – Breathed out in _______ respiration – Produced from forest fires and _____ volcanic eruptions

Carbon Dioxide increases • Human activities greatly _____ the amount of CO 2 in our atmosphere car emissions – ________ factories burning fossil fuels – _______________

Nitrogen oxides • Naturally produced by plant decay lightning strikes and _______________ • Nitrogen oxides react with water in the atmosphere to form acids • Ex. 2 NO 2(g) + H 2 O(l) HNO 3(aq) + HNO 2(aq)

Nitrogen oxides • Human activities increase the amount of nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere fossil fuels – Combustion of _______

Sulfur oxides • Naturally exists in our atmosphere volcanic eruptions – Produced in __________

Sulfur oxides • Reacts with water in the atmosphere to produce acids • Ex. SO 2(g) +H 2 O(l) H 2 SO 3(aq) • Human activity increases levels of sulfur oxides – Combustion of coal and oil (SO 2) Smelting of ores in factories – _____

Why is Acid Rain bad? • Lakes aquatic life – Cannot support _______ toxic metals that can accumulate – Increases levels of ________ in fish • Forests – Damage to wildlife and plants • Humans Erosion of buildings – ______ – Buildup of toxic metals in fish these fish are consumed by humans ________

Neutralizing Acid Precipitation • Acid rain can be neutralized using basic (ie. p. H greater than 7) substances

Liming limestone (basic substance) • Addition of _____ neutralize acidic lake water and to _____ surrounding soil – Varying degrees of success around the Canadian Shield

Liming • Pros: easy to distribute – Inexpensive and __________ – Dissolves easily in water Short term effects improved water – __________: clarity and restoration of habitat • Cons: Needs to be repeated – ____________

Other Solutions • Most solutions aim to reduce the emission of pollutants __________ – Reduced automobile use (carpooling, etc) – Retrofit older homes to eliminate air leaks – Plant trees (they take in CO 2 during photosynthesis) – Adding “scrubbers” to smokestacks on factories that reduce pollutants