Acid Rain
Created by Erik Heinemann
Background:
Most living things cells contain
nitrogen. Nitrogen makes up 78% of the
atmosphere and can be found as a stable N2 molecule which requires
tremendous energy to break it into usable forms for plants and animals. Lightning is one of the few things with
enough energy to do this. As a result
the nitrogen molecule is split and it immediately reacts with oxygen in the air
to produce nitrates (-NO3) and nitrites (-NO2). The two nitrogen oxides dissolve in rain
water and fall to the earth where plants can absorb and use the nitrogen.
Nitrogen oxides dissolved in rain
causing nitric acid to form and as a result natural rain has pH levels that
are slightly acidic. The problem that we
often hear about with acid rain is when human pollution adds to the nitrogen
oxides in the air or adds sulfur dioxide (SO2) which can react with
water to produce sulfuric acid.
Increased pollutants create rain with pH levels much lower than what
they would occur naturally.
In this activity you will
investigate acid rain, where the biggest problems are and what you can do to
help.
Activity:
First investigate the
problem. Click on the color-coded map
of the
1)
Which states tend to
have the biggest problem with pH?
2)
The Jet Stream is a
continuously changing air current that dominates the weather in the
Next, go to the Environmental
Protection Agency’s (EPA) Acid
Rain page and click on the What is
acid rain and what causes it? link.
3)
What is the
difference between wet deposition and dry deposition?
4)
How do the pollutants
that cause acid rain spread from their source?
5)
In the background
about it was mentioned that sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are the leading
producers of acid rain. What percentage
of each of the two gases comes from power generation that relies on burning
fossil fuels like coal?
6)
Describe the
reactions that produce sulfuric acid and nitric acid?
7)
Return to the Acid
Rain page. Click How
Do We Measure Acid Rain? And read the
paragraph. Then click the link to the
pH page and scroll to the pH chart of
common household substances. Complete
this table.
|
Item |
pH |
Acid or Base |
|
Normal Rain |
|
|
|
Acid Rain |
|
|
|
Lemonade |
|
|
|
Apple |
|
|
|
Milk |
|
|
|
Ammonia |
|
|
8)
Next look at the Effects
of Acid Rain. Click on each of the links below to complete
this acid rain effects table.
|
Acid Rain
Effect on: |
Description of
Effect |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acid Rain is a major concern for
everybody who knows about it. It affects
our homes, our environment and our health.
It is a problem we all need to be aware of. However, we can do something about it. Even as students, you can do little things
that can add up to big things and make a difference. Go to the Take Action as Individuals link and list six things you can do to reduce acid rain.
9)
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