Acid Deposition/ Acid Rain (6.4)
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Resources:TOPIC 6: NOTESREVIEW: JEOPARDY BOARD |
Acid Rain and Acid Deposition
Acid Deposition = acid coming down from air as either wet deposition (snow or rain) or dry deposition (ash or dry particles). It is primarily composed of two acids: sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and nitric acid (HNO3).
What is Acid Rain? Chemistry of Acid Rain |
Acidity is based on the pH scale, which is logarithmic, meaning Each step up or down is 10x more acidic or basic than the previous. A pH of 1-6 is acidic, 8-14 is basic and 7 considered neutral.
Normal water is around 7pH. Normal rain water is around ~5.6pH due to natural SO2 and NO2 in the atmosphere. Acid Rain is closer to 4.3pH a full step lower. So it is 10x more acidic than normal rain water. |
Formation of Acid Rain
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Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) are the primary pollutants that cause acid rain (a secondary pollutant).
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Effects of Acid Rain
Effects of Acid Rain can be direct or indirect effects. The indirect effects are highly significant.
Direct Effects:
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Regional and International Problem
Acid Rain is very much a global issues around the world. Every continent is affected to some degree, some more than others.
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