Unit 3: Atmospheric Pollution - Acid Rain
- Created by: rosieevie
- Created on: 05-04-15 15:36
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- Atmospheric Pollution - Acid Rain
- Acid rain is rain that is more acidic than pH 5.6
- Causes
- Sulphur Dioxide (Sulphurous Acid - Weak)
- Burning coal and oil, smelting sulphide ores
- Sulphur Trioxide (Sulphuric Acid - Strong)
- Oxidised by tropospheric ozone
- Oxides of Nitrogen (Nitric Acid - Strong)
- Combustion, denitrification, vehicle exhaust gas
- Ozone (oxidised sulphur dioxide to trioxide)
- Photochemical reactions
- Sulphur Dioxide (Sulphurous Acid - Weak)
- Effects
- Non-Living Things
- Corrode metals - damage to pipes, railways and power lines
- Limestone buildings and statues damaged
- Living Things
- Inhibit enzyme action and denature proteins
- May effect plant stomata and root hair cells, fish eggs and germinating seeds
- Dissolves exoskeletons
- Lichens may change in size, abundance and diversity
- Respiatory problems
- Increases heavy metal ion solubility- may inhibit plant enzyme action and be leached into human drinking water
- Non-Living Things
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