7.7 Acid Rain

• What is the pH level of acid rain?

  Below 5.6
• The key pollutants contributing to acid rain are sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides
• Acid rain can harm ecosystems and aquatic life.
• What is the pH level of normal rain?

  5.6 - 7
• Sulfur dioxide is primarily released from burning fossil fuels
• Match the pollutant with its formation process:

  Sulfur dioxide ↔️ $SO_{2} +$$H_{2}O +$$O_{2} \rightarrow H_{2}SO_{4}$

  Nitrogen oxides ↔️ $NO_{x} +$$H_{2}O +$$O_{2} \rightarrow HNO_{3}$
• Which acids are formed in the atmosphere to create acid rain?

  Sulfuric and nitric acids
• Sulfur dioxide reacts with water and oxygen to form sulfuric acid.
• Acid rain forms when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals
• What is the primary source of sulfur dioxide pollution?

  Burning fossil fuels
• What is the main source of nitrogen oxides pollution?

  Vehicle exhaust
• Match the pollutant with its primary source:

  Sulfur dioxide ↔️ Burning fossil fuels

  Nitrogen oxides ↔️ Vehicle exhaust
• Acid rain forms when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react with water, oxygen, and other substances
• What is the chemical equation for the formation of sulfuric acid from sulfur dioxide?

  $SO_{2} +$$H_{2}O +$$O_{2} \rightarrow H_{2}SO_{4}$
• Acid rain can significantly affect ecosystems and aquatic life.
• Nitrogen oxides react with water and oxygen to form nitric acid.
• Sulfur dioxide ($SO_{2}$) is primarily formed by burning fossil fuels in power plants and industries.
• Nitrogen oxides ($NO_{x}$) are released by vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions.
• Acid rain affects ecosystems, forests, and aquatic life.
• Match the effect of acid rain with the environmental component it affects:

  Forests ↔️ Soil acidification

  Aquatic Life ↔️ Lake acidification

  Biodiversity ↔️ Decline of sensitive species
• Acid rain damages aquatic life by acidifying lakes and rivers.
• Order the primary sources of acid rain pollutants by their main outputs:

  1️⃣ Burning fossil fuels in power plants and industries ||| Vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions
• Acid rain affects fish populations in lakes and rivers.
• Acid rain causes soil acidification, nutrient leaching, and toxic metal release.
• Acid rain can lead to the disappearance of sensitive species in aquatic ecosystems.
• Match the environmental component with its effect from acid rain:

  Forests ↔️ Nutrient leaching

  Aquatic Life ↔️ Harm to fish populations

  Biodiversity ↔️ Decline of sensitive species
• Acid rain can damage aquatic ecosystems by acidifying lakes and releasing toxic metals.
• Acid rain primarily affects biodiversity by harming forests and aquatic ecosystems.
• What are the primary pollutants that form acid rain?

  Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides
• The health effects of acid rain are primarily indirect.
• Acid rain leaches heavy metals from soil into drinking water.
• What is the primary source of the health effects of acid rain?

  Indirect exposure
• Fine particulate matter in acid rain irritates the respiratory system, aggravating conditions like asthma and bronchitis
• What toxic metals can acid rain leach into drinking water from soil and pipes?

  Lead and copper
• Acid rain can increase the concentration of toxic metals in the food chain.
• What are the primary strategies for reducing acid rain?

  Reduce SO2 and NOx emissions
• Scrubbers in power plants and catalytic converters in vehicles help lower acid rain by reducing emissions
• Switching to renewable energy sources reduces reliance on fossil fuels and lowers emissions.
• What is the pH level below which precipitation is considered acid rain?

  $5.6$
• Normal rain has a pH level between $5.6$ and 7