Acid Deposition Notes

Acid Deposition A mix of air pollutants that deposit from the atmosphere as acidic wet or dry deposition

wet deposition Snow, rain, hail, fog

Dry Deposition Dust and gases

Step 1 of the acid deposition process: The burning of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide (fossil fuels) enter the atmosphere

Step 2: Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide react with WATER and OXYGEN to create Nitric & Sulfuric Acid

Step 3: Acid falls down onto earth in wet or dry form

Acid Rain pH less than 5.6, the average pH of acid rain is 4.2-04.4

Which gases are responsible for acid rain from burning coal and oil? Sulfur dioxide & sulfur trioxide

Which gas contributes to acid rain from car and power plant emissions? Nitrogen oxide

Which gas is formed from photochemical reactions of nitrogen and oxygen oxides? Ozone

Effects of acid rain on non-living things (chemical weathering) Corrodes metals and damages railway lines, water pipes, power lines, pylons, and metal railings

Dissolves building materials (limestone)

Human buildings are affected largely

Effects of acid rain on vegetation/crops Damages cells in leaves, plant root systems, germinating seeds, defoliation (leaves falling off), reduced crop yield, and lead leaks into soil.

Effects of acid rain on soil Changes in solubility of ions in the soil, calcium & magnesium (vital ions) are lost, lead and aluminum is released which harms plant growth

Effects of acid rain on aquatic environments Harms gill-breathing organisms, ions from soil run into water (aluminum & lead), slows growth rates of amphibians, damages eggs, exoskeleton organisms may die as acids dissolve their skeleton, respiratory issues in humans drinking polluted water

Photochemical Smog: A mix of air pollutants & particles formed when oxides of nitrogen & volatile organic compounds (VOC's) react in the presence of sunlight

Impacts of photochemical smog Eye & respiratory irritation, decreased crop yields, deterioration of plastic/rubber