Acid Rain

What is Acid Rain?

• It is rain whose Ph has decreased and therefore been turned acidic after having mixed with sulphur or nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere.

How is nitrogen and sulphuric dioxide formed?• Burning Fossil Fuels (coal oil or

gas)

Sulphur dioxide dissolves in rain, making it more acidic.

It lowers its pH to 5.8

When sulphur is burned it reacts with oxygen in the atmosphere and it produces Sulphur dioxide.

Why is Acid Rain harmful?

• Erodes buildings.• Damages rocks and

statues

•Makes water in rivers more acidic and kills fish

• Kills plants and destroys forests.

• Damages animals’habitat.

•Decide which fossil fuels burn more clearly.

•Research new less-pollutant methods

•Fit scrubbers into factory’s chimneys, which are chemical filters that remove impurities such as sulphur from smoke.

•The government can take action.

•Cars can be fitted with special converters which remove dangerous chemicals

Solutions to Acid Rain

Why do some factory owners refuse to try new

environmentally safe methods?

1.It is an additional pay they have to make

2. Their profits may go down.

3. They are not aware of the dangers of acid rain.

•Walk instead of drive.•Walk instead of drive.

•Avoid burning fires.•Avoid burning fires.

•Consume less electricity•Consume less electricity

•Recycle and reuse as much as possible.•Recycle and reuse as much as possible.

•Turn off the lights in unused rooms and the hot water tank when away for long periods of time.•Turn off the lights in unused rooms and the hot water tank when away for long periods of time.

•Avoid using air conditioner or leaving the computer on.•Avoid using air conditioner or leaving the computer on.

What Can Individuals do to Reduce Acid Rain?