Acid Rain

Question 1

Acid rain

Answer 1

• when oxides of sulphur and nitrogen combine with water it produces acids, known as acid rain

1. NOx + water = acids
2. SOx + water = acids

Question 2

SOx and NOx

Answer 2

SOx refers to SO2 or SO3

NOx refers to NO or NO2

Question 3

Liming

Answer 3

• used to recover lakes that have been acidified

Question 4

Formation of ozone

Answer 4

NO2 = NO + O
O + O2 = O3

• in the presence of sunlight, some wavelengths have enough energy to decompose NO2 into elemental oxygen which combines with and oxygen molecule to make ozone.
• ozone is only beneficial in the stratosphere

Question 5

VOC’s

Answer 5

• Volatile organic compound- a hydrocarbon that vaporizes and exists as a gas in air
• gasoline, solvents, paints and petroleum based products are VOC’s

Question 6

Particulate matter

Answer 6

• sometimes coal contains lead or mercury and when coal is combusted these can be carried far distances and then deposited into the ground
• consists of solids like soot and smoke and ash

Question 7

Carcinogens

Answer 7

Any agent that causes the likelihood of cancer to increase

Question 8

Phosphates

Answer 8

• from fertilizer and laundry detergent causes algal blooms because there is excess growth of algae from the extra nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen)