Atmospheric Pollution Flashcards
(13 cards)
What is the impact of acid rain on soil chemistry?
Acid rain causes nutrient leaching, changes the acidity of soil, and affects soil fertility.
Hydrogen ions from acid rain interact with soil minerals, displacing nutrients like potassium and calcium.
How does acid rain affect nutrient leaching in soil?
Hydrogen ions added to the soil interact chemically with existing soil minerals, displacing nutrients.
This leads to a reduction in essential nutrients for plant growth.
What acids are present in acid rain?
Sulphuric acid, nitric acid, sulphurous acid, and nitrous acid.
These acids contribute to the overall acidity of the rain.
How does acid rain change the acidity of the soil?
The acidity of the soil increases due to the complex mixture of acids in acid rain.
This can lead to adverse effects on soil health.
What effect does acid rain have on soil fertility?
It inhibits the activity of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, leading to marked reduction in soil fertility.
This is particularly detrimental for leguminous plants.
How does acid rain impact water bodies?
It affects marine organisms, changes the pH of the environment, and leaches toxic metals into rivers and streams.
These changes can destroy aquatic plants and animals.
What is the threshold pH level for most aquatic animals’ survival?
Most aquatic animals cannot survive when pH is less than 4.
Certain species are eliminated at pH levels less than 6.
What happens to salmon in acidic waters?
Salmon die at pH levels less than 5.5.
This highlights the sensitivity of aquatic life to pH changes.
What are the general impacts of acid rain on plants?
Acid rain affects transpiration, decolorizes leaf pigments, retards growth of crops, and reduces the rate of photosynthesis.
These effects can lead to decreased agricultural productivity.
How does acid rain affect humans?
Toxicity from acid rain enters the food chain through plants and animals, affecting human health.
This can lead to various health issues related to toxin exposure.
What materials are damaged by acid rain?
Corrodes metallic surfaces, disintegrates paper and leather, and weakens building materials like statues and marble.
The chemical reaction includes the corrosion of calcium carbonate.
What are some alternative energy sources to control acid rain?
Compressed natural gas (CNG), hydro power, and wind energy.
These sources cause almost no pollution compared to fossil fuels.
What technical devices can help reduce acid rain emissions?
Catalytic converters and electrostatic precipitators.
These devices reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from automobiles and industries.
