The Issue of Acid Rain - SHE Task
Jessie Zeitz
Introduction
In the 21st century, the use of cars, electricity, and coal burning power stations are being used more than ever before. This is making the issue of acid rain more and more relevant to today's society. As acid rain is not talked about much in the news, many people are not informed about it. Without it being publicly addressed much, people will not know the intensity of the situation and how bad this problem is. In Australia between the years 2015 and 2016, the number of vehicles increased by 2.1% (9309.0 - Motor Vehicle Census Australia, 2016). Therefore, more nitrogen in the air is reacting with the oxygen, producing nitrogen dioxide, which then dissolves in rainwater, producing nitric acid. Nitric acid is one of the main mineral acids that contribute to …show more content…
The main causes of acid rain are coal fired power plants, and combustion in cars and other motor vehicles. When coal is burnt, the sulfur combines chemically with the oxygen to form sulfur dioxide which then dissolves in rainwater to form sulfuric acid, a highly corrosive and strong acid (BBC Bitesize - GCSE Chemistry - Products And Effects Of Combustion - Revision 3, 2017). In an engine’s combustion, the temperatures are extremely high. As the nitrogen in the air only is able to react with oxygen at very high temperatures, this reaction occurs and produces nitrogen dioxide (GCSE SCIENCE CHEMISTRY HIGH SCHOOL - Manufacture Of Nitric acid From Ammonia - Reactions - Gcsescience.Com, n.d.). Similarly to sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide then dissolves in droplets in rainwater and forms nitric acid, another main contributor to acid rain (GCSE SCIENCE CHEMISTRY HIGH SCHOOL - Manufacture Of Nitric acid From Ammonia - Reactions - Gcsescience.Com, n.d.). As very high temperatures are reached in the burning of any fossil fuels, nitric acid is produced
Jessie Zeitz
Introduction
In the 21st century, the use of cars, electricity, and coal burning power stations are being used more than ever before. This is making the issue of acid rain more and more relevant to today's society. As acid rain is not talked about much in the news, many people are not informed about it. Without it being publicly addressed much, people will not know the intensity of the situation and how bad this problem is. In Australia between the years 2015 and 2016, the number of vehicles increased by 2.1% (9309.0 - Motor Vehicle Census Australia, 2016). Therefore, more nitrogen in the air is reacting with the oxygen, producing nitrogen dioxide, which then dissolves in rainwater, producing nitric acid. Nitric acid is one of the main mineral acids that contribute to …show more content…
The main causes of acid rain are coal fired power plants, and combustion in cars and other motor vehicles. When coal is burnt, the sulfur combines chemically with the oxygen to form sulfur dioxide which then dissolves in rainwater to form sulfuric acid, a highly corrosive and strong acid (BBC Bitesize - GCSE Chemistry - Products And Effects Of Combustion - Revision 3, 2017). In an engine’s combustion, the temperatures are extremely high. As the nitrogen in the air only is able to react with oxygen at very high temperatures, this reaction occurs and produces nitrogen dioxide (GCSE SCIENCE CHEMISTRY HIGH SCHOOL - Manufacture Of Nitric acid From Ammonia - Reactions - Gcsescience.Com, n.d.). Similarly to sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide then dissolves in droplets in rainwater and forms nitric acid, another main contributor to acid rain (GCSE SCIENCE CHEMISTRY HIGH SCHOOL - Manufacture Of Nitric acid From Ammonia - Reactions - Gcsescience.Com, n.d.). As very high temperatures are reached in the burning of any fossil fuels, nitric acid is produced