Acid Rain 7/8

Sulfur Dioxide Sulfur dioxide is a reactive gas released by burning fossil fuels, such as coal, that contain sulfur. In the United States, 67% of SO2 emission comes from electric utilities. Sulfur dioxide is linked to increased asthma symptoms. http://acidrain.pbworks.com/w/page/1319116/What%20is%20Acid%20Rain

How Acid Rain is Formed Burning coal at a power plant produces sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxides (NOx) from its smoke stack. These acidic gases combine with water in the clouds to form sulfuric acid. Acid rain falls, impacting the environment.

pH Scale: Acids & Bases Base Acid Drain Cleaner Bleach Soapy Water Ammonia Milk of Magnesia Baking Soda Sea Water Pure Water Healthy Lake (6.5) Clean Rain (5.6) Acid Rain (4.3) Orange Juice/Vinegar Lemon Juice Sulfuric Acid Battery Acid 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Mayfly: 5.5 Salamander: 5.0 Perch: 4.5 Frogs: 4.0 Acid

Environmental Impact on Fish Acid rain can sterilize a lake or pond by increasing acid levels: Small aquatic plants are destroyed. Fish that feed on those plants lose a food source and may become weaker and smaller. Birds and mammals that depend upon fish in their diet are deprived. The entire ecosystem is weakened.

Environmental Impact on Trees Weakens trees and forests, making them susceptible to disease and parasitic insects. Lowers the growth of forests as tree tops die off, especially in high elevation forests such as the Appalachian Mountains from Maine to Georgia. Loss of habitat for wildlife.

Animated Map of Sulfur Reductions National pH Levels Animated Map of Sulfur Reductions

Local Air Quality Map Five Sulfur Dioxide Monitoring Sites Taft (Clifton) Colerain (Colerain Twp) Amanda (Middletown) Made (Middletown) Yankee (Middletown)

Air Quality Index Convert SO2 readings to the Air Quality Index Protect Your Health 2012 Days Good 0-50 No health impacts are expected when air quality in this range. 127 Moderate 51-100 Unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion. 206 Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 101-150 Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. 30 Unhealthy 151-200 Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. 3 Very Unhealthy 201-300 Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid all prolonged outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit outdoor exertion. Hazardous 301-500 Health alert: everyone may experience more serious health effects Convert SO2 readings to the Air Quality Index

Acid Rain Experiment Buffering: soil’s ability to absorb acid rain deposits Materials for each group: 1 soil sample 1 funnel; 1 coffee filter 1 cup of acid rain solution 1 cup to “capture” acid rain pH paper

Acid Rain Experiment Instructions: Place coffee filter inside funnel. Base Instructions: Place coffee filter inside funnel. Place soil sample in filter. Slowly pour acid rain solution over soil sample; collect filtered water in Styrofoam cup. Test filtered water with pH paper. Drain Cleaner Bleach Soapy Water Ammonia Milk of Magnesia Baking Soda Sea Water Pure Water Healthy Lake (6.5) Clean Rain (5.6) Acid Rain (4.3) Orange Juice/Vinegar Lemon Juice Sulfuric Acid Battery Acid 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Acid

Steam moves through hundreds of blades at an incredible speed Releases gaseous air pollutants Large air filters that separate pollutants like SO2 & NOx Used to “scrub” pollutants with H2O & limestone Burns coal at such high heat, it converts into steam Then, an electromagnetic reaction creates electricity Grinds coal to a fine powder Increases the voltage of the electricity A coal plant running at full capacity needs two million tons of coal per year and produces 3.7 million tons of carbon dioxide!

Scrubbers