1. What is Acid Rain ?

4. Acid Rain in PA “Normal rain” is naturally slightly acidic
Acid Rain has pH ______
< 5.6
- Show how normal rain is slightly acidic (carbonic acid)
- CO2 + H2O  H2CO3
- Nearby industries: -
PA’s average rainfall has pH of _____
4.3
PA is affected more than any other state by Acid Rain due to nearby industries

5. Answers Question # 9 on Packet Page 6
Acid Rain Formation
Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas)
NOx and SOx gases are emitted
NOx and SOx combine with water in the sky to form nitric and sulfuric acid
NO2 + H2O à
SO2 + H2O à
HNO3
H2SO4
Answers Question # 9 on Packet Page 6

6. Answers Question #8 on Packet Page 6
Effects of Acid Rain
Minerals “leached” from soil
Ex. Mg, Ca, K
Metals (Al) dissolved from soil by rainwater get into water system
Al(OH)3 + H2SO4  Al2(SO4 )3(aq) + H2CO3
Answers Question #8 on Packet Page 6

7. Answers Question #8 on Packet Page 6
Effects of Acid Rain
- High levels of Al cause fish to build up mucous and can cause suffocation.
- Waters with low pH can kill eggs
- Low pH kills many bacteria & algae
Answers Question #8 on Packet Page 6

8. Answers Question #8 on Packet Page 6
Effects of Acid Rain
Dissolves waxy coating on plants –
Dissolves CaCO3 (marble, limestone, concrete)
Reacts with some metals
leaves them vulnerable to fungus & bacteria
Answers Question #8 on Packet Page 6

9. Effects of Acid Rain
Since 1998, Harvard University wraps some of the bronze and marble statues on its campus, such as this “Chinese Stele", with waterproof covers every winter, in order to protect them from erosion caused by acid rain (or, actually, acid snow)

10. The effect of acid rain on statuary
Location: New York City

11. A forest damaged by acid rain

12. Acid Rain: Interstate & International
- In the past, factories had
short funnels to let out
smoke.
- This caused local pollution.
- Now, factories have taller
smoke stacks.
- This leads to interstate and international pollution.
Answers Question #10 on Packet Page 7

15. Acid Rain Over the Years
Acid Rain Program
1990 Clean Air Act

16. Annual Mean Wet Inorganic Nitrogen Deposition