Acid Rain

Acid rain is basically rain that has a higher than normal

acid level (low pH).
 Deposition of NOx and SO2
• Wet deposition
– Rain, snow, fog
– SO2 and NOx form HNO3 and H2SO4
– Soluble gasses that dissolve in raindrops
– The H cation goes into solution, causing acid rain
• Dry deposition
– Particulates and aerosols absorbed by plants or
deposited on surfaces
– Ammonia and sulfuric acid form ammonium sulfate, a
particle that water condenses around to form clouds
and thus aerosols. Land directly on surfaces.
– If Nitric Acid doesn’t go into solution, it can directly
deposit on the ground
 Overview SO2 Chemistry
• SO2 - rapid dry deposition (not water
soluble)
• SO42-, H2SO4 - almost entirely as aerosols
(very soluble)
 SO2 Chemistry
• Combustion processes produce SO2.
• SO2 can be dry deposited to the earth or
can be oxidized in the atmosphere
• Gas phase reactions:
SO2  OH  HOSO2
HOSO2  O2  SO3  HO2
SO3  H 2O  H 2 SO4
_____________________________
net  OH  SO2  O2  H 2O  H 2 SO4  HO2
 SO2 Chemistry
• Aqueous phase

SO2  H 2O  HSO3  H   SO3  2 H 

HSO3  H 2O2  SO42  H   H 2O
or
HSO3  O3  SO42  O2  H 
 Simple Chemical Model
O3, OH, H2O2 H2O
Oxidation Dissolution

SO2 H2SO4 2H+ + SO42-

SO2

Dry Deposition
Wet Deposition

after Parks (1985)

 Overview NO2 Chemistry
• NO - not water soluble
• NO2 - dry deposition
• HNO3 - very volatile, soluble
 NO2 Chemistry
• Combustion processes produce NOx.
• NOx can be dry deposited to the earth or
can be oxidized in the atmosphere
• Gas phase reactions:

NOx  O3  NO2  O2
NO  HO2  NO2  OH
NO2  OH  HNO3
 NO2 Chemistry
• Gas/Liquid:

NO2  O3  NO3  O2
NO3  NO2  N 2O5
N 2O5  H 2O(l )  2 H   2 NO 3
____________________________
2 NO2  O3  H 2O(l )  2 H   NO3  O2
 Simple Chemical Model
O3, OH, H2O2 H2O
Oxidation Dissolution

NO2 HNO3 H+ + NO3-

NO
Dry Deposition
Wet Deposition

after Parks (1985)

 Causes of Acid Rain
• Burning coal. Oil and natural
gas in power stations makes
electricity, giving off sulphur
dioxide gas.
• Burning petrol and oil in
vehicle engines gives off
nitrogen oxides as gases.
• These gases mix with water
vapour and rainwater in the
atmosphere producing weak
solutions of sulphuric and
nitric acids – which fall as
acid rain.
 The Problem!
People probably couldn't live without
electricity! Therefore coal will continue to be burnt.
Also, electricity and energy are constantly
being overused.

Think of it this way: every time you turn on a

light switch or the television set without really
needing to, you're indirectly contributing to the acid
rain problem.
 Metals and acid rain
• The solubility of many metals are a
function of pH
• Example Al
• Al2O3.nH2O + 3H+ ---> Al3+ + H2O
• Speciation of Al: Al3+, AlOH2+, Al(OH)2+,
Al(OH)4-
• Speciation Diagram
Al Speciation
 How Acid Rain Affects The
Environment
Acid rain is an extremely destructive
form of pollution, and the
environment suffers from its effects.
Forests, trees, lakes, animals, and
plants suffer from acid rain.
Trees
The needles and leaves of the trees
turn brown and fall off.
Trees can also suffer from stunted
growth and makes them vulnerable
to weather, disease, and insects.
Lakes are also damaged by acid rain. Fish die off, and
that removes the main source of food for birds. Acid rain
can even kill fish before they are born when the eggs are
laid and come into contact with the acid.

Fish usually die only when the acid level of a lake is

high; when the acid level is lower, they can become sick,
suffer stunted growth, or lose their ability to reproduce.

Also, birds can die from eating "toxic" fish and insects.
 Buildings
Acid rain dissolves the stonework and mortar of buildings
(especially those made out of sandstone or limestone).
It reacts with the minerals in the stone to form a powdery
substance that can be washed away by rain.
 Transport
Currently, both the railway industry and the aeroplane
industry are having to spend a lot of money to repair the
corrosive damage done by acid rain. Also, bridges have
collapsed in the past due to acid rain corrosion.
 Humans
Humans can become seriously ill,
and can even die from the effects of
acid rain. One of the major
problems that acid rain can cause in
a human being is respiratory
problems.

Many can find it difficult to breathe,

especially people who have
asthma. Asthma, along with dry
coughs, headaches, and throat
irritations can be caused by the
sulphur dioxides and nitrogen
oxides from acid rain.
Acid rain can be absorbed by both plants (through soil
and/or direct contact) and animals (from things they eat
and/or direct contact). When humans eat these plants or
animals, the toxins inside of their meals can affect them.
Brain damage, kidney problems, has been linked to people
eating "toxic" animals/plants.
What are
the
solutions
to acid
rain?
 Solutions
1. Sulphur dioxide can be removed from power
stations chimneys but this process is expensive.
2. Reduce the amount of electricity we use
- turn tv’s off at the mains, don’t leave on
standby.
- turn off lights when a room is not in use.
3. Use renewable energy like wind power, solar
panels.
4. Fit catalytic converters to vehicle exhausts
which remove the nitrogen oxides.
5. Limit the number of vehicles on the roads and
increase public transport.