Acid rain

TargetTo know that fossil fuels produce acid rain

Wednesday, 18 June 2008

Burning fuel All fuels contain

hydrocarbons – molecules which have carbon and oxygen atoms in their structure – they produce waste gases when they burn.

Waste gases

• The waste gases are carbon dioxide (turns limewater milky white) and water vapour.

• If the fuel burns in a limited oxygen supply poisonous carbon monoxide will form.

Burning gas as a fuel

Natural gas is methane – it also produces carbon dioxide and water vapour

What is pollution?

““It’s not pollution that’s It’s not pollution that’s ruining our environment – it’s ruining our environment – it’s the impurities in the air and the impurities in the air and water” – U.S President George water” – U.S President George BushBush

What is pollution?

Pollution is the release of Pollution is the release of chemicals into the chemicals into the environment at such high environment at such high levels that they cause levels that they cause damage. A chemical that is damage. A chemical that is causing damage is known as causing damage is known as a pollutant.a pollutant.

What is in the air?Unscramble these words which are all inorganic (non living)

things that can be found in the air around us.

XYGONEXYGONE

ROBCAN IOXDIEDROBCAN IOXDIED

GRITNONEGRITNONE

PUSHURL EXIDDIOPUSHURL EXIDDIO

BARNCO MOODEXINBARNCO MOODEXIN

ORGENTIN SIXDEOORGENTIN SIXDEO

DEALDEAL

STUDSTUD

SKOMESKOME

SCALETAPRUITSCALETAPRUIT

OxygenCarbon dioxideNitrogenSulphur dioxideCarbon monoxideNitrogen oxides

ParticulatesSmokeDustLead20

%

79 %

Problems with polluting gases The polluting gases produced by fuels react with water

to make acid rain. The acid rain kills trees and plants and corrodes buildings.

Acid rain

Acid rain Weak acid rain forms when carbon dioxide dissolves in

water. Strong acid rain is produced when sulphur dioxide

dissolves in water

Reducing acid rain We can reduce the amount of acid rain by using

low sulphur petrol and by removing sulphur dioxide from fumes given off when burning fuel in a factory.

QuestionsPages 130 to 131 of Core Science 2

True or false?• The most abundant gas in air is

oxygen?• The air would be better if it had no

carbon dioxide in it?• One way of assessing pollution in the

past is to look at old medical records?• Lichen usually grows where there is

lots of pollution?• Using less electricity can help to

reduce some forms of pollution?• Car manufacturers are designing cars

to produce less pollution?

F

F

FT

TT