Acid Rain
There are a lot of chemicals in rainwater. Did you
know that rainwater contains vitamin B12?
- Where does the vitamin B12 in
rainwater come from?
Air pollution, especially from the burning of
fossil fuels, increases the heavy metal content in the rain. The map
below is of annual nitrate deposition in the Commonwealth of
Virginia. Air pollution can also lower the pH of the rain, down to as
low as 3.0 units on a hot day with very little rain. The only way to
deal with the acid rain problem is to ensure that air emissions are
minimized.
- What compounds found in air emissions decrease
the pH of the rain?
- What metals would you expect to find in
rainwater falling near a coal burning power plant?
- What metals would you expect to find in
rainwater falling near an oil burning power plant?
cars?
- What byproducts would you expect to find from
the combustion of ethanol, methane and natural gas?
- What does acid rain do to the solubility of
aluminum and why is this important?
- Which part of Virginia is most susceptible to
acid rain?
- What effect would you expect to find on
lichens on grave stones downwind from an old smelter?
- Which area near where you live is sensitive to
acid rain?
Prior Page
| Main menu | Acid
Rain Worksheet | Share
Your Ideas | Need
Help?
Properties
| Movement
| Life
| Locomotion
| Metabolism
| Excretion
| Reproduction
| Adaptation
| Ecology
| Map
© 2004, Arthur L. Buikema, Jr.
All rights
reserved.
