Unit 6: Application Exercise 6

(Q1) Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky is in close proximity to the coal-fired electric utility plants in the Ohio Valley. Noting this, the National parks Conservation Association (NPCA) reported that this national park had the poorest viability of any in the country.
(a)What is the connection between coal-fired plants and poor visibility?

Coal contain varying amount of sulfur, burning coal produces varying amount of Sulfur dioxide and soot. These particles blocked sunlight, and cause poor visibility.

(b)The NPCA reported “the average rainfall in Mammoth Cave National Park is 10 times more acidic than natural.” From this information and that in your text, estimate the pH of the rainfall in the park.”

Knowing that every step on the pH scale is a change by a factor of 10 and the normal rain has a pH range from 5-6.
When the average rainfall is 10 times more acidic, we can estimate that the pH of the rainfall must be around 4-5.

(Q2) Here are the examples of what an individual might do to reduce acid rain. For each, explain the connection to producing acid rain.
(a) Hang your laundry to dry it
(b) Walk,  bike, or take public transportation to work.
(c) Avoid running dishwashers and washing machines with small loads.
(d) Add additional insulation on hot water heaters and pipes.
(e) Buy locally grown produce and locally produced food.

The key is to reduce the amount of energy (such as electricity/petroleum) used in the process, because electricity comes from burning of coal or fossil fuels which releases product such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. These pollutant gases are in involved in the formation of acid rain. Therefore, by using lesser energy –> lesser pollutant gas –> lesser pollutant gas involved in formation of acid rain. Vehicles also uses energy and releases oxides of nitrogen which are involved in formation of acid rain too.

(a) Drying clothes naturally allow you to use less energy as compared with a clothes dryer which uses electricity.

(b) It is more eco-friendly to walk, bike or take public transport to work, because it does not produce or releases as much pollutant gases. Owning a car which can carry 4 or 5 person is not as efficient as taking a public transport which can carry more person and the amount of pollutant gas that is released are approximately the same.

(c) Using dishwasher consumes electrical energy which is not favourable. Washing machines with small loads compared with big loads is a waste of energy, as washing machines consume the same amount of water and electricity, regardless the amount of clothes.

(d) Adding additional insulation helps to warm the water constantly. This uses less electrical energy when you do not have to warm the water every time.

(e)  Buying locally grown produce and produced food will prevent vehicles that transport goods (e.g. food) from travelling a long distance. This allow lesser energy to be used in the process of transporting goods and lesser pollutant gas released in the process.

(Q3a)Give names and chemical formulas for five acids and bases.
Acids Bases
Nitric Acid, HNO₃ Sodium Hydroxide, NaOH
Hydrochloric Acid, HCl Potassium Hydroxide, KOH
Sulfuric Acid, H₂SO₄ Ammonium Hydroxide, NH₄OH
Phosphoric Acid, H₃PO₄ Magnesium Hydroxide, Mg(OH)₂
Carbonic Acid, H₂CO₃ Calcium Hydroxide, Ca(OH)₂
(Q3b)Name three observable properties generally associated with acids and bases.
Properties of an acid Properties of a base
Sour Bitter
Turn litmus paper blue to red Turn litmus paper red to blue
Sticky Slippery
The concerns of acid rain vary across the globe. Many countries in North America and Europe have websites dealing with acid rain. Either search to locate one (“Canada acid rain”) or use these links to website in Canada, the UK, or Europe. What are the issues in Singapore? Does the acid deposition orignate outside or inside the Singapore’s borders?

 

Acid rain causes extinction to some native species in Singapore by lowering the pH of the rivers and disrupting their homes.

The acid deposition originate from outside of the Singapore’s border. In the recent years, Indonesia have been burning their forest , with prevailing wind present, it actually blew particles towards Singapore, and cause haze. Haze will eventually lead to acid rain which poses a threat to the natural habitat and damage infrastructure