Q1) Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky is in close proximity to the coal-fired electric utility plants in Ohio Valley. Noting this, the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) reported that this national park had the poorest visibility of any in the country.
a. What is the connection between coal-fired plants and poor visibility?
In Coal-fired plants, combustion occurs resulting in sulfur dioxide being produced. Sulfur dioxide contains sulfur particles that would hence result in 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 rainfall in the park.
The average pH of rain is approximately in the range of 6-7. Since the pH of the rain in Mammoth Cave National Park is 10 times more acidic and the decrease in every pH 1 results in an increase in concentration of hydronium ions by ten times. The pH of the rainfall of the park is approximately 5-6.
Q2) Here are 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.
By hanging out your laundry to dry instead of using a dryer, we can save electricity and energy which may contribute to acid raIn. This is because any fossil fuel consumption, which we use for things like energy generation, heating, and transportation can lead to acid deposition which will lead to acid rain.
b. Walk, bike, or take public transportation to work.
This reduces transport related energy and fuel consumption and thus it can help reduce any emissions into the atmosphere which may contribute to acid rain. Since vehicles are powered by fossil fuels, these contribute to sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide which will cause acid deposition.
c. Avoid running dishwashers and washing machines with small loads.
Similar to (a), instead of running dishwashers and washing machines with small loads, hand washing these dishes or clothes will save electricity and energy and therefore reducing fuel consumption that will lead to acid deposition.
d. Add additional insulation on hot water heaters and pipes.
Adding insulation will ensure that heat will not escape so easily and thus this will reduce the energy used unnecessarily. Again, this will ensure lesser fuel is being used and it will mitigate the impact on acid deposition.
e. Buy locally grown produce and locally produced food.
Shopping locally will help reduce any transport related fuel consumption and emissions being released into the atmosphere. Since the fossil fuels used are huge contributors to the sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides that cause acid deposition, shopping locally can help reduce the impact of these on acid rain.
Q3)
a. Give names and chemical formulas for five acids and five bases.
| Name | Chemical Formula | |
|
Acids |
Hydrochloric Acid | HCl |
| Sulfuric Acid | H2SO4 | |
| Nitric Acid | HNO3 | |
| Hydroiodic Acid | HI | |
| Hydrofluoric Acid | HF | |
|
Bases |
Sodium Hydroxide | NaOH |
| Calcium Hydroxide | Ca(OH)2 | |
| Magnesium Hydroxide | Mg(OH)2 | |
| Potassium Hydroxide | KOH | |
| Ammonium Hydroxide | NH4OH |
b. Name three observable properties generally associated with acids and bases.
| Acids | Bases |
| Turns blue litmus paper red | Turns red litmus paper blue |
| Tastes sour | Tastes bitter |
| Produces H+ ions when dissolved in water | Produces OH– ions when dissolved in water |
Q4) 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 websites in Canada, the UK, or Europe. What are the issues in Singapore? Does the acid deposition originate outside or inside the Singapore’s borders?
URLs:
http://www.ec.gc.ca/
http://www.ukawmn.ucl.ac.ul/
http://www.grida.no/
http://www.nea.com.sg/
Many websites throughout the world set different standards in response to acid rain. In Europe, In Europe, the G.R.I.D Arendal provides articles related to acid rain and workshops done to counter it such as the Abidjan Convention Sustainable Seas pilot workshop.
Singapore takes the issue of acid rain seriously. The issues that Singapore faced would be the annual haze that happens due to the change in wind direction which can result in acid rain. Haze that originate from Indonesia will get redirected to Singapore. At the NEA website, they would provide hourly updates on the PSI levels and PM2.5 of different regions in Singapore. The public could access such data at the NEA website and get notified when the PSI and PM2.5 levels goes beyond the safe region.
Acid deposition originate both outside and inside the Singapore borders. As mentioned earlier, Haze from neighbouring countries like Indonesia contribute to the acid deposition which are outside the Singapore borders. Acid deposition can also originate within Singapore too. One of Singapore’s main source of income comes from its chemistry industry which can also contribute to acid deposition in Singapore, especially if waste are disposed indiscriminately. Also, vehicles in Singapore produce NOx, which also contribute to acid deposition inside Singapore borders.
Canada
- Canada created a federal-provincial team to devise a common solution ― the 1985 Eastern Canada Acid Rain Program. It established:
- A limit of 2.3 million tonnes of Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) in 7 provinces closest to its East, to be met by 1994 and maintained until 2000.
- 7 federal-provincial sulphur dioxide reduction targets for each province east of the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border to meet this regional cap (the first round of reductions were intended to roughly halve the sulphur dioxide emissions (SO2) in Eastern Canada from 1980 levels).
- A science and monitoring program.
- The basis for the federal government to seek reductions of flows of acid pollutants from the United States.
- Canada signed the 1979 United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (UNECE LRTAP) with other European countries and the United States.
- Environment Canada released its latest acid rain science assessment in 2004, which determined:
- A clear need for targeted additional sulphur dioxide reductions to protect more vulnerable areas, and aid the recovery of acid-damaged regions.
- A need to respond to the damage done to forests since they are now known to be vulnerable.
- A need to broaden the focus of activity to address a potential acidification problem in Western and Northern regions.
UK
In the 1980s, the UK was described by Scandinavian countries as “the dirty old man of Europe” due to high emissions of sulphur dioxide from industrial sources causing transboundary acid rain. Emissions of sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen have since been reduced, although the UK remains a considerable emitter of acidic pollution compared to other European countries.
The 1998 Gothenburg Protocol requires the UK to reduce sulphur emissions by 85% and nitrogen emissions by 49% by year 2010 (from 1980 levels). To meet these requirements, emissions of sulphur dioxide in UK are being reduced, through the use of cleaner technology within the power generation industry, and the use of cleaner fuels and car engines in the transport sector.
While the acid rain problem in the UK has partially improved due to Margaret Thatcher’s government implementing aggressive measures to reduce sulphur emissions, nitrogen-related pollution still persists till today, which means both air and water quality are still being compromised.
Sources:
http://www.ec.gc.ca
http://www.enviropedia.org.uk/Acid_Rain/UK_Acid_Rain.php
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/earthnews/9342276/Acid-rain-all-but-eliminated-over-Britain.html