1a) Coal-fired plants produces varying amounts of SO2 which reacts with oxygen molecules to form SO3, which acts in the formation of aerosols. Aerosols do not absorb sunlight and reflects it instead, thus leading to poor visibility.
1b) The natural pH of rainfall is between 5 to 6. Hence, if the average rainfall in Mammoth Cave National Park is 10 times more acidic than natural, then the pH of the rainfall in the park should be between 4 to 5.
2a,c) Reducing the electricity usage will decrease the power generated by power plants, thus decreasing the emissions of NOx and SOx.
b) Using public transportation and decreasing the use of transportation will decrease the number of automobiles being used, thus decreasing the emissions of NOx produced from the combustion of petrol in the combustion system in the automobile.
d) insulating hot water pipes will reduce heat loss and raise water temperature by 2-4 fahrenheit, thus the water temperature setting can be lowered, decreasing the electricity usage.
e) purchasing locally produced food will reduce the need to import food and agricultural products, thus decreasing the emissions of aerosol by-products from the automobiles required for transportation.
3a) Acids: HCl, H2SO4, H3PO4, HNO3, H2CO3
Base: NaOH, Ba(OH)2, Mg(OH)2, NH3, KOH
3b) Observable properties generally associated with base are: changes of litmus colour from red to blue, slippery, and bitter taste
Observable properties generally associated with acids are: change of litmus colour from blue to red, sour taste, PH meter shows a reading of less than 7
4)
Acid deposition originates inside Singapore as Singapore being an urban jungle, with its population being one of the most densely populated country in the world, results in a lot of human activities being carried out (e.g, transportation) which leads to high levels of atmospheric NO2 being produced. With the trace amounts of VOC that is present in the atmosphere, acid rain is produced.
Acid deposition also originates outside Singapore due to the activities conducted by nearby countries. For example, acid deposition originates from Indonesia due to forest fires which leads to haze.
