1.Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky is in close proximity to the coal-fired electric utility plants in the Ohio Valley. Noting this, this 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?
Burning of coal will result in forming smoke, dust and particulate matter that block out sunlight. Sulphur emission from burning coal form tiny droplets which form aerosols. Aerosols reflect sunlight instead of absorbing, this reduces 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.
SO dissolves in rainwater to form acid. Natural rain has pH of 5.3 so the SO2 released from the burning of coal would make the rain more acidic with a pH of 4.3
2. Here are examples of what an individual might do to reduce acid rain. For each, explain connection to producing acid rain.
a. Hang your laundry to dry it.
Bases from detergent evaporate, neutralize acid
b. Walk, bike, or take public transportation to work.
Less NOx emissions from cars/vehicles
c. Avoid running dishwashers and washing machines with small loads.
Less hot, less places for N2 and N02 to react to form NO
e. Buy locally grown produce and locally produced food.
Reduce the need to import food hence reducing the need for transportation so less pollutants are emitted.
3a. Give names and chemical formulas for five acids and five bases.
Acids
Hydrobromic acid (HBr)
Phosphoric acid (H3PO4)
Sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
Potassium hydroxide (KOH)
Magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2)
b. Name three observable properties generally associated with acids and bases.
Acids: Conduct electricity in aqueous solution, taste sour, turn blue litmus paper red
Bases: Conduct electricity in aqueous solution, taste bitter, turn red litmus paper blue
4. 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?
Half of the acid deposition in eastern Canada came from American sources while the other half from its own country. Within Canada, there were domestic agreements starting with a declaration signed by the federal government and the seven provinces in establishing the Eastern Canada Acid Rain Program. The goal was to limit deposition of sulphate precipitations to less than 20kg per hectare each year. Provinces agreed to cap SO2 emissions at 2.3 million tonnes in order to achieve the 20kg limit. To address the other half of deposition of sulphates, Canada and U.S signed a bilateral agreement called the Canada-US air quality agreement to solve the transboundary air pollution problem. Both countries had to work together to reduce SO2 and NOx emissions. Since the 20 kg/ha/yr deposition target under the Eastern Canada Acid Rain Program could only protect moderately sensitive lakes, a new program was established – The Canada-Wide Acid Rain Strategy for Post-2000. All 26 federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Energy and Environment had to commit to reducing SO2 emissions in order to protect lakes and forests and improve human health. They strive to achieve a deposition level of 8kg/ha/year.
It originates both inside and outside of Singapore. There is definitely acid deposition in Singapore due to our high amount of vehicles producing NOx and power stations, refineries, other industries such as oil fuel companies releasing SO2 into the environment. However, acid deposition in Singapore is worsened when there is excessive burning of forests in Indonesia. The wind patterns can bring in the acid deposition resulting in haze within Singapore.
References:
http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.sg/2009/09/native-species-in-singapore-may-be.html#.WMzDJCN941I
http://www.nea.gov.sg/anti-pollution-radiation-protection/air-pollution-control