Name Period

Acid Rain Web quest

Use the following site or any online resource to answer each question regarding acid rain: http://www.epa.gov/acidrain

What Is Acid Rain?

1. List 2 natural sources of acid rain. &
2. The burning of fossil fuels is the main source of man’s contribution to acid rain. What two gases are released
into the atmosphere as a result of burning fossil fuels? &
3. Acid rain occurs when these two gases react with water, oxygen and other chemicals in the air to form
mild solutions of what two acids? &
4. What is wet deposition?

What is dry deposition?

5. Which is more harmful – wet or dry deposition? Explain.

Measuring Acid Rain

6. Acid rain is measured using the scale.
7. Pure water has a pH of 7.0. Even normal rain is acidic because of ( )
dissolved in it forming weak carbonic acid, giving it a pH around .
8. As of 2000, most acid rain falling on the US has a pH of .

Effects of Acid Rain

o Surface Waters and Aquatic Animals
9. The ecological effects of acid rain are most clearly seen in water environments such as ,
and .
10. What is episodic acidification?

11. Acid rain can kill fish, reduce fish numbers, completely
eliminate fish & decrease .
12. As acid rain flows through soils, the metal is released. Both
and are toxic to fish.
13. Even if the acid rain doesn’t kill the fish, it can cause chronic stress which leads to body
weight & size. This means the fish will be less able to compete for and
.
14. What pH level can each of the following animals tolerate?
Trout
Bass Frogs Snails
 o Automotive Coatings
15. What is “environmental fallout”?

16. The results of laboratory experiments and at least one field study have demonstrated that acid rain
can scar automotive coatings. Furthermore, chemical analyses of the damaged areas of some exposed
test panels indicate elevated levels of , implicating acid rain.
17. Damage to vehicles is best detected under a lamp and occurs most
frequently on vehicles.
18. What is the only solution for an automobile damaged by acid rain?
o Materials
19. Acid rain and the dry deposition of acidic particles contribute to the corrosion of (such
as ) and the deterioration of and (such as and
). These effects significantly reduce the societal value of ,
, cultural objects (such as , , and ), and

o Human Health
20. Can your health be affected, in a harmful way, by drinking or walking through acid rain?

21. What health disorders can the inhalation of sulfate & nitrate particles cause?

Reducing Acid Rain

22. List 5 things that can be done to reduce SO2 and NOx emissions from smokestacks and/or exhaust pipes.

23. List 5 alternative energy sources.

24. Which of these are mostly used in the US?

25. List 5 things that you can do as an individual to reduce acid rain.