Environmental Chemistry

EVT 520

Acid Deposition
Nor Fadilah Chayed
 Outline
• Describe the concept, mechanism and sources of acid deposition.
• Evaluate the effect and mitigation plan of acid deposition.
 Acid Rain
• Acid rain is any form of precipitation with acidic components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid that
fall to the ground from the atmosphere in wet or dry forms. This can include rain, snow, fog, hail
or even dust that is acidic.
• Acid rain is also known as acid deposition or acid precipitation.
• Acid rain occurs when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are emitted into the atmosphere,
undergo chemical transformations and are absorbed by water droplets in clouds.
• The acidic deposition takes place in two ways: wet and dry. Wet deposition is any form of
precipitation which removes acids from the atmosphere and places them on the surface of the
earth. In the absence of precipitation, dry deposition of polluting particles and gases sticks to the
ground through dust and smoke.
 Formation of Acid Rain

• Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide undergo oxidation, and then they react with
water resulting in the formation of sulphuric acid and nitric acid, respectively.

• The following reaction will clarify the acid formation reaction:

2SO2 (g) + O2 (g) + 2H2O (l) → 2H2SO4 (aq)

4NO2 (g) + O2 (g) + 2H2O (l) → 4HNO3 (aq)

 Acidity

❑ Acidity is readily measured by a pH electrode (an Ion Selective Electrode) and

should be between 6.5 and 8.5 for potable water.

❑ Acid rain can significantly lower the pH (<5.6).

 Sources of SO2

❑ Main sources of sulfur dioxide include:

1. coal burning – coal typically contains 2-3% sulfur so when it is burned, sulfur
dioxide is liberated.
2. The smelting of metal sulfide ores to obtain the pure metals. Metals such as zinc,
nickel and copper are all commonly obtained in this manner.
3. volcanic eruption
4. organic decay
5. ocean spray
6. petroleum
 Sources of NOX

❑ The major sources of nitrogen oxides include:

1. Combustion of oil, coal and gas.

2. Bacterial action in soil
3. Forest fires
4. Volcanic action
5. Lightning
 The contributors

Factories give off sulfur dioxide The exhaust from the car contains
and nitric oxide. a lot of nitric oxide.
 The making of Acid Rain
Atmospheric gases react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals the produce the
components of acid rain: sulfuric acid and nitric acid. Sunlight acts as a catalyst to
increases the rate of most of these reactions.
 Wind
Transformation to
sulfuric acid (H2SO4)
and nitric acid Windborne ammonia gas and
(HNO3) particles of cultivated soil partially
neutralize acids and form dry Wet acid depostion
sulfate and nitrate salts (droplets of H2SO4 and
HNO3 dissolved in rain
Nitric oxide (NO) and snow)
Sulfur dioxide Dry acid deposition (sulfur
(SO2) and NO dioxide gas and particles of
sulfate and nitrate salts)
Acid fog
Farm
Lakes in shallow soil
Ocean low in limestone
Lakes in deep soil become acidic
high in limestone
are buffered

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 The reactions

• The making of nitric acid:

lightning
▪ N2(g) + O2(g) ⎯⎯⎯⎯→ 2NO(g)
▪ 2NO(g) + ½ O2(g) ⎯⎯⎯⎯→ NO2
▪ 3NO2(g) + H2O ⎯⎯⎯⎯→ 2HNO3(aq) + NO(g)

• The making of sulfuric acid:

O2 HO
▪ SO2(g) ⎯⎯⎯→ SO3(g) ⎯⎯⎯→
2
H2SO4 (aq)
 Effects on Human Health

• Acid rain itself is not harmful to

humans, but the pollutants that
cause it are the sulfur dioxide and
nitrogen oxide can cause respiratory
problems such as asthma and
bronchitis.

http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/shr0714l.jpg
 Effect to Water and Aquatic Animals

• When acid rain falls down and flows into the rivers and
ponds it affects the aquatic ecosystem. It alters the
chemical composition of the water, to a form which is
actually harmful to the aquatic ecosystem to survive
and causes water pollution.
• Lakes and streams become acidic when the natural
buffers in the water and surrounding soil cannot
neutralize the acid rain.
• A low buffering capacity allows toxic mercury and
aluminum to leach into the water.
• Toxic metals may enter food chain and harm humans’ http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/effects/surface_water.html
health.
 Effect to Plants and Forests

• Acid rain causes slower growth, injury,

and death to plants.
• Acid rain damages the leaves of plants,
washed away important nutrients
required for the growth and survival of
plants (calcium, potassium, and
magnesium) from the soil, and
increases the level of toxic aluminum in
the soil.

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http://www.newsroom.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/display.cgi?id=257
 Emissions

SO2 NOx
Acid H O O3
2 2
deposition Others
PANs
Susceptibility
to drought,
extreme cold,
Direct damage to Reduced insects,
leaves & bark photo- mosses, &
synthesis and disease
growth organisms

Soil acidification Tree death

Leaching Release of Root Reduced nutrient &

of soil Acids toxic metal damage water uptake
nutrients ions
Lake

Groundwater 18
Fig. 19-9, p. 451
 Real-Life Examples
❑ Taj Mahal, one of the 7 wonders of the world, is largely affected by acid rain. The city of Agra has
many industries which emit the oxides of sulphur and nitrogen in the atmosphere. People continue to
use low-quality coal and firewood as a domestic fuel, adding to this problem. Acid rain has the
following reaction with the marble (calcium carbonate):

CaCO3(s) + H2SO4(l) → CaSO4(s) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)

 Real-Life Examples
The formation of calcium sulphate results in the corrosion of this beautiful monument.

•Statue of Liberty which is made of copper has also been damaged by the cumulative action of
acid rain and oxidation for over 30 years and is, therefore, becoming green.
 Copper

• Acid rain also causes the corrosion of

water pipes, which further results in
leaching of heavy metals such as iron,
lead and copper into drinking water.
• Copper naturally oxidizes to form a
protective coating that protects the
metal from corrosion
• Acid rain can cause copper to corrode
before this coating can form

http://www.professionalroofing.net/article.aspx?A_ID=526
 Clean Air Act

• In 1970 Congress created the Clean Air Act as well as the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) to reduce air pollution.

• In 1990 the act was revised and introduced changes to reduce acid pollution.

• The EPA sets limits on the amount of air pollution that can come from sources like
chemical plants, utilities, and steel mills. There are monetary penalties for plants
that exceed their limit of SO2 and NO2.
 Solutions
Acid Deposition
Prevention Cleanup
Reduce air pollution by Add lime to
improving energy neutralize acidified
efficiency lakes
Reduce coal use
Add phosphate
Increase natural gas
use fertilizer to
neutralize acidified
Increase use of renewable lakes
energy resources

Burn low-sulfur coal

Remove SO2 particulates

& NOx from smokestack
gases

Remove NOx from motor

vehicular exhaust

Tax emissions of SO2

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Fig. 19-10, p. 452