Acid PrecipitationClick HereClick Here

http://nadp.sws.uiuc.edu/amaps2/

Formation of Sulfuric Acid

Kelter, Carr, Scott, Chemistry A World of Choices 1999, page 302

SO2(g) + H2O(l) H2SO3(aq)

2SO2(g) + O2(g) 2SO3(g)

SO3(g) + H2O(l) H2SO4(aq)

SO2(g) + H2O2(l) H2SO4(aq)

Catalyzed by atmospheric dust

Sulfuric acid

+

+

Figure courtesy of the National Atmospheric Deposition Program, Champaign, Ill.

The progressively darker red areas on the map indicate the lowest pH levels and areas most prone to problems from acid rain.

Hydrogen ion concentration as pH from measurementsmade at the field laboratories during 2003

National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Networkhttp://nadp.sws.uiuc.edu

made at the Central Analytical Laboratory, 1999

Acid Rain

Smoke stacks pollute SO2

into the atmosphere. Thiscombines with water to formacid rain.

Estimated sulfate ion deposition, 1999

SO4 Levels

http://nadp.sws.uiuc.edu

Coal Burning Power Plant

Copyright © 2007 Pearson Benjamin Cummings. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2007 Pearson Benjamin Cummings. All rights reserved.

CO2 (g)CO2 (g) H2O (l)H2O (l) H2CO3 (aq)H2CO3 (aq)

Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide

Carbonic acid

Carbonic acid

WaterWater

Weak acid Weak acid

Copyright © 2007 Pearson Benjamin Cummings. All rights reserved.

Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide

WaterWater

Carbonic Acid

Carbonic Acid

Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide

WaterWater

Carbonic Acid

Carbonic Acid

Copyright © 2007 Pearson Benjamin Cummings. All rights reserved.