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Acid Precipitation

Chapter 12 - 3. Acid Precipitation. What causes acid precipitation?. Acid precipitation – rain, sleet, and snow that contains high levels of acid Burning fossil fuels Releases gas that combine with water in atmosphere Sulfuric acid Nitric acid. Acid Precipitation. Kills living things

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Acid Precipitation

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  1. Chapter 12 - 3 Acid Precipitation

  2. What causes acid precipitation? • Acid precipitation – rain, sleet, and snow that contains high levels of acid • Burning fossil fuels • Releases gas that combine with water in atmosphere • Sulfuric acid • Nitric acid

  3. Acid Precipitation • Kills living things • Animals • Plants • pH – power of hydrogen • Measure of how acidic or basic something is

  4. pH • Higher pH – more basic • Lower pH – more acidic • Water = 7.0 • Normal precip = 5.6 • Acid precip < 5.0

  5. Plants • Acidification – a drop in the pH level of soil • Dissolves some nutrients and washed away • Causes toxic metals to release and absorb into roots

  6. Plants • Sulfur dioxide – clogs openings on plant surfaces • Dissolved from acids

  7. Aquatic Ecosystems • pH changes can kill fish • Aluminum leaches out of soil • Suffocates fish

  8. Aquatic Ecosystems • Acid shock - • Spring • Acids in snow melts rush into lakes and streams • Kills fish and amphibians • Defects with eggs and development

  9. Humans • Aluminum and mercury absorbed into crops • Respiratory system problems • Industry affected • Fisheries • Forestry

  10. Humans • Dissolves calcium carbonate • Concrete • Marble • Limestone • Destroys building and monuments

  11. Acropolis in Greece

  12. International Conflict andCooperation • Acid precipitation in an international problem • Pollution knows no boundary

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