Atmospheric and Environmental Chemistry — Part 1: Acid rain and global warming: visual lesson, ICSE Class 9 Chemistry (Science Paper 2)

Lesson

Air, Rain and a Warming World

Part 1 — how burning fuels changes the rain and the climate.

In this lesson you will

Write equations showing how oxides of sulphur and nitrogen make acids in rainwater, and describe the effects of acid rain
Name the main greenhouse gases and their sources
Suggest measures that reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and the gases that cause acid rain

Concept

Where the gases come from

Table of sources of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides
Gas	Main human sources	Natural sources
Sulphur dioxide	Burning coal and oil that contain sulphur; roasting sulphide ores; refineries	Volcanoes
Nitrogen oxides	Petrol and diesel engines; furnaces and power stations at very high temperature	Lightning

Concept

Sulphur oxides: from fuel to acid

Burning sulphur in fuel gives sulphur dioxide, which reacts with water to give sulphurous acid. Some is oxidised in the air to sulphur trioxide, which gives sulphuric acid.

Table of four equations from sulphur to sulphuric acid
Step	Equation
Sulphur burns	S + O₂ → SO₂
Sulphurous acid forms	SO₂ + H₂O → H₂SO₃
Oxidation in air	2SO₂ + O₂ → 2SO₃
Sulphuric acid forms	SO₃ + H₂O → H₂SO₄

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